2 Chronicles Ch22/ 2 Corinthians Ch9
Woe to he who follows wickedness; blessed to those who follow good
2 Chronicles 22/ 2 Corinthians 9
2 Chronicles:
King Ahaziah reigned in Judah. His mother Athaliah was a daughter of King Ahab of Israel. King Ahaziah listened to his mother’s advices and walked in the wicked ways of the house of Ahab. King Ahab was like the leader of a church that associated with the world. He married Jezebel. Jezebel worshipped idols and she killed many prophets of God. King Ahaziah went with King Joram son of Ahab to war against King Aram. Joram was wounded by the enemy. Later Ahaziah went down to see him. This visit became his downfall. God had anointed Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab. Jehu met the leaders of Judah, and he killed them. King Ahaziah went to hide in Samaria. He was also killed by Jehu. He should have sheltered in the Lord. This is the consequence of following the advice of the wicked. He reaped corruption. The house of Ahaziah had no power to keep the kingdom.
When Athaliah the mother saw that her son was dead, she started to destroy the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and hid him in a bedroom. Jehosheba had no fear for her safety. She was Ahaziah’s sister and wife of the priest Jehoiada. She hid the child with them at the temple of God for six years from Athaliah. Jehosheba and Ahaziah were both children of King Jehoram. But she rebelled against the wicked way of her mother. She did not follow the way of the house of Ahab. She with her husband risked their lives to do good. They knew the will of God was in the house of David. They must save descendants of David for God’s plan. They would be remembered by God and people. They would receive great blessing from God.
2 Corinthians 9:
Paul reminded the church at Corinth to get their offering to the saints ready according to what he had told them. Each man should give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. God loves a cheerful giver. God is able to make all grace abound to us, so that in all things at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work. Our generosity not only supplies the need of God’s people. It will result in thanksgiving to God. The more we share with people, the more we will have. God will give us surpassing grace.
Lessons learned from two chapters:
(1) Do not follow the advice of the wicked. If we follow it, we will hurt ourselves, our country and our people. Be sure to follow the pure and sound teachings of Paul. If we give generously, we will honor God and help people. We will be blessed greatly.
(2) Jeosheba was born in a sinful family. Paul was the worst of the sinners. But both of them departed from evil to join to the Lord. (Jeosheba was wife of the priest.) Jeosheba and Paul completely follow the Lord’s commands. They did the will of God willingly. They were like the example of the poor widow, giving all they had to the Lord. They greatly honored God and helped the people. God gave them surpassing grace. Everyone’s heart would go out to them from generations to generations. They became a blessing to others.
How meaningful and valuable this kind of life is! We must be grateful to the Lord because He has saved us and gives us a position as a prince. We should get ready to supply to the needy according to the teaching of the Bible. If we do not set up our goals according to the Bible, we may waste our lives in following the advice of man. Keep ourselves away from the wicked way. Never be friends with the world or connect with the wicked by marriage as King Jehoshaphat.
What a pity that King Ahaziah did not run to the Lord for shelter. He did not repent when he suffered from following the wicked advice. Finally, he was killed and ashamed.
What kind of life will you and I like to have—a meaningful one like Paul and Jehosheba or a meaningless one like Ahaziah?