2 Kings 8:25-29: a reflection

The brief account of King Ahaziah of Judah traces his evil to a corrupting influence: he was bound by marriage to the house of Ahab, and he walked in their ways. He walked in the way of Ahab's house and did that which was evil in the LORD's sight, as did Ahab's house, for he was the son-in-law of Ahab's house. Ahaziah's wickedness is directly connected to his close alliance with a wicked family; joined to the house of Ahab, he took on their ways, was shaped by their example, followed their evil. The company he was bound to corrupted him. This shows the shaping influence of our close associations: we tend to become like those we join ourselves to, take on their ways, follow their example. To be closely bound to corrupting company is to be shaped toward its corruption. The associations we form work on us, for good or ill; bad company can shape us toward evil.

Notice the connection the account draws: Ahaziah did evil because he was joined to the house of Ahab. His wickedness is not presented as arising in a vacuum; it is tied to his close alliance with a corrupt family. Bound to Ahab's house by marriage, he walked in their ways, took on their evil, was shaped by their example. This illustrates the shaping power of our close associations. We are influenced by those we join ourselves to; their ways rub off on us, their example draws us, their values become ours. To be closely bound to corrupting company is to be pulled toward its corruption, often without our fully noticing. This does not excuse Ahaziah; but it warns us of the real influence of the company we keep. The friends we choose, the families we join, the circles we move in, shape us, for better or worse. Bad associations can corrupt good intentions; the company we keep works on us. To guard against corrupting influence is to be mindful of whom we bind ourselves to. Our closest associations shape us more than we may realize.

That is worth taking to heart, for our close associations shape us, and bad company can corrupt us toward evil. We can underestimate the influence of the company we keep, the friends we choose, the circles we bind ourselves to, assuming we can keep corrupting company without being shaped by it; but Ahaziah, joined to the house of Ahab, walked in their evil ways. The associations we form work on us, for good or ill; bad company can shape us toward corruption. There is wisdom in being mindful of whom we bind ourselves closely to. Do not underestimate the shaping influence of your close associations; bad company can corrupt you, as Ahaziah was corrupted by the house of Ahab. Be mindful of the shaping influence of your close associations, for bad company can corrupt you toward evil, as Ahaziah, bound by marriage to the house of Ahab, walked in their wicked ways; for the company we keep works on us, for good or ill, and we tend to become like those we join ourselves to, taking on their ways and following their example, so that to guard against corrupting influence is to be mindful of whom we bind ourselves to and to choose our closest associations with care.