“Jehoiada [the priest] then made a covenant that he, the people, and the king [Joash] would be the LORD’s people. All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down.” -2 Chronicles 23:16-17a

Last month’s article ended with the king of Judah, Jehoram, murdering all of his brothers in order to solidify his hold on the throne. His wickedness stemmed in part from the influence of his wife, Athaliah, daughter of Ahab – one of the most evil kings of Israel. Because of this, the Lord delivered a letter of judgment through the prophet Elijah which cursed Jehoram with a painful bowel disease and also promised trouble from his enemies. Soon, the land was invaded and all but his youngest son were killed. When Jehoram later died, it is recorded in 2 Chron. 21:20b, “He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”

Unfortunately, His only remaining son, Ahaziah, was no better. He followed the wicked ways of his mother, Athaliah. Disobeying the Lord, he went into battle with the king of Israel. When the king of Israel was wounded, Ahaziah went to visit him, and both were killed by Jehu (2 Kings 9), whom the Lord used to destroy the house of Ahab.

When Athaliah saw her son Ahaziah was dead, she, too, seized power. She had the rest of the royal line of Judah killed. It seemed that God’s promise to David would fail. However, one of Ahaziah’s sisters, Jehosheba, was married to the faithful priest, Jehoiada, and she hid Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, raising him in the temple of the Lord.

After Athaliah had reigned as ruler over Judah for six years, Jehoiada secretly rallied support for the young king. Without much resistance, Athaliah was killed and Joash was restored to the throne that was rightfully his through the promise God had made to David.

This account of God’s faithfulness to His Word despite the wickedness of the human heart brings to mind the promise found in Psalm 2 which begins with the rhetorical question, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” The rest of the Psalm reassures us that no scheme of human beings can thwart the work of God.

Today, we should not fear the world or the conspiracies of those who are consumed with power. For we know as it says in Psalm 2:4-6, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, ‘I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.’” May we, without fear, faithfully serve our King, trusting in the promises and power of God.

Blessings, Pastor Barry