1. King Ahaziah A Sad and Short Reign
2 Chronicles 22:1-9
(cf. 2 Kings 8:25 – 9:29)
Today’s sermon will examine the reign of young King Āhaziah, the son of Jēhoram and Athaliah (ath-uh-LAI-uh), who reigned in Judah for a single year.
References to the reign are found in 2 Chronicles (concise, our text), and a more extensive narrative in 2 Kings.
(2 Chronicles 22:1-9),
“Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, for the raiders who came with the Arabians into the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, reigned. 2 Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother advised him to do wickedly. 4 Therefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord, like the house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction. 5 He also followed their advice, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram. 6 Then he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which he had received at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. 7 His going to Joram was God's occasion for Ahaziah's downfall; for when he arrived, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. 8 And it happened, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who served Ahaziah, that he killed them. 9 Then he searched for Ahaziah; and they caught him (he was hiding in Samaria), and brought him to Jehu. When they had killed him, they buried him, “because,” they said, “he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” So the house of Ahaziah had no one to assume power over the kingdom.”
First note: The name. There are two kings named Ahaziah. The king of our text, who reigned over Judah as its 6th king. And, the son of Ahab, who was the 8th king who reigned in Israel (1 Kings 22 – 2 Kings 1)
The name Azariah (in verse 6) is probably a mistake. The name Jehoahaz (1 Kings 8; 2 Chron. 21:17; 25:23) is a transposition of Hebrew letters.
The age of 42 is also a scribal error. Ahaziah’s father Jehoram was 40 years old when he died. In fact, Ahaziah was a young man of 22.
(2 Kings 8:26), “Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel.”
He ascended to the throne because all of his older brothers had been killed.
His father Jehoram had displeased God. Elijah prophesied because of his idolatry, he would die of illness. Also, God stirred up the Philistines and Arabs to come against the king, and they killed all the sons other than Ahaziah.
Despite Elijah’s prophecy against his father coming true, Ahaziah did not do any better than his father. He too “walked in the ways of the house of Ahab.” (3)
His sad and short reign as king of Judah serves as an object lesson for us!
(Romans 15:4), “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

2. What you can & can’t control
Handling Life’s Circumstances Ahaziah’s reign – His brothers killed (1)
What you can & can’t control
2 Chronicles 34:1-4
Psalm 34:17-20; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
Reference
Ahaziah’s reign was the result of circumstances which were beyond his control
All of his older brothers (we don’t know how many there were) were killed by the Philistines and Arabs that came against his father
Ahaziah was only 22 years old when he ascended the throne
While this could be considered a fortuitous thing (positive), it was accompanied by the loss of his brothers, and great responsibility at a young age.
He didn’t handle the responsibility well because of the evil influences in your life. Some might would say he didn’t stand a chance (Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel his mother). House of Ahab his counselors. However, he still had the ability to decide for himself whether or not he would serve God!
You can’t control who you are born to, but you can decide whether their evil influences will turn you away from God
Wonderful example, Josiah (born to evil father Amon, and evil grandfather Manasseh)
(2 Chronicles 34:1-4), “Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images. 4 They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars which were above them he cut down; and the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images he broke in pieces, and made dust of them and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.”
Often, you can’t control your health or injuries, but you can decide whether you allow difficulties to lead to despair!
My father, as you know took wonderful care of his body, but was nevertheless afflicted with leukemia
Everyday people through no fault of their own are afflicted by health problems and injuries.
It may seen unfair, but the question is how you hold up through these trials.
It helps to know of God’s care for us!
(Psalm 34:17-20), “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
Paul understood that such physical plights can be endured with God’s help, and reacted righteously
(2 Corinthians 12:7-9), “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
In fact, no matter the affliction (Economic problems, warfare, persecution), or even the positive circumstances of our lives - things we often can’t control – nevertheless we can control how we react to them!)
Some people have trouble handling success or prosperity!
Many have trouble handling adversity of every type!
It is a lesson that Paul learned well
(Philippians 4:10-13), “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

3. Evil Influence Destroys Athaliah & the house of Ahab (3-5)
Family, Friends, Culture can be toxic
2 Chron. 22:3-5; 2 Kings 8:18; 2 Chron. 24:7
Matthew 10:34-36; 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
1 Peter 2:11
Ahaziah allowed significant individuals in his life to influence him to evil
(2 Chronicles 22:3-5), “He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother advised him to do wickedly. 4 Therefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord, like the house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction. 5 He also followed their advice, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.”
Mother Athaliah (ath-uh-LAI-uh) was the daughter of Jezebel and Ahab
She married Jehoram (eldest son of Jehoshapat) because of the alliance between Ahab and Jehoshaphat
This alliance brought the influence of Jezebel and her religion (worship of Baal) upon several generations in both kingdoms!
Athaliah was an evil influence upon both her husband and son (A very strong woman like her mother)
She became queen, and influenced Jehoram to evil
(2 Kings 8:18), “And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”
She became queen mother, and influenced Ahaziah to do evil
After Ahaziah’s death, she murdered all of his children (her grandchildren), proclaimed herself ruler, and maintained her rule on David’s throne for six full years. In that time, she established Baal worship in Jerusalem
(2 Chronicles 24:7), [Consider the extent of her evil], “For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord to the Baals.”
Family can lead you away from God!
(Matthew 10:34-36), “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to “set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man's enemies will be those of his own household.’”
Friends can lead you away from God!
(1 Corinthians 15:33-34), “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”
Our culture is toxic, we need to be on guard lest we be corrupted!
(1 Peter 2:11), “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”

4. You can’t fight against God Ahaziah’s downfall was God’s will (7-9)
It never pays to fight against God’s will
Romans 2:5-11
Psalm 37:1-5
The chronicler makes clear that Ahaziah’s death was God’s judgment against him.
(2 Chronicles 22:7-9), “His going to Joram was God's occasion for Ahaziah's downfall; for when he arrived, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. 8 And it happened, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who served Ahaziah, that he killed them. 9 Then he searched for Ahaziah; and they caught him (he was hiding in Samaria), and brought him to Jehu. When they had killed him, they buried him, “because,” they said, “he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” So the house of Ahaziah had no one to assume power over the kingdom.”
Ahaziah had followed the counsel of Ahab’s house, and fought by Jehoram/Joram (the sitting king of Israel) against a man (Jehu) who God had chosen to destroy the house of Ahab
The result of this alliance led to the death of all of Ahaziah’s nephews, and finally his death at Jehu’s comand. (Note: you can read the extended narrative of that death in 2 Kings 9).
Ultimately, Ahaziah’s reign was sad and short, and at his death, no one was there to legitimately assume power of the kingdom. (This shows that Athaliah’s reign was a usurpation of the throne).
God does and will always judge evil in the world.
(Romans 2:5-11), “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.”
Those who do evil will not ultimately prosper
(Psalm 37:1-5), “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”

5. Conclusion A Sad and Short Reign
Though a king, Ahaziah was not a success. He was evil, weak and rebellious against God.
Matthew 16:26
Yes, Ahaziah was a king over Judah. But, that did not make him a success.
Born into royalty, he had an opportunity to become a righteous king
Instead, he followed evil counsel, and rebelled against God
As such he serves as a wonderful example to us of the folly of disobeying our Creator and Lord.
(Matthew 16:26), “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”