Families and Marriage

2 Kings 8-9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4 

“Jehoram, son of Jehosophat, was king of Judah…he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab…Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign…He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related in marriage to Ahab’s family.”

1 Kings 8:16, 18, 25, 27

Who we marry, and the family we marry into, has a significant impact on our values, life choices and spiritual journey. When Jehosophat arranged for his son Jehoram to marry a daughter of Ahab, he invited into his family and the leadership of Judah the sins of Ahab’s house. The idolatry, witchcraft and rebellion against God that Ahab practiced were now grafted into Judah’s royal line. God’s word is clear that we are not to marry those outside of His family. When we do so, we damage our own spiritual health and that of our children for generations to come. God invites us to learn His ways and walk in His values, not those of the world around us. Who we marry is the second most important decision we will make in life.

“Lord Jesus, I pray for my children and their children to marry followers of you who love and serve you. May our family bring you glory.”