The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 22:3,7a,
"He [King Ahaziah of Judah] too followed the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him to act wickedly. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father's death they became his advisers, to his undoing... Through Ahaziah's visit to Joram, God brought about Ahaziah's downfall."
Ahaziah was a wicked king in Judah. We are told God brought about his downfall when he went to visit Joram, king of northern Israel. It was on this trip he was put to death by Jehu, a man the Lord tapped to destroy the house of Ahab, Joram's family. Ahaziah had only ruled Judah for a year before his death.
We are told God's judgment of our sins awaits us following this age at the great white throne judgement we read of in Revelation 20:11-15. This is why it appears incoherent to us that some really bad people live longer lives than other people who are not nearly as bad. And, with others, such as Ahaziah, the other way around. One wicked person may seem to not be held accountalbe for their sins yet another seems to be, based on how long God allows them to live.
It appears to me that one person may be raised up by the Lord and another taken down for an entirely different cause than personal payment for sins. Rather, its cause is attributable to God's activities, God's agenda.
We need to keep in mind, the judgment for our sins awaits us after this age is over. "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5. The judgment for sins takes place, "At that time".
Why then are some put to death by God before that time, such as Ahaziah? It appears to me that since God is very active in the affairs of this world (despite the lack of "appearances") as he pursues his agenda of the redemption of mankind, when someone is found to be at odds with what God is doing, God is going to make adjustments. In this case, Ahaziah needed to be taken out as the Lord was preparing Israel for her coming Messiah.
When the Lord intentionally and directly brought about Ahaziah's death, it doesn't seem to me to be due to personal payment for his sins. That has yet to come. Ahaziah got in the way of what the Lord wanted to do with and through Israel - so God took him out.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"He [King Ahaziah of Judah] too followed the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him to act wickedly. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father's death they became his advisers, to his undoing... Through Ahaziah's visit to Joram, God brought about Ahaziah's downfall."
Ahaziah was a wicked king in Judah. We are told God brought about his downfall when he went to visit Joram, king of northern Israel. It was on this trip he was put to death by Jehu, a man the Lord tapped to destroy the house of Ahab, Joram's family. Ahaziah had only ruled Judah for a year before his death.
We are told God's judgment of our sins awaits us following this age at the great white throne judgement we read of in Revelation 20:11-15. This is why it appears incoherent to us that some really bad people live longer lives than other people who are not nearly as bad. And, with others, such as Ahaziah, the other way around. One wicked person may seem to not be held accountalbe for their sins yet another seems to be, based on how long God allows them to live.
It appears to me that one person may be raised up by the Lord and another taken down for an entirely different cause than personal payment for sins. Rather, its cause is attributable to God's activities, God's agenda.
We need to keep in mind, the judgment for our sins awaits us after this age is over. "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5. The judgment for sins takes place, "At that time".
Why then are some put to death by God before that time, such as Ahaziah? It appears to me that since God is very active in the affairs of this world (despite the lack of "appearances") as he pursues his agenda of the redemption of mankind, when someone is found to be at odds with what God is doing, God is going to make adjustments. In this case, Ahaziah needed to be taken out as the Lord was preparing Israel for her coming Messiah.
When the Lord intentionally and directly brought about Ahaziah's death, it doesn't seem to me to be due to personal payment for his sins. That has yet to come. Ahaziah got in the way of what the Lord wanted to do with and through Israel - so God took him out.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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