God destroyed our dark with his light and life. He does not let a single sinner ruin an entire lineage, and his redemptive hand never tires. May we confidently hang over us his string of promises kept, knowing his goodness will always glow.
20He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. **And he departed with no one’s regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.**
This verse just hit me because I can’t imagine dying and no one caring. This is what pride does. It isolates and destroys relationships. Whew….thankful for His grace!!!
I’m confused. It said Jehoram only had his youngest son left, and his name was Jehoahaz. But then it says his youngest son became king and his name was Ahaziah? Are they the same person?
I love the idea of humbling yourself before exalting yourself. So often we feel like we have to prove our value by telling others about it. But God sees our value… he created it! He will raise us up and exalt us, we don’t have to worry about doing that!
Superb read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little analysis on that. And he really bought me lunch because I discovered it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Ouch. This will be something for me to wrestle with for awhile. …
I take this as Jesus wanting to forewarn you that you will have to be willing to give up everything if it is according to his will, like Abraham did when he was willing of offer his everything in Issac. It’s a matter of the heart. The rich man said he followed Jesus but in his heart he treasured his riches, our treasure needs to be in Jesus, and he saw rift through him in Luke 18:22. He may not call us to give up everything, He will call us to do hard things though, and we need to have hearts that are focused on Him, and when that is true, it becomes easier to act on His will.
Jehoshabeath’s courage astounds me! that she would save her nephew (I think I got that genealogy right) – that massive display of courage saved the entire line of David! such an amazing story.
Sometimes the names are different because of the different languages that were used in the regions. The account of the three in the fire because they would not bow down is one of the best examples.
Here are the verses. 21. 17 They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king’s palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest.
22:1 The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, king in his place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.
I was very confused by this verse as well! But I think the idea that He is going for is not literally hate their family but more, able to put Him before his family. The guests who were originally invited said they had to tend to their wife or their land and kept making excuses to avoid a prior commitment. To be Jesus’s disciple, one must put God at the top and not make excuses.
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. I do not understand this verse at all.
I’ve heard it explained that “hate” here means to “love less,” which is what Caitlin is saying as well, I think–that Jesus comes before all other things and people.
It struck me today that when Jesus speaks of bearing one’s own cross, this is before the crucifixion. I wonder how the original hearers would have taken that statement? We view it in light of Christ’s crucifixion but they didn’t know what was to come.
I wonder too. I think it must have been strange at minimum and unthinkable at best like a lot of Jesus’ teachings. They were aware of death by crucifixion just not Jesus’.
Yes. Theres another verse earlier too i think where he used the same – is it idiom? Or reference? I always wondered too- it must have been a fairly common expression -?
7 Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
Thank the Lord that He is willing to overlook my imperfections and failings!
20 He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed with no one’s regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
And he departed with no ones regret…wow, that is a sad statement of his legacy. What will be my legacy?
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
What a powerful statement for us . This was Jesus and it makes me try harder to live a more humble life.
I think it’s crazy how we easily forget to humble ourselves. Instead this world invites us to exalt ourselves. Having a gentle reminder from God that He desires us to be humble is such a blessing. I pray I can do a better job with this:)
that verse really struck my heart. one of my great uncles died recently and it feels as though he ‘died with no mans regret’. he was such an unhappy man, he made the people around him unhappy, and was so unkind. it breaks my heart that no one really misses him. it was strange for me to read this and feel as though I may be feeling similar to what the king’s family members must have felt.
13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” A challenge to give without expectation of return.
Yes! It reminds me of the SRT Hospitality study. I had noted in my bible next to this passage “Who can I love today who may have nothing in return to offer me?”
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11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
33So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
God destroyed our dark with his light and life. He does not let a single sinner ruin an entire lineage, and his redemptive hand never tires. May we confidently hang over us his string of promises kept, knowing his goodness will always glow.
✅
20He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. **And he departed with no one’s regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.**
This verse just hit me because I can’t imagine dying and no one caring. This is what pride does. It isolates and destroys relationships. Whew….thankful for His grace!!!
That phrase struck me too
I’m confused. It said Jehoram only had his youngest son left, and his name was Jehoahaz. But then it says his youngest son became king and his name was Ahaziah? Are they the same person?
I love the idea of humbling yourself before exalting yourself. So often we feel like we have to prove our value by telling others about it. But God sees our value… he created it! He will raise us up and exalt us, we don’t have to worry about doing that!
27Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. -ellie
Superb read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little analysis on that. And he really bought me lunch because I discovered it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
http://www.edsheeran.co.uk
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Ouch. This will be something for me to wrestle with for awhile. …
I take this as Jesus wanting to forewarn you that you will have to be willing to give up everything if it is according to his will, like Abraham did when he was willing of offer his everything in Issac. It’s a matter of the heart. The rich man said he followed Jesus but in his heart he treasured his riches, our treasure needs to be in Jesus, and he saw rift through him in Luke 18:22. He may not call us to give up everything, He will call us to do hard things though, and we need to have hearts that are focused on Him, and when that is true, it becomes easier to act on His will.
❤ this! Thank you for posting!
Jehoshabeath’s courage astounds me! that she would save her nephew (I think I got that genealogy right) – that massive display of courage saved the entire line of David! such an amazing story.
Why does Jehoram’s youngest son’s name change between the end of Chapter 21 and the beginning of Chapter 22? Am I missing something there?
It would not shock me that, once a new ruler came into power, the original name would change. It probably signified the new status of power.
Sometimes the names are different because of the different languages that were used in the regions. The account of the three in the fire because they would not bow down is one of the best examples.
Here are the verses. 21. 17 They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king’s palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest.
22:1 The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, king in his place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.
I googled it and his full name was
Sorry – finger slipped. Ahaziah ben Jehoram
I was very confused by this verse as well! But I think the idea that He is going for is not literally hate their family but more, able to put Him before his family. The guests who were originally invited said they had to tend to their wife or their land and kept making excuses to avoid a prior commitment. To be Jesus’s disciple, one must put God at the top and not make excuses.
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. I do not understand this verse at all.
I’ve heard it explained that “hate” here means to “love less,” which is what Caitlin is saying as well, I think–that Jesus comes before all other things and people.
It struck me today that when Jesus speaks of bearing one’s own cross, this is before the crucifixion. I wonder how the original hearers would have taken that statement? We view it in light of Christ’s crucifixion but they didn’t know what was to come.
I wonder too. I think it must have been strange at minimum and unthinkable at best like a lot of Jesus’ teachings. They were aware of death by crucifixion just not Jesus’.
Yes. Theres another verse earlier too i think where he used the same – is it idiom? Or reference? I always wondered too- it must have been a fairly common expression -?
7 Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
Thank the Lord that He is willing to overlook my imperfections and failings!
Amen!
20 He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed with no one’s regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
And he departed with no ones regret…wow, that is a sad statement of his legacy. What will be my legacy?
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
What a powerful statement for us . This was Jesus and it makes me try harder to live a more humble life.
I think it’s crazy how we easily forget to humble ourselves. Instead this world invites us to exalt ourselves. Having a gentle reminder from God that He desires us to be humble is such a blessing. I pray I can do a better job with this:)
that verse really struck my heart. one of my great uncles died recently and it feels as though he ‘died with no mans regret’. he was such an unhappy man, he made the people around him unhappy, and was so unkind. it breaks my heart that no one really misses him. it was strange for me to read this and feel as though I may be feeling similar to what the king’s family members must have felt.
13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” A challenge to give without expectation of return.
Yes! It reminds me of the SRT Hospitality study. I had noted in my bible next to this passage “Who can I love today who may have nothing in return to offer me?”
Such a good reminder!