What does 2 Kings 8:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Jehoram's history furnishes a terrible example of how an ill-marriage may mar a man's life. He had a good father, but a bad wife, and the latter more strongly influenced him than the former, 2 Chronicles 21:6. The fuller story of Jehoram's reign, and the apparent extinction of the royal family, is told in 2 Chronicles 22:1-12. But notice especially 2 Kings 8:19. The lamp was kept burning for David's sake, Psalms 132:17. Surely the grace of God can keep that same lamp burning in the hearts of our children. A lamp, as we learned from the Chicago fire, may make a very great conflagration.

Ahaziah followed in the steps of his parents. What could be expected from the training of such a mother! Misled by her, he followed the dreary steps of Ahab. The close intimacy between the two houses led to alliance in war and a common fate. Little did Jehoshaphat realize all the evil that would result from his dealings with Ahab, 1 Kings 22:4. The story told in these pages is sad reading, but through it all God's purpose moves on. See Matthew 1:8. As a water-lily grows from a muddy bottom, so the pure life of Christ came, on the human side, out of this family. God's purpose shall finally emerge from this present strife in a further revelation of the Son of man. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2Ki 8

¹  The Shunammite, having left her country seven years, to avoid the famine,
⁵  for Elisha's miracle's sake has her land restored by the king
⁷  Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad and succeeds him
¹⁶  Jehoram's wicked reign in Judah
²⁰  Edom and Libnah revolt
²³  Ahaziah succeeds Jehoram
²⁵  Ahaziah's wicked reign
²⁸  He visits Joram, being wounded, at Jezreel