2 Kings 8:25-29 ESV
25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign. 26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab.

28 He went with Joram the son of Ahab to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 And King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that 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.

-2 Kings 8:25-29 ESV

25 Nang ikalabindalawang taon ni Joram na anak ni Ahab, na hari ng Israel, nagsimulang maghari si Ahazias na anak ni Jehoram na hari sa Juda. 26 Si Ahazias ay dalawampu't dalawang taong gulang nang siya'y magsimulang maghari; at siya'y naghari sa loob ng isang taon sa Jerusalem. Ang pangalan ng kanyang ina ay Atalia na apo ni Omri na hari ng Israel. 27 Siya'y lumakad din sa landas ng sambahayan ni Ahab, at gumawa ng kasamaan sa paningin ng PANGINOON, gaya ng ginawa ng sambahayan ni Ahab, sapagkat siya'y manugang sa sambahayan ni Ahab. 28 Siya'y sumama kay Joram na anak ni Ahab upang makipagdigma laban kay Hazael na hari ng Siria sa Ramot-gilead, na doon ay sinugatan ng mga taga-Siria si Joram. 29 Si Haring Joram ay bumalik sa Jezreel upang magpagaling sa kanyang mga sugat na likha ng mga taga-Siria sa Rama nang siya'y lumaban kay Hazael na hari ng Siria. Si Ahazias na anak ni Jehoram, na hari ng Juda ay lumusong upang tingnan si Joram na anak ni Ahab sa Jezreel, sapagkat siya'y sugatan.

THE WAY OF AHAB

When Ahaziah succeeded the throne of his father Jehoram at Judah, he ‘walked in the way of Ahab’ like his father. Most likely, his mother Athaliah had influenced him greatly. As the saying goes, “Apples don’t fall far from the trees.” Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, the most wicked king and queen of Israel. She did introduce the Baal worship in Judah.

Understandably, there was a peace between the Northern and Southern kingdoms. But, clearly, through this relationship, Ahaziah had implicated himself in the King Joram’s troubles. He had to fight Syria with King Joram, his uncle. This was the price of compromises in relationship. He had to visit Joram, his uncle who was the king of Israel, who was wounded in battle, in order to help him.

The embrace of idolatry had paved the way in fostering relationship between the two kingdoms. However, this had angered God. God is a zealous God. We have to serve God alone and to despise idols. He commanded us through Moses, “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, Should we sacrifice the truth for unity? What is the basis of true unity? Is it not our unity in Christ.”[Ex 20:3-5]

Today, let us be sure not to sacrifice our relationship with God for the sake of external peace. Jesus wants us to walk in the light and not in darkness. It’s impossible to mix both as paddling two rivers with one canoe. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” [1 John 1:5,6]

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