the Fourth Week after Easter
Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
2 Chronicles 21:1-20
Here it appears that the book of Chronicles has all of a sudden abandoned its character as a book of grace! Apart from exceptions which were justified by events, the book had systematically covered up the mistakes of the people and of their king, in order to underline, by contrast, all the good there could be. Let us say in passing that this is something which we should always do! (Read 1 Peter 4:8).
The pages which we are now touching upon form a very sad contrast with the "good things" which God had been pleased to show us up to this point (2 Chronicles 12:12; 2 Chronicles 19:3). However, from now on, it is no longer possible to cover up the evil of Jehoram and his successors. This king, a son-in-law of Ahab and Jezebel, a murderer and worshipper of idols, forces Judah to worship the false gods. A terrible situation . . . which however serves to emphasize God’s incomparable patience towards His poor people! The result is that grace continues to shine in this book, even more magnificently as the darkness gathers over the kingdom of Judah. Grace will abound far more than sin (Romans 5:20).
Jehoram receives a letter from Elijah which sums up his crimes and warns him of the divine punishment. That punishment does not fail to be carried out.
