Lessons on Jehoram (2)—To Be Exercised By the Discipline of God - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

[Jehoram] walked in the way of the kings of Israel.

But the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Jehovah the God of his fathers.
2 Chronicles 21:6; 2 Chronicles 21:10

Lessons on Jehoram (2)—To Be Exercised By the Discipline of God
Not long after Jehoram became king, Edom—who had been defeated by King David, and since then had been governed by Solomon and the kings of Judah—rebelled and set a king for themselves. Jehoram went to war against them, but it brought no result as the revolt continued "unto this day."

At the same time we read that Libnah, a city of refuge given to Aaron, the priest, also rose up against the authority of the king. Enemies rebelling against a foreign power we could understand, but a city in the land, and a priestly city at that, revolting against the king's authority—this cannot be ignored. But why was this happening? "Because he had forsaken Jehovah the God of his fathers." It shows how much his behavior was not accepted.

These two revolts against Jehoram's leadership were the discipline of God on him so that he would see his wrong ways. Unfortunately, he was not exercised by it to turn from his ways. And in the end, a terrible judgment would befall him.

It is very important to be exercised by the discipline of our God and Father when it comes our way. Sometimes, His discipline is lovingly permitted to prevent or correct something that might hinder us in our walk with God. "But no chastening at the time seems to be matter of joy, but of grief; but afterwards yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it" (Heb. 12:11). Discipline is never a punishment of God; He loves us and He is for us! It is to form us, and is "for profit, in order to the partaking of His holiness" (Heb. 12:10). If God's discipline comes our way, let us be exercised by it; it comes from a deeply loving heart.

Alexandre Leclerc