Who is Around You?
We were up early this morning. My coughing last night wasn’t as severe as it has been in the last week, but enough to be annoying. I was awake at 5:30 a.m. and Debbie was already up. I thought I was keeping her awake, but she got up early to get ready for her on-call assignment for work. So I go up and was the first one at Lamar’s donuts at 6:30 a.m. this morning!
Debbie was orienting a new nurse, so her colleague arrived at 7:30 a.m. and they took off for calls about an hour later. I have been holding down the fort here at home. I was outside doing a little yard work, made some reservations for Stephanie to come visit us in November and then watched the Bronco game. Sue and Sam returned from their trip to pick up Little Dog. They had a good trip and Little Dog was glad to see them.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah…his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly.He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord…after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing.” 2 Chronicles 22:2-4
As I was reading about some of the Kings of Judah recorded in 2 Chronicles, I was reminded of the adage that says, “those closest to you, determine your level of success.” We certainly see that in the reign of the Kings of Judah. Some were very young when they began to reign, others were older, but they all had advisers and the priests around them that influenced their lives and decisions.
When adviser provided godly counsel kings were successful and enjoyed the blessing of the Lord. When advisers turned their heart to idols, they were defeated by their enemies and subjected to God’s judgment.
What is of note in Ahaziah’s reign, the shortest of any King of Judah, is that his mother was his counselor in doing evil. And then we read specifically that, “his counselors were his undoing.” Ahaziah was related in marriage to the house of Ahab, the wicked King of Israel. Apparently some of his counselors were those who also served Ahab.
In contrast to Ahaziah initially is King Joash. Joash was only seven years old when he was made King. We read, “…Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” (2 Chonricles 24:2) As he became older he focused on the restoration of the Temple that had fallen into disrepair through idolatry and disrespect.
But then we see a change, “Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols.” (2 Chronicles 24:17,18) Joash’s rebellion was so great that even though warned by prophets and the Priest Zechariah the son of Johioiada, he did not repent. He even had Zechariah killed regardless of the fact that Zechariah’s father was responsible for saving his life when his father was killed.
The history is clear. Godly counselors, godly king, evil counselors, evil king. But the same is true in your life. Those around you can take you higher than you are able to go on your own, or they will take you lower than you would go on your own. What is of interest in our two examples today is the role of family acting as evil counselors. Sometimes those closest to us are those that we need to be careful of. Make sure you family and friends are those who are lifting you up, encouraging godly behavior and bringing out the best.
Then remember, don’t neglect the wisdom of age and experience. Rehoboam is an example of a king that spurned the counsel of Solomon’s advisers and listened instead only to those who “grew up with him”; as a result he lost most of the kingdom when they rebelled against his leadership. (2 Chronicles 12)
Who is around you? Evaluate those who influence you, seek wise and godly counselors, be willing to take a stand. It is your life, live it well to God’s glory.