II Chronicles 21

“When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword …” (v4). Though Jehoram’s father was the godly king Jehoshaphat, the first thing he did upon taking the throne was to murder his brothers. He married the daughter of the pagan king Ahab, and they added idolatry to the sin of violence (v11). God did not destroy Judah (v7), but they were invaded by their enemies and King Jehoram died from a terrible bowel disease.

“You have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father …” (v12). A godly heritage is a blessing, but it is not our salvation. Every generation must choose for themselves to follow God.