1 Kings 22:51-53 – Set godly examples for our children

First Kings 22:51-53 briefly describe for us the reign of Ahaziah, the son of Ahab. He came to the throne over Israel in Samaria in the 17^th year of Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. His rule was short for verse 51 said he only reigned for two years. Nothing good was said about his reign.

Verse 52 summed up all the evil he had done in that one verse. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. How? He walked in the way of Ahab and Jezebel, his father and mother. Ahaziah was said to have also walked in the way of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel who caused the division of Israel. He was the one who caused Israel to turn to worship the golden calves that he made, and placed in Samaria and Dan. Since then Israel had pivoted to worship many other false Canaanite gods.   

Like his parent, verse 53 made in no uncertain term that “he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.” Parents have a key role in shaping the future of their children. Without a doubt, Ahaziah was greatly influenced by his parents. What had become of Ahaziah was largely the failure of his parents. This underscores for us the importance of raising our children in the fear and nurture of the LORD. Home is such an important institution for it is the place where our children’s education in godliness begins. Parents, how are we living our lives? Are we placing God first, and modeling godliness so that our children can be rightly shaped and influenced? These three verses bring us back to our calling as parent to model rightly for our children.

Remember the child is the father of the man. Our children’s habits and attitudes are shaped when they are young. As parents, what we do will help to shape them. One good question to ask ourselves is, “do we want our children to walk in our footsteps?” If I want, how then must I live my life now? Don’t live like an Ahab or Jezebel if we don’t want our children to end up like Ahaziah, rejected and denounced by the LORD. Instead, be like Eunice, the mother of Timothy whom Paul commended in 2 Timothy 1:5 saying, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well."