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. – 2 Chronicles 21:20
Obituary for Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat
It is with a distinct lack of fanfare that we announce the passing of King Jehoram of Judah, who shuffled off this mortal coil at the ripe age of forty. The cause of death? A divinely ordained intestinal ailment that made his final days as unpleasant as his reign (2 Chronicles 21:18-19). Jehoram ascended to the throne at thirty-two, inheriting the legacy of his father, the godly King Jehoshaphat. Unfortunately, Jehoram took the royal scepter and used it to poke his nation in the eye.
Jehoram’s eight-year reign was a masterclass in how not to lead. He kicked things off by murdering his brothers – because nothing says “stable leadership” like a family bloodbath (2 Chronicles 21:4). He then married into the notorious House of Ahab, adopting their idol-worshipping ways and dragging Judah into spiritual ruin (2 Chronicles 21:6). Under his watchful eye, the nation lost Edom, faced rebellion in Libnah, and generally spiraled into utter chaos (2 Chronicles 21:8-10). His leadership was so inspiring that the prophet Elijah personally sent him a strongly worded letter, predicting his gruesome end (2 Chronicles 21:12-15).
Spoiler alert: Elijah was right.
When Jehoram finally expired, the people of Judah didn’t bother with a state funeral. No one shed a tear, no one lit a candle, and the royal tombs? They were conveniently “full” that day (2 Chronicles 21:20). In lieu of flowers, the nation seems to have sent a collective sigh of relief. Jehoram is survived by a legacy of bad decisions and a nation thrilled to move on.
Forgive my dark sense of humor… but Jehoram’s “obituary” does carry a sobering truth: he lived a life so self-serving and rebellious that his own people didn’t mourn him. To be forgotten by people is tragic enough… imagine a life so unremarkable and destructive that no one cares when you’re gone. But there’s a far greater tragedy: to be forgotten by God.
Jehoram had every opportunity to follow in his father’s footsteps by leading with integrity and honoring God. Instead, he chased idols, he became drunk with power, and his sole purpose in life was gratifying and glorifying himself.
His story reminds us that our choices matter.
The Bible warns that those who reject God risk being “blotted out” from His book (Revelation 3:5). To be forgotten by God is to be cut off from the source of life, of love, and purpose… a fate far worse than an empty funeral.
Jehoram’s example should be a wake-up call for us. The Lord invites us to live in relationship with Him, to walk in obedience to Him, and to trust Him for our every need. Unlike Jehoram, we can choose to leave a legacy that honors God and blesses others.
Our lives don’t have to end “to no one’s regret.”
Former Blackout Artist 