Departed Without Being Desired

2021-08-26

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. (2 Chronicles 21:20)

This is in reference to Jehoram, king of Judah. His father Jehoshaphat was a godly king, but his one weakness was that he hung around with the godless king Ahab. Probably because of some treaty with the king of Israel, Jehoram’s wife was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, who would later become the murderous queen. He introduced false religion back into the kingdom and encouraged sexual immorality. Foreign powers robbed the king’s house, and nations once subject to Judah rebelled. In death, he was not even buried with the other kings.

His legacy? He “departed without being desired.” His subjects probably paid him lip service every day because of respect of his position, but inwardly, there was no respect for him.

Every day we are contributing to our legacy. We can choose to have a godly legacy by serving Him and other people. Live life like the Lord is coming back today.