In what ways can we avoid repeating Ahaziah's mistakes in our decisions? A Quick Look at Ahaziah 2 Chronicles 22 opens with Judah placing twenty-two-year-old Ahaziah on the throne after marauders had wiped out his older brothers. “So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah.” (2 Chronicles 22:1). His reign lasts only one year (v. 2), and Scripture sums it up bluntly: • “Ahaziah … walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother Athaliah counseled him to do wickedly.” (v. 3) • “He did evil in the sight of the LORD … to his destruction.” (v. 4) Mistakes to avoid are plain; the path to wisdom just as clear. The Core Missteps 1. Letting ungodly voices shape his decisions (vv. 3-4) 2. Joining himself to those under God’s judgment (v. 5; cf. 2 Kings 8:27) 3. Ignoring the written law of God that had guided kings since Moses (Deuteronomy 17:18-20) Patterns to Avoid in Our Own Choices • Unfiltered Counsel – Proverbs 13:20: “The companion of fools will be destroyed.” – Psalm 1:1: blessing belongs to the one who “does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” • Compromise Alliances – 2 Corinthians 6:14 warns against being “unequally yoked.” – Ahaziah’s partnership with Israel’s apostate King Joram drags him into battle and death (2 Chronicles 22:5-6). • Short-Sighted Throne-Room Thinking – Ahaziah calculates politically, not spiritually, forgetting “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Six Practical Safeguards 1. Seek Counsel Anchored in Scripture – Surround yourself with believers who submit to the Word (Proverbs 11:14). 2. Test Every Idea Against God’s Character – “To the law and to the testimony!” (Isaiah 8:20). If advice contradicts Scripture, discard it. 3. Choose Companions Who Strengthen Obedience – 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 4. Cultivate Personal Responsibility Before God – Ezekiel 18:20 stresses individual accountability. Blaming parents, peers, or culture never justifies sin. 5. Keep Eternity in View – Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Political gain or social approval is fleeting; God’s verdict is final. 6. Maintain a Heart Quick to Repent – When confronted by truth, turn immediately (1 John 1:9). Ahaziah never did, sealing his fate. Walking the Better Path Ahaziah’s year on the throne warns us that the wrong voices, the wrong alliances, and a casual attitude toward God’s Word can unravel a life quickly. By clinging to Scripture, surrounding ourselves with godly influences, and weighing every decision in light of the Lord’s unchanging truth, we choose a course that honors Him and spares us from repeating the tragedy recorded in 2 Chronicles 22. |
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