In what ways can we seek God's guidance to avoid Jehoram's fate? A cautionary snapshot (2 Chronicles 21:18) “After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels.” Jehoram’s calamity was no random misfortune—it was the last stop on a road he chose. To keep from walking that same path, we seek God’s guidance through the following practices: Let God’s Word set the direction • Psalm 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • Schedule daily, unrushed reading time; let Scripture—not trends—shape convictions. • Test every plan, relationship, and habit against clear biblical commands. Invite and heed godly counsel • Jehoram ignored Elijah’s letter of warning (2 Chron 21:12-15). • Proverbs 15:22 — “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” • Surround yourself with believers who will confront sin; listen and adjust, don’t defend. Refuse unequal yokes and idolatrous alliances • Jehoram married into Ahab’s family and “walked in their ways” (21:6). • 2 Corinthians 6:14 — “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” • Break partnerships that tug your heart away from wholehearted devotion. Keep a humble, repentant heart • 2 Chron 7:14 calls for humility, prayer, and turning from wicked ways. • 1 John 1:9 — confess quickly; don’t let rebellion harden. • Regular self-examination keeps disease from taking root in the soul. Prioritize integrity over self-protection • Jehoram killed his brothers to secure power (21:4), yet God had already promised David’s line stability (21:7). • Proverbs 3:5-6 — trust God instead of your own schemes. • Choose righteousness even when it seems to threaten influence or comfort. Serve rather than exploit • Jehoram “led Judah astray” (21:11). • Jesus’ model: Matthew 20:28 — “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” • Ask: do my choices build others up or use them? Stay alert to early warnings • Losses to the Philistines and Arabs (21:16-17) were mercy-filled alarms. • Hebrews 12:11 — God’s discipline “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” • When setbacks come, pause and seek the Lord instead of powering through. Live daily in the fear of the Lord • Proverbs 9:10 — “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” • A reverent awareness of His presence keeps the conscience tender. Anchor identity in Christ, not pedigree • Jehoshaphat’s faith didn’t save Jehoram. Each stands on personal response (Ezekiel 18:20). • 2 Corinthians 5:17 — in Christ we are new creations, free to choose a different legacy. Practical steps this week • Compare 2 Chron 21 with Psalm 1; note the outcomes of the wicked versus the righteous. • Ask a trusted believer to point out any spiritual blind spots. • Audit close partnerships—do they fuel or cool your devotion? • Memorize Proverbs 3:5-6; recite it at every decision point. Attentiveness to Scripture, humility before God, and accountability within His people keep us under His gracious guidance—and far from Jehoram’s tragic end. |
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