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2 Kings Chapter 11
Athaliah Reigns in Judah
Imagine a grandmother killing all her
grandkids so that she herself could reign and become queen. The
desire to control and rule no matter who it hurts to get it, has
been the downfall of many. In more civilized societies, they might
not do murder but they will use the news media to spread rumors and
lies in order to destroy their opponents. They also rig elections.
Is it worth it in the long run? I think not. All of us will stand
before God in the end. No one will get away with anything unless
they repent of their deeds and come to Christ for salvation. God
knows whose repentance is genuine so in the end, it's all for
nothing. Better to run for office if it is for the purpose of
helping people, not controlling people.
- 2Kings 11:2 But
Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took
Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's
sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse,
in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.
- 3 And he was with
her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did
reign over the land.
Satan was using Athaliah to destroy all
the seed of David so that the line from the tribe of Judah could not
come to pass and deliver to the world the seed of David who was the
very Son of God, Jesus our Christ. His plans did not work however.
God's word will always come to pass exactly as He says.
Jehosheba took the youngest son Joash
and hid him. She was his aunt. She was married to Jehoiada the high
priest. Also the daughter of Joram and Athaliah. God always has
someone who knows what is right and carries out His plans.
Joash Anointed King in Judah
- 2Kings 11:4 And the
seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds,
with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into
the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took
an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the
king's son.
- 5 And he commanded
them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part
of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the
watch of the king's house;
- 6 And a third part
shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind
the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be
not broken down.
- 7 And two parts of
all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the
watch of the house of the LORD about the king.
- 8 And ye shall
compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his
hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain:
and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.
- 9 And the captains
over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the
priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to
come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the
sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
- 10 And to the
captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears
and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD.
- 11 And the guard
stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the
king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of
the temple, along by the altar and the temple.
12 And he
brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and
gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed
him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.
The uncle of Joash and the high priest
found those that he could trust to help him anoint Joash as kings.
His plans was perfect surrounding the new child king so that none
could stop this anointing and make sure one from the line of David
would be king and replace the wicked Athaliah. No doubt those that
helped Jehoiada wanted to be rid of the wicked queen and did this
willingly.
Since the temple was deserted because of
the worship of Baal, it was a safe place to hide Joash until the
plans to overthrown the queen could be accomplished.
- 2 Kings 11:13 And
when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people,
she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.
- 14 And when she
looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was,
and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the
people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and
Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.
She actually had the nerve to call this
treason. People who do these things actually deceive themselves into
believing they are justified in their evil.
- 2 Kings 11:15 But
Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the
officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without
the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For
the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the
LORD.
- 16 And they laid
hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses
came into the king's house: and there was she slain.
- 17 And Jehoiada made
a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that
they should be the LORD'S people; between the king also and the
people.
- 18 And all the
people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it
down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly,
and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the
priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.
- 19 And he took the
rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all
the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the
house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard
to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.
- 20 And all the
people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they
slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.
The worship of Baal is destroyed and
the people rejoice. It is not always the majority that favor evil.
Sometimes others are just overwelmed by fear of a wicked leader and
have no way to overcome the evil and go along with it until God
mercifully uses someone to rise up and overthrow them. Brave people
are those that risk their own lives to save the innocent.
Jehoash Reigns in Judah
Jehoash was another name for Joash. Started to reign at a
young age but his uncle the high priest instructed him. As long as
the uncle was alive things went well. DC
2 Kings Chapter 12
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