How can we ensure our leadership aligns with God's will today? Setting the Scene 2 Kings 8:16: “In the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel, while Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah.” Three rulers show up in one sentence: • Joram of Israel—an idol-worshiper (1 Kings 22:52). • Jehoshaphat of Judah—a God-fearing reformer (2 Chron 17:3-6). • Jehoram of Judah—who will soon turn the kingdom toward Baal (2 Chron 21:6). The contrast lets us ask: what keeps a leader on Jehoshaphat’s path and off Jehoram’s? Major Lessons Drawn from the Verse • Leadership transitions reveal hearts. A son raised under a righteous king still chose corruption; so past heritage cannot replace present surrender (Ezekiel 18:20). • Unequally yoked alliances corrupt leadership. Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter (2 Chron 18:1; 21:6), echoing 1 Corinthians 15:33—“Bad company corrupts good character.” • God tracks every throne and term. The precise dating (“fifth year…”) reminds us authority is never random (Daniel 2:21; Romans 13:1). • A ruler’s choices shape a nation’s destiny. When Jehoram turned, “Judah prostituted itself” (2 Chron 21:11). Proverbs 29:2 stands proven: “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan.” How to Keep Leadership Aligned with God’s Will Today 1. Stay grounded in Scripture. – The king was commanded to “write for himself a copy of this law…so that he may learn to fear the LORD” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). – Modern leaders—whether pastors, parents, or public officials—need daily, personal immersion in God’s Word. 2. Guard alliances and advisors. – Jehoram’s marriage to Athaliah linked him to Ahab’s idolatry. – Proverbs 13:20: “He who walks with the wise grows wise.” Staff, boards, and friends must love truth. 3. Cultivate a repentant heart. – Jehoshaphat occasionally erred (2 Chron 19:2), yet he humbled himself; Jehoram never did. – 1 John 1:9 keeps leadership clean—confession prevents hardening. 4. Lead by covenant, not convenience. – Micah 6:8 summarizes God’s standard: “act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.” – Policy and practice must sync with God’s moral law, even when unpopular. 5. Prioritize God’s people over personal power. – Jehoram murdered his brothers to secure the throne (2 Chron 21:4), a stark warning against self-serving leadership. – Mark 10:42-45 calls leaders to serve, not to lord it over. 6. Seek prophetic accountability. – Elijah confronted Jehoram by letter (2 Chron 21:12-15). – Today: invite mature believers to speak truth; welcome church discipline (Hebrews 13:17). 7. Remember divine evaluation. – Jehoram’s reign ended in shame: “He died to no one’s regret” (2 Chron 21:20). – 2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds every leader of the judgment seat of Christ. Practical Takeaways for Daily Leadership • Schedule uninterrupted Bible reading before decisions are made. • Pray over potential partnerships; if motives or methods violate Scripture, walk away. • Invite at least two spiritually mature people to question your plans. • Keep short accounts—confess sin quickly, publicly if the offense was public. • Measure success by faithfulness to God’s commands, not public applause. • End each day reviewing actions against Micah 6:8; adjust tomorrow accordingly. Encouraging Scriptural Echoes • Proverbs 16:12 – “Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.” • Psalm 101:6 – “My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me.” • 1 Timothy 3:1-7 – Qualifications for overseers model integrity for every sphere of leadership. • Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” assuring that His standards have not changed. By learning from Jehoram’s failure and Jehoshaphat’s faithfulness, leaders today can stay aligned with God’s will and bless those they serve. |
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