Jehoram reigned in Jerusalem for eight years, and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. After Jehoram took over from his father, he consolidated power by killing all his brothers and even some of the officials who faithfully served the previous regime.

Jehoram’s evil turned on him. Invaders attacked Jerusalem and carried off all the treasures in his palace, along with his wives and children.

Since this disaster apparently failed to humble Jehoram, the Lord afflicted him with an incurable disease of the bowels. In the course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain.

Then this epitaph, recorded forever in the pages of scripture:

He passed away, to no one’s regret.

Good riddance.

These situations come and go throughout history, and I’m not sure how to avoid them. I pray for our leaders. I pray for the process of choosing leaders. I pray for the Lord’s goodness in doing so and when possible, I participate in picking our leaders.

But no guarantees.

As I look at this story and others like it in scripture, one truth is guaranteed and wields hope—the Lord keeps track. An evil leader never escapes justice. In this world, yes, a grandiose life spent tyrannizing others sometimes occurs—but not in the next.

2 Chronicles 21 in week thirty of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Ahmed Adly