Throughout the history of the kings of Judah you see the rise and fall of many good kings and many wicked kings. One king will be very evil, and yet, have a son that loves the Lord and tries to do right; and another will be a very good king, and his child will be known as one of the most wicked rulers of his time!
What is it that is happening to the next generation?
Judah had a king whose name was Uzziah. He was a good king that loved the Lord. But, because of the blessings of the Lord, he became prideful and thought of himself as more than he should have.
He went into the temple of the Lord and tried to burn incense to the Lord, which was something that only the priests, the Levites, were allowed to do. For his sin, God made him a leper while he stood there in the temple with the censer in his hand.
But, I want to follow the time line through the next two generations. His son, Jotham, ruled in his place while he lived in a several house, and then was crowned king when his father died.
2 Chronicles 27:1-2- Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.
Jotham was a good king. He tried to do right in the sight of the Lord. But, we see two things that occurred during his reign- he never went into the temple, and the people of his kingdom were corrupt.
Perhaps, Jotham was too afraid to enter the temple because of what happened to his father. Leprosy was a walking death sentence. There was no cure. A person who contracted this disease was sent away to live in isolation until they died.
Hebrews 10:25- Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Paul warns us not to forgo church attendance. Why? I believe we will see later on in our story.
Whatever the reason, Jotham wasn't an example to his kingdom in this respect. Yes, he obeyed the Lord. Yes, he tried to do right by his people and his God. But, he didn't show them how to go before the Lord and ask His guidance.
Next, I see that Jotham allowed corruption in his kingdom.
The people did yet corruptly. Maybe Jotham kept the corrupt people out of leadership postitions, but that would only work while he was in charge. If the corruption wasn't taken care of, it would soon pass down to the next generation of leaders.
Moving on through history...
2 Kings 16:1-2- In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
Jotham's son, Ahaz, was the next to take the throne. But, unlike his father, Ahaz was a wicked king.
How could a man who tried so hard to do right have such an evil child? The Bible says that Ahaz offered his children as human sacrifices to false idols, and he worshiped many false gods all over Jerusalem and Judea.
What happened? I believe it may have been due to the two things that Jotham allowed himself to slide on- not going to the temple, and allowing corrupt people to prosper.
You see, Ahaz wasn't taken to see the glory of God. He didn't get to view the holiness that was expected from the priests of the Lord. He didn't see the care that went into copying the law of the Lord for future generations. He missed out on the precious promises that God made to His people.
And, there were evil people throughout the kingdom who had wicked children that could become friends with the future ruler. These friends would influence the character and thought pattern of this young prince.
Proverbs 27:17- Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron. A good friend, a wise friend, a godly friend will encourage those characteristics in those they hang out with. But, a devious person, a conniving person, a wicked person will influence others in this path.
Ahaz not only turned to idols, but he ensured that his kingdom would follow him.
2 Chronicles 28:22-25- And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.
Ahaz not only sacrificed to false gods, and made places of worship throughout his kingdom for these false gods, but he also closed the doors of the temple. He made it difficult for those who wanted to serve the Lord to be able to.
You see, Jotham didn't go to the temple; Ahaz closed the temple.
Jotham didn't get rid of the corruption; Ahaz embraced the corruption.
The things we allow in our lives are the very things that will dominate and rule our children's lives.
Song of Solomon 2:15- Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Our children are still young and tender. That next generation will be spoiled by the little foxes that we let slip through and influence the vines. Are we at fault for destroying the next generation because we like our "foxes"?
What's happening to the next generation in your home?
