Villain Exposed

2 Chronicles 22:11a,12

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah. He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

‘Any story where you have good guys versus bad guys can only be as smart as the intelligence of your baddest guy’ - that’s from Bruce Willis, when asked about the importance of villains in movies. For imagine Starwars without Darth Vader or the old Batman minus the Joker? The craftiness of these villains somehow made our heroes shine brighter and the story more interesting. Without them, there will be no conflict.

And who’s the vilest of them all? Reading through chapters 21 and 22 we can find his seemingly superb schemes to put a stop to God’s plan of salvation.  As early as the time of Israel’s kings, Satan’s been plotting ways to steal, kill, and destroy everything just to prevent the Cross from happening. Here, he implanted insecurity and so much sin in Jehoram’s rule which paved the way to the slaying of the king’s brothers and  sons. Then after the death of next-king Ahaziah, the evil mother proceeded with the murder of the royal princes, that is, her very own grandchildren!  The consecutive, similar tactics, are dead giveaways of the villain’s desperation to put a stain on God’s faithfulness. For imagine if he succeeded in blotting out David’s lineage? It may not hinder the birth of Jesus, for God can opt to get another husband for Mary, but that will put into question His covenant with David.  For His honor and holiness, that, God will not allow.

In most movies, this is the time when we expect our heroes to survive the plots and traps of the villain. Like how Jehoram’s youngest son wasn’t carried off by Arab invaders and how the one year old Joash was kept hidden by his aunt.  But heaven’s heroics aren’t by ‘barely surviving’. God wisely chose these unpromising little ones to highlight how His ‘weakness’ is even stronger than the greatest of His enemy’s strength. He was the One who made this story interesting and Himself, shine bright. He is no challenger in need of proof. But to us needing security, these accounts affirm that God can’t be outsmarted, that His purposes can’t be thwarted, and His promises are trustworthy. Now, that is a true hero!

Unlike Dolphy

2 Chronicles 21:20

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Acute tonsillopharyngitis.  That’s the bacteria that tied me to bed almost all week. It horribly overwhelmed my system and overruled my schedules. On day two, seeing my kids freely messing the house, I took the TV remote for a breath of sanity. What first popped up was the news of the death of the country’s comedy king, Dolphy.  Grief was not the ideal company for my sickness, but I tuned in - - ‘til his burial. Actually, there’s not much of a choice because all the local channels featured him. He was loved by many, proven by the heartfelt eulogies and the long line of fans wanting to pay him last respects. He may be gone but he will always be remembered as the man who gave us good laughs and made us appreciate the good life.

Now, let’s compare that to the man, King Jehoram. He died half the age of Dolphy, but he passed away ‘to no one’s regret’. Although true heir of Jehoshaphat and Asa, he was denied the honor to be in the tomb of kings. There was no official funeral for him.  No one came to visit him at his deathbed and not even a single camera to feature his incurable, intestinal disease. Because who would? He had no brothers left for he put them all to death on his first year.  His wives and children? They were carried off by the invading Philistines and Arabs. And his people? Would they pay respect to a man who caused everyone to prostitute themselves then left them all in poverty line? Surely his death was wished. His greed for power became Judah’s downfall  and his sin ruling it all.

Actually not all. His sins may be top of the ranks and its effect far out and wide, but it couldn’t touch the sovereignty of God. It did unleash His wrath, but His grace abounded all the more. Amidst the invasion account, verse 17 noted that ‘not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest’. Any father would grab that cue and be grateful somehow. God knew Jehoram wouldn’t, but He still saved that son. All in light of His love and covenant to the house of David.  Jehoram may have dishonored God. His people may have discredited him. But God still allowed his name mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. We may not heartily mention his name to our kids, as we do with Abraham, Moses, David, or Dolphy, but may we remember the good God who gave him life, and so much grace ‘til his death.