2Ki 8:16 And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.
2Ki 8:17 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
2Ki 8:18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
2Ki 8:19 Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.
2Ki 8:20 In his days [“Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah”] Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
2Ki 8:21 So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.
2Ki 8:22 Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.
2Ki 8:23 And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2Ki 8:24 And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
2Ki 8:25 In the twelfth year of Joram [“speaking of the other Joram now of Israel”] the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
2Ki 8:26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
2Ki 8:27 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab. [1Co 15:33]
2Ki 8:28 And he [“Ahaziah”] went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
2Ki 8:29 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
In last week’s study we read of how Hazael killed king Benhadad by suffocating him with a thick wet cloth so he could become king of Syria in Ramothgilead, and in this section of Kings we will start to see the effect his leadership is having on the warring nations around him and his own kingdom. We will also be reading about two kings with the same name, Jehoram or Joram for short, the first one who was the son of King Jehoshaphat who ruled in the southern kingdom of Judah and the other King Jehoram who is the son of King Ahab who ruled in the northern kingdom of Israel. These Jehorams were brothers-in-law to each other.
Jehoshaphat was a godly king of Judah (2Ch 17:3-4), and yet his son Jehoram did not follow in his footsteps. Jehoram married Athaliah, who was the daughter of King Ahab king of Israel and the sister of Ahab’s son King Joram, making them brothers-in-law. Jehoram followed the way of the kings of Israel that were corrupt, a symbolic action meaning he followed his flesh. In this case we see the negative example of ‘the Israel of God’ as he did not follow after his father Jehoshaphat the king of Judah who represents Christ our head.
2Ch 17:3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
2Ch 17:4 But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
King Jehoram was a wicked king, and yet despite that wickedness God kept his covenant with David and did not destroy Judah as we read in 2 Kings 8:19. This idea of God preserving Judah because of King David is woven in and out of the stories we read in the books of kings and elsewhere in God’s word, all for our sakes (1Pe 1:12). It is a type and shadow reminder for God’s elect that the work God has started in the Israel of God is going to be completed through Jesus Christ who is typified by King David (Gal 6:16, Php 1:6).
2Ki 8:19 Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children [Mat 5:14].
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Jehoram’s heart was not like his father’s, “Jehoshaphat”, who was a circumspect king, whose influence of good leadership did not affect Jehoram who led his kingdom into idolatry. It resulted in both Edom and Libnah revolting against Judah, nations God used as His sword against Judah (2Ch 21:8-11).
2Ch 21:8 In his days [Jehoram] the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.
2Ch 21:9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.
2Ch 21:10 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.
2Ch 21:11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
This is where Elijah comes on the scene demonstrating to God’s elect that when we are led into sin, God makes a way for us to be set free from that sin through Christ, who is typified by Elijah. Jehoram’s actions of leading the nation of Judah into idolatry was the catalyst to bring an attack on Jehoram’s house that would include him getting an incurable bowel disease (2Ch 21:12-15).
2Ch 21:12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
2Ch 21:13 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself:
2Ch 21:14 Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
2Ch 21:15 And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
God’s judgment brought the Philistines and Arabs who attacked Judah, invading and carrying off all the goods found in the king’s palace. His sons and sons’ wives were taken captive as well, and King Jehoram was left with no one except “Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons” (2Ch 21:17). Finally this disease in Jehoram’s bowels caused him to die at the age of forty, and he was not an honored king in life or in death, as he typifies the man of sin who must be destroyed by Christ’s coming into our lives (2Ch 21:17-20).
2Ch 21:17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king’s house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
2Ch 21:18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
2Ch 21:19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
2Ch 21:20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
The other Jehoram, the son of Ahab, took the throne of Israel five years before his brother-in-law’s reign in Judah, and he was just as corrupt. Wicked king Ahab had turned the people to idolatry and the worship of Baal, his wife’s Jezebel’s god of choice, and all these evil communications to which Jehoram was exposed no doubt played a part in corrupting him (1Co 15:33). All these events tie into and weave in and out of the scriptures we will look at today that will hopefully serve as some groundwork for future studies in this second book of kings. As a result of the rebellion of Moab, Joram king of Israel sought out help from Jehoshaphat the king of Judah and the king of Edom so they could attack Moab together (2Ki 3:7-8).
2Ki 3:7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.
2Ki 3:8 And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
Another intervening moment occurs with Elijah’s successor Elisha, who saved the armies from a lack of water, and as mentioned earlier these actions were again another type and shadow of how God will provide all our needs through Christ. These deliverances are type and shadow events for Christ’s body’s sake assuring us that His body will be provided what we need in our daily spiritual battles that have us dying daily to self. In this instance, Elisha did not want to help, but God’s mercy prevailed, as it will for His people (2Ki 3:14-18).
2Ki 3:14 And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
2Ki 3:15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
2Ki 3:16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
2Ki 3:17 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
2Ki 3:18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand (Joh 8:36, Rom 8:37, 2Co 4:17, Rom 8:18).
Another important lesson with Joram the king of Israel is that no amount of miracles is going to change his wicked heart, just as no amount of works on the earth or physical miracles are going to change someone whose heart is not converted by the Lord. In fact, it is those miracles that create the strong delusion in our lives to not see that we ‘are the man’ who needs to change from within and that the outward miracles are only a type and shadow of the greater miracle of spiritual healing we need in order to see and hear the voice of the true shepherd (Mat 13:16, Mat 24:24, Rev 13:13), which in type and shadow both Jehorams were not able to experience.
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
In chapter nine of 2 Kings, king Joram of Israel is injured in battle against king Hazael in Syria (2Ki 9:15) and returned to Jezreel in Israel to be healed. After this event, God charged “Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of NimshiH5250” to destroy the entire house of Ahab. Judah and Israel are intrinsically linked as a type of the head and the body of Christ, so when Israel is being cleansed of idolatry and the house of Ahab is being destroyed in Israel, Judah will also be blessed by ridding the land of this idolatry within Israel (2Ki 9:1-11). These actions of God were another demonstration of how “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.“
2Ki 9:1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:
2Ki 9:2 And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of NimshiH5250, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;
2Ki 9:3 Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.
2Ki 9:4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.
2Ki 9:5 And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.
2Ki 9:6 And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.
2Ki 9:7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.
2Ki 9:8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:
2Ki 9:9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:
2Ki 9:10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.
2Ki 9:11 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication. [When we are blessed to have eyes to see and ears to hear as typified by this anointing of Jehu then our communication can begin to cease from being evil (1Co 15:33)].
Nimshi H5250 = “rescued” (BDB); Probably from H4871; extricated (Strong’s)
H4871 = A primitive root; to pull out (literally or figuratively): – draw (out).
Psa 18:16 He sent from above, he took me, he drewH4871 me out of many waters.
Psa 18:17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
Psa 18:18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
2Ki 8:16 Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah. Jehoram began to rule in the fifth year that Joram son of Ahab was king of Israel. (ERV)
2Ki 8:17 Thirty and two years old was he [Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat] when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
2Ki 8:18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
2Ki 8:19 Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.
The name Joram’sH3141 root meaning is “Jehovah-raised“, and Jehoram was raised by the Lord from wicked king Ahab to accomplish God’s purpose (Psa 127:3, Pro 16:4), which purpose is understood for God’s elect to be unfolding for our sakes who are given to believe and know that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).
Psa 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
H3141 yôrâm yo-rawm’ A form of H3088; Joram, the name of three Israelites and one Syrian: – Joram. Total KJV occurrences: 20
H3088yehôrâm yeh-ho-rawm’ From H3068 and H7311; Jehovah-raised; Jehoram, the name of a Syrian and of three Israelites: – Jehoram, Joram. Compare H3141. Total KJV occurrences: 29
Wicked men are God’s sword (Psa 17:13), and within us this means that our own iniquities will chasten us and be that sword (Jer 2:19), as these wicked kings and their sons typify what is in us until it is burned out of us through judgment.
Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Jer 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
With these concepts in mind, it becomes clear why “Jehoram (son of Jehoshaphat in Judah) began to rule in the fifth year that Joram son of Ahab was king of Israel” (ERV), the fifth year showing that a typical process of grace through faith is going to begin to unfold and be revealed in this story of different rulers and their sons. Just to witness to that fact, we are told that the age of Jehoram is thirty two (3+2=5), and he reigned eight years in Judah to signify the new man that is produced out of the grace and faith relationship to which we are called: “Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.“
This stage of Jehoram’s life however represents our time in Babylon when God’s chastening is not resulting in any spiritual increase within us, which only comes from God (1Co 3:6), and so we read of Jehoram king of Judah’s walk, his communication or way of life, with these words at this time: “And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.”
The daughter of Ahab, who is Jehoram’s (king of Judah) wife, is a type of Babylon as women represent churches in the bible, and “he did evil in the sight of the LORD” in this relationship with her as a type of the churches of this world out of which God’s elect are called (Rev 18:4).
The hope-filled promise (Tit 1:2) is in the next verse which reads, “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.” (Mat 5:14)
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
God’s children are the light of the world, but we don’t start off that way and our former conversation (Eph 2:2) is judged by God so that we can ‘come out of her my people’ and no longer receive of her plagues (Rev 15:8). It takes God’s plagues upon the kingdom of our old man in order to no longer have to receive the plagues or cup of God’s wrath or judgment God promises every man will have to drink at their appointed time (Jer 49:12, 2Co 6:17, Rev 18:4).
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Jer 49:12 For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Ki 8:20 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
2Ki 8:21 So Joram went over to ZairH6811, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.
2Ki 8:22 Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then LibnahH3841 revolted at the same time.
We know that Edom represents our flesh that does not change and cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50), and this is why our flesh revolts “from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves“, which is another way of saying how we naturally reject God and need flesh to be in control (1Sa 8:7). It’s only a wood, hay and stubble venture (1Co 3:12) for king Joram of Judah at this point as he “went over to ZairH6811 where the day of small things is not to be despised (Zec 4:10), and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.”
1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
I underlined the words “all the chariots with him” to remind us that the flesh does not go down easily and requires powerful horse-drawn chariots to accomplish the task at hand. The people who were able to flee this attack “fled into their tents” which symbolizes our taking solace in our own temporal fleshly abodes instead of trusting in the heavenly abode that can be found in Christ (Pro 3:5-7, Eph 2:6).
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
H6811 tsâ‛ı̂yr tsaw-eer’ The same as H6810; Tsair, a place in Idumaea: – Zair.
Total KJV occurrences: 1
H6810 ts ̂‛ı̂yr tsâ‛ôr tsaw-eer’, tsaw-ore’ From H6819; little; (in number) few; (in age) young, (in value) ignoble: – least, little (one), small (one), + young (-er, -est).
Total KJV occurrences: 22
The sentence “Then LibnahH3841 revolted at the same time” is a witness to the corroding effect sin has, as a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal 5:9).
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
H3841 Libnah libnâh lib-naw’ The same as H3839; Libnah, a place in the Desert and one in Palestine: – Libnah. Total KJV occurrences: 18 (Joe 1:7)
H3839 From H3835; some sort of whitish tree, perhaps the storax: – poplar. (Hos 4:13)
H3835 A primitive root; to be (or become) white; also (as denominative from H3843) to make bricks: – make brick, be (made, make) white (-r). (Lev_13:3)
Lev 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned whiteH3836 = from H3835 “white“, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
2Ki 8:23 And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2Ki 8:24 And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
When we read “the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?“, it is an all-inclusive statement that reminds us that every book was written by God, and this particular book is “of the chronicles of the kings of Judah” which is important for God’s elect to notice as it tells us these books are instructive for us to look at in order to grow in the mind of Christ (2Pe 3:18, 1Co 10:11).
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
2Ki 8:25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
Now Joram (the son of Ahab) who is first mentioned as being in his fifth year of reign (2Ki 8:16) is now in his twelfth year, and this foundational point is contrasted with Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah who is about to begin his reign in Judah. These numbers tell us that there is a progression the body of Christ goes through in order to establish a proper foundation in the Lord by grace through faith [5] that leads to a Godly foundation in time [12]. Now the focus is turned to Ahaziah (in Judah) who began to reign in the twelfth year of Joram (in Israel).
2Ki 8:26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was AthaliahH6271, the daughter of OmriH6018 king of Israel.
2Ki 8:27 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab.
2Ki 8:28 And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
Ahaziah’s reign began when he was twenty-two years old to signify that this reign was a negative witness of when we are serving another Jesus. His mother’s name “AthaliahH6271” and her father’s name “OmriH6018 king of Israel” also bring out this point. Ahaziah typifies a place of spiritual constraint, which is what we have when we are in Babylon and serving her.
H6271 Athaliah‛ăthalyâh ‛ăthalyâhû ath-al-yaw’, ath-al-yaw’-hoo From the same as H6270 and H3050; Jah has constrained; Athaljah, the name of an Israelitess and two Israelites: – Athaliah. Total KJV occurrences: 17
H6018 Omri ‛omrı̂y om-ree’ From H6014; heaping; Omri, an Israelite: – Omri. Total KJV occurrences: 18
H6014‛âmar aw-mar’ A primitive root; properly apparently to heap; figuratively to chastise (as if piling blows); specifically (as denominative from H6016) to gather grain: – bind sheaves, make merchandise of. Total KJV occurrences: 3
God is the one who gives Satan his marching orders to constrain us by the devil’s spirit until he begins to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives (2Th 2:6-8). While we are in that bondage, God has in mind for the elect how this gathering of tares within us (“Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them“) is going to begin (1Pe 4:17) so the increase of wheat He is giving us (1Co 3:6) can be gathered into His barn, “but gather the wheat into my barn” (Mat 13:27-30).
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Ahaziah reigned only one year in Jerusalem, and “he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.” As a result of this battle and wounding of his uncle Joram, “Ahaziah the son of Jehoram” went down to see “Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel” which demonstrates that Ahaziah was yet in alliance with this wicked king (Mat 10:39).
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
2Ki 8:29 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in JezreelH3157, because he was sick.
God is the one who is going to sow all the details in our lives (Eph 1:11), the battles, the spiritual growth, the much tribulation, the eventual death of the carnal old man within. It is all that which affects the inner workings of His workmanship which we are (Eph 2:10), and through the whole process we are promised He will never leave or forsake us, from start to finish, as the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2).
H3157 Jezreel yizre‛ê’l yiz-reh-ale’ From H2232 and H410; God will sow; Jizreel, the name of two places in Palestine and of two Israelites: – Jezreel. Total KJV occurrences: 36
Ahaziah, the son of “Jehoram king of Judah“, who “went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick” shows the alliance that Ahaziah had with the wicked king of Israel, but this also was done for “Judah for David his servant’s sake”, preserving these lines and all their stories to bring us comfort that God’s remnant will be preserved, regardless of what wicked men (within and without) do along the way (Rom 11:5).
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Next week we will be shown how and why flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom, and we’ll continue to see in these stories that it is through Christ [the Lion of the tribe of Judah] and his Christ [the Israel of God] that we receive the strength and the faith to endure and overcome so we can continue to believe these words of hope which apply to His little remnant flock, “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake” (2Co 1:3-5, Php 4:13).
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
"His Branch" 