A Devotional Thought From 2 Chronicles

Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:     2 Chronicles 28 :1

Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and 20 years old, and he reigned nine and 20 years in Jerusalem, And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.     2 Chronicles 29:1,2

These verses are a study of two Kings, both in the line of King David who is called their father according to custom although, as founder of the line, he would’ve been far back in the history of the Kings, and the great, great, great, great, grandfather or something. Both men reigned from the same throne as David in the capital city Jerusalem in Judah, but their reigns, their administrations, had very different outcomes and consequences, and any observer of Judah’s history could have predicted that just by comparing the verses above. One king, Hezekiah, was like David, the other, Ahaz, was not. One did evil in God’s sight, the other did that which was right. One was not buried  among the Kings, and the other when he slept with his fathers was buried in the chiefest of the sepulchers of the sons of David with great honor of his subjects.

He that honors God, God honors. He that does evil is not revered by the people. These simple principles are true today. Rulers who wish to leave a legacy in their nation, and for history to record and revere should do that which is right in the eyes of the living God, the God of the Bible. This has always been true of any king, queen, ruler, president, patriarch, or Prime Minister. It is so obvious and yet because of the sinful nature of their hearts some men and women or kings and queens, even when they know what they are planning to do is morally, spiritually, biblically wrong, will nonetheless simply go ahead and do wrong much to the harm of the people they are supposed to be serving. Given the sinful nature of man and the addiction of power can we expect any less among modern-day rulers? Only if they are willing to turn to God’s word and do what is right in His eyes!