Mon., 12/18/17 Devotion (2 Chron. 21:20a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 21:20a, where we read these words:

"He [King Jehoram of Judah] was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one’s sorrow, departed [died]."

To me, this is one of the most comical texts in all the Bible. (But it is also very tragic.) Jehoram finally "kicks the bucket," after suffering grievously in his body, because of all his flagrant rebellion against the Lord, and his unrepent-ed-of sins—and nobody is sad about it. Instead, if anything, the people of Ju-dah are relieved.

Some lives leave nothing but shame behind them, after the person is gone. The memory of the godly churchman, however, always brings joy to the saints, and glory to God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Never think to be kings when you die, and slaves while you live. The crown of glory is for conquerors, not for captives.” —Tho-mas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]