Reading: II Kings 11 – 13
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. 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 (II Kings 11:1-2).
Ahaziah, king of Judah, had fallen in battle to Jehu just as Joram, king of Israel, had. God's judgment on the house of Ahab had extended to his grandson Ahaziah. Ahaziah had embraced the evil of his mother and his maternal grandparents, Ahab and Jezebel, despite the fact that he was also of the lineage of David, and he suffered accordingly. Upon hearing of her son's death, Ahaziah's mother Athaliah flew into a rage and killed all of his children.
For the evil queen, the purpose of this action was two-fold. First and foremost, it was a grab for power. Athaliah wanted to sit alone on the throne of Judah. She attempted to kill every royal descendant, down to the youngest babe in arms, so that no one would ever be able to challenge her rule. Her second motivation was even more insidious. Athaliah knew that her son had been the direct heir to David’s throne and that the line of succession passed down through his descendants. By arranging for the deaths of each and every one of Ahaziah’s children she was seeking to break the kingly line of David, a line that the Lord had promised would continue in perpetuity. In her arrogance, she believed that she could exact revenge upon God for the death of her son. Scripture teaches us that her actions place her in dangerous company. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (II Peter 2:12-15).
What Athaliah didn't understand was that God's will can never be thwarted. She never had a chance to succeed in her plot. It was not lucky timing that saved Joash and placed him in the house of the high priest; it was the hand of God. There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand (Prov. 19:21).
Joash’s survival was God’s plan; Athaliah’s rampage was not. It was evil that shed the blood of innocents, and evil is never planned by God. This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (I John 1:5). Ahaziah was not working in His will when she slaughtered her grandchildren. The responsibility for her selfish, heinous act lies squarely on her shoulders. Yet out of the horror, God brought a season of redemption to His troubled land.
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock (Ps. 27:5).
Thought for Today: Those that attempt to interfere with God are lost, not because they cause trouble for Him, but because their unrepentant pride fools them into believing they stand on equal footing with Him.
Christ Portrayed: By Jehoiada, the priest who protected Joash and, in holy judgment, had Athaliah put to death (II Kings 11:4-16). Christ keeps us safe to fulfill His will and will return to judge all who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Thess. 1:8).
Word Studies: 11:7 two parts = two companies; 11:8 compass = surround; 12:5 breaches = damaged places; 12:11 laid it out = paid it to them; 13:6 the grove = place to worship the goddess Asherah (Ashtoreth).
Pray For Country: Marshall Islands (69,747) North Pacific Ocean • Major Languages: Marshallese, English • Religious Freedom • 54.8% Protestant; 25.8% Assembly of God; 8.4% Roman Catholic, 2.8% Bukot Nan Jesus; 2.1% Mormon; 3.6% Other Christian; 1% Other; 1.5% None • Prayer Suggestion: Confess and repent of any known sin (I John 1:9).
Optional Reading Romans 8.