January 31, 2003
Never surely did any kingdom change its king so much for the worse as Judah did, when Jehoram, one of the vilest, succeeded Jehoshaphat, one of the best. Thus were they punished for not making a better use of Jehoshaphat's good government, and their disaffectedness (or coldness at least) to his reformation, #2Ch 20:33. Those that knew not how to value a good king are justly plagued with a bad one. (MH)
10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.16, Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
God's judgment involves stirring up or raising up enemies against those who depart from Him. V. 17, and He gives those enemies power to prevail.
An application here, I believe, is that God has stirred up enemies of the US because of our wickedness in His sight.
18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
The Lord had warned Jehoram back in vv. 14, 15 that a great plague would be against his people and children, and that he would have a great sickness in his bowels. Though he knew the results of what he was doing, he did it anyway. He died a two year long horrible death.
How like the sinner — unless the Lord gives the spirit of repentance, there is no turning from sin, no matter how much we might know the results of our sin.
V. 20 is a sad statement. He departed without being desired. No one missed him when he was gone.