Promises Kept and Broken

O. T. #969  "Promises Kept and Broken"
April 27, 2017
2 Chronicles 21-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

How many are hurting today due to a loved one not keeping their promise? Even though people fail, there is One who keeps His promises. Read on with me today friends to find out who it is and find encouragement.

What Jehoram deserved was being destroyed by God. Yet, God's grace was shown due to His promise of the Davidic dynasty to have a lasting king in Judah of David's family on the throne forever. Jehoram was very wicked, killed his brothers and other rivalries to the throne. He turned from worshiping God to Baal worship, which was idolatry, and led Judah down that path of sin. (But the  line of David continued on, even through unfaithful king of Judah.)

Before this time, the prophet Elijah confronted the 450 prophet of Baal at a campfire, only they began with  watered down wood and God showed Himself all-powerful as He brought down fire from heaven and consumed Elijah's sacrifice and not Ahab's (1 Kings 18). Elisha took Elijah's place, performing several miracles found in 2 Kings 2-8.

Under the Davidic covenant God made, He promised to give a light to him and his sons forever. That light was Jesus Christ, a descendant of Judah and David, who is the Messiah and Savior.

Are there times that we need reassured that God keeps His promises to us? What does the New Testament say?

God is faithful, by whom we were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  (1 Corinthians 1:9)

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Faithful is He that calleth you who also will do it.  (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Let's hold onto the promises of God, friends. God is faithful, although we may not see it right now. Be assured, He is working things out for His glory and our good. Are we remaining faithful to God, even when people do not keep their promises to us?

LET IT GROW

During Jehoram's reign, the Edomites revolted against Judah and crowned their own king. You will recall that he Edomites were a part of the army alliance with the Moabites and Ammonites to fight Judah in the last chapter. God turned those enemies of Judah against themselves and killed each other.
What did Jehoram do? He led his full army with chariots to fight, but the Edomites surrounded them Jehoram's army rose up at night and killed the Edomites around them. Even so, the Edomites remained independent from Judah. At the same time, Libnah revolted from under Jehoram's rule, because he had forsaken the GORD God of his fathers.

God sent a message through Elijah to the king, saying because of his whoring with other gods, a great plague would come upon the people and Jehoram would have a great sickness from a bowel disease (a form of dysentery). Sure enough, the king suffered with an incurable disease in his bowels for two years before his death.

Jehoram only reigned as king over Judah for 8 years, yet his bad influence remained-the worship of idols.

He was not killed in battle or by treachery-he died by a lingering and painful disease. Punishment for sin is not always immediate or dramatic. But if we ignore God's laws, e will eventually suffer the consequences of our sin.  (Life Application Study Bible)

Folks, there is no guarantee that if we raise up a child in church and God's Word, that they will not turn away. Such was the case of Jehoram. His father Jehoshaphat was very faithful to God. The child becomes an adult making their own decisions and are responsible for their own actions. However, we can pray for their repentance and return to faith in God. How many testimonies are there like the prodical son! Pray for our loved ones who have gone astray. Where is the verse that says when the straying child is old they will not depart from their teachings of God?

Proverbs 22:6 promises us Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Have we seen this in action? In our storms, God is faithful.

LET IT GO

Hold onto a faithful God.

Pray for our loved ones who have allowed broken promises to discourage them in their faith.

Keep training those sweet children in God's Word; difficulties will be encountered and their faith challenged; pray for them daily that their faith in God will not fail.