There is great power in influence. We even have a term today for a special group of people that we call influencers. An influencer is someone that people listen to and, because of that, are able to use their good will to encourage people to do or not do things. Businesses understand the power of influencers and will try to pay them or send them free products so that they will review their product and influence people to buy their product or service. Influence is powerful. We have another term for influence called peer pressure. Because we care about what other people think and respond, we will do certain things because of their influence. Things that we would not consider doing we might consider doing because of the influence of others. Influence is powerful. This is the key message that we are going to study in this lesson from 2 Chronicles 21-24. In these chapters were are going to read three examples of influence. As we read about these influencers I want us to think about who is influencing us and who are we influencing.
Influencing Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21)
Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, now takes the throne over the nation of Judah. Remember that Jehoshaphat is generally considered a good king though his flaw was that he listened to and allied himself with King Ahab of Israel. So we are hopeful that Jehoram will be a good king like his father. However, those hopes are quickly dashed when we read about Jehoram’s rise. In 2 Chronicles 21:4 we read that Jehoram strengthen himself rather than trusting in the Lord to strengthen him. Jehoram strengthened himself by killing all of his brothers and some of the princes. In 2 Chronicles 21:6 we read that Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. Please recall that none of the kings of Israel were righteous. So to walk in the ways of the kings of Israel is a condemnation of Jehoram. The end of verse 6 confirms this. “He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.” Jehoram built high places of idol worship that caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and lead Judah astray from the Lord (cf. 2 Chronicles 21:11). The complete condemnation for Jehoram is given in 2 Chronicles 21:12-15. Since Jehoram did not follow in the ways of his father or in the ways of King Asa but followed the path of the kings of Israel, the Lord would bring a great plague on the people and Jehoram would be struck down with a severe incurable disease until his bowels come out from it. When Jehoram died, no one was sad for his death. They made no fire in his honor and did not bury him with the other kings (cf. 2 Chronicles 21:19-20).
So what happened to Jehoram? Why did he refuse to follow in the ways of his father but followed after the kings of Israel? Does the text tells us the problem? Look back to 2 Chronicles 21:6. Jehoram walked in the way of the kings of Israel “for the daughter of Ahab was his wife.” Who you marry matters. We underestimate the power of your spouse. I think we can have the tendency to think that we will be able to change our future spouse but do not consider if your future spouse is going to change you. It is so easy for the sake of peace in the house or for the sake of pleasing your spouse to relax our morality and righteousness. It is so dangerous to marry someone thinking that you can help them or fix them when it just might be that they might help you to be more like their flaws rather than more like the Lord. Why date someone who is not helping you in righteousness? Why marry someone who is not going to help your walk with the Lord? It can be a fatal spiritual decision because you may be encouraged to sin by your spouse. Now if it is too late and you are married to someone who is either subtly or actively pulling you away from the Lord by their actions or words, then you must be on your guard. You must stand for the Lord and not allow that influence to weaken in your faith or make decisions that you know you should do simply because you want peace or to make that spouse happy. We must obey God rather than people.
Influencing Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 22)
When Jehoram dies, his son, Ahaziah, takes the throne, which we read in 2 Chronicles 22:1-9. Ahaziah is only going to reign for one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. This is reminding us of the connection to Ahab. Athaliah is the daughter of Ahab. In 2 Chronicles 22:4 we read that Ahaziah also did what was evil in the sight of the Lord just like wicked King Ahab. So God ordained his downfall because he walked in the same evil ways. Are we told why Ahaziah failed to serve the Lord? There are two statement of influence regarding Ahaziah.
In 2 Chronicles 22:3 we read that Ahaziah walked in the ways of wicked King Ahab “for his mother encouraged him to act wickedly.” His mother was giving him evil advice. Further, the influence of his dead father was still affecting Ahaziah. In 2 Chronicles 22:4 we read that the counselor and advisors to Ahaziah’s father were giving him wicked counsel as well. The Chronicler wants us to see the wicked influence from Ahaziah’s mother and father, who are both giving encouragement to act wickedly. I want us to think about how difficult this is but is important to consider. Your family can influence you to do wickedly. We would never want to believe that our family could encourage us to do evil. We would want to think that are parents would always encourage to do what is best for us. But we need to have the spiritual wisdom to see when our parents are not directing us in the paths of righteousness. Unfortunately, parents can be selfish and self-serving rather than doing what is best for their children. Just because your parents would do something or did something does not mean that this is something you should do. It is always important that we crosscheck the teaching and advice from our parents with the scriptures and with trusted spiritual leaders. We must obey God rather than people, even if those people are our parents who are leading us to our own destruction. Ahaziah’s failure is linked to the fact that he listened to the wicked advice of his mother and the wicked advice of his father’s counselors.
Influencing Joash (2 Chronicles 23-24)
At the end of 2 Chronicles 22:9 we read that Ahaziah’s death leaves a vacuum in leadership. There is no one able to rule the throne. So Athaliah seizes the throne and goes about destroying all the royal family. Joash, the son of Ahaziah, is hidden from Athaliah’s attempts to kill all the royal family. After seven years, Jehoiada proclaims Joash to be the legitimate king and for Athaliah to be executed for her evil (cf. 2 Chronicles 23:1-15). Then Jehoiada the priest begins the work of removing the idols in the land and establishing reforms to return the people to the Lord (cf. 2 Chronicles 23:16-21). Chapter 24 opens with Joash beginning his rule at 7 years old. Notice what we are told in 2 Chronicles 24:2. Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. You can read about all of his reforms for the first 16 verses of 2 Chronicles 24.
But after the death of Jehoiada, everything changes. Now the officials of Judah pay homage to Joash and he begins to listen to them (cf. 2 Chronicles 24:17). Now they abandoned the temple of the Lord and return to idolatrous worship (cf. 2 Chronicles 24:18). They would not listen to the prophets that the Lord sent to bring them back to him (cf. 2 Chronicles 24:19). Joash orders for Jehoiada’s son to be stoned to death because he told him that he was disobeying the Lord. Joash did not remember the kindness Jehoiada had shown to him (cf. 2 Chronicles 24:21-22). Therefore, God judges Joash and he died (cf. 2 Chronicles 24:24). Joash is an example of how influence can be used for good and for evil. While Jehoiada was alive, he was able to be a positive, righteous influence in Joash’s life. However, when he died, Joash was now influenced for wickedness by the officials of the nation. This shows us the power of leadership and its influence on people.
The Power of Influence
We are seeing throughout these chapters the power of influence in either direction. There is the power of influence to do what is right, like we see in the early days of Joash’s reign. There is the power of influence to do what is evil, like we see in Jehoram, Ahaziah, and the latter days of Joash’s reign. I want to make four observations about influence that we learn from 2 Chronicles 21-24.
First, it is important to surround ourselves with righteous influencers and to listen to them.
There is power in positive, righteous influence. This is what the writer of Hebrews was teaching in Hebrews 10:24-25.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)
Why does the writer of Hebrews say it is so important to not neglect meeting together as people often do? He tells us that we need to stir up one another in love and good works. He tells us that we need to encourage one another. What he is telling us is that we need these positive, godly influences in our lives. We need people around us to who are going to encourage us to live right and do right. Just because something is a message we do not want to hear or is hard to hear does not mean it is not encouraging and is necessary to stir us up to love and good works. I was thinking about this at the dentist the other day. The dentist was explaining the need for better flossing to my daughter and questioned her about sugary foods. She did not like those messages. But the dentist was telling the truth and was trying to stir her up to make good decisions that would have a positive impact on the long term health of her teeth. So also we need each other. We need to be around each other and we need to use those opportunities to be positive influences on each other, not ignoring our flaws and sins, but stirring one another up to love and good works.
Second, influence is not enough.
Influence is not enough. Influence is only a push in a particular direction. I think we see this point strongly made when it comes to Joash. Joash had a strong positive influence during all of his formative years. While Jehoiada was alive, he is a righteous influence on Joash’s life. But what happened when Jehoiada died? Joash turned to do evil. Borrowed faith eventually collapses. We see this when our children grow up and they leave the influence of the home. Now that the influence is gone, we see their own decisions come to light. Influence can only go so far. Influence does not make a person do righteousness nor wickedness. It is only a push in a particular direction. This means we have a choice which is our next point.
Third, we choose our influencers.
We are not blank slates. We choose who we will listen to and who we will not listen to. We need to consider the evil influences in our lives. Are we allowing television and social media to influence the way we think and act? Whose voices are the loudest in our lives? Who do we listen to the most? Are those good influences or wicked influences? We are not helpless in these things. We have a choice regarding who we will listen to. We do not have to listen to our friends, our spouse, our parents, our coworkers, our peers, or anyone else who is influencing us to evil. We also may choose not to listen to these same people when they are influencing us toward righteousness.
Finally, you are called to be an influencer. Jesus told you to be an influencer.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16 ESV)
What did Jesus say? Being the salt of the earth and the light of the world means being an influencer. You are supposed to influence people to righteousness. Why are you to not light a lamp and put it under a basket? Because the light is to shine and so that the darkness becomes light. You are to be an influencer so that the whole world sees your good works and gives glory to your Father in heaven.
Who influences you? What are they influencing in your life? Who do you influence? What are you influencing them to do? Influence is powerful. Be an influencer for Jesus.