This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
2KINGS
1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
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.
Some people will do ANYTHING for power. Ahthaliah was ruthless and didn't care WHO died as long as she became king.
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.
Jehoiada provided Jehosheba with a 4-step plan of inaugurating Joash. First, call the faithful and get them committed. Second, anoint the king under secrecy. Third, destroy the enemy. Fourth, set up a rightful and righteous kingdom.
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.
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.
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.
When Joash was crowned, there was a great ROAR of approval that filled the temple and spilled out into the streets. Athaliah heard it and came to see what was happening. She probably hadn't heard joy like that coming from the temple in a long time!
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.
21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.
After Athaliah was slain, Jehoiada instituted a "covenant" between the Lord and the king and the people. Please continue with us in daily Bible study.
CHAPTER 11
She obviously had no concern for God, because God had never made any provision for a queen to rule.
When people ruthless pursue power why don't others stand in their way? Even the so-called "army of God" did not stand in her way. They SHOULD have had her executed, but they didn't.
But those whom God will USE, He both CALLS and PRESERVES!
Jehosheba (Ahaziah's sister) took one of Ahaziah's sons and hid him. She cared for him six years. And probably she did all she could to influence the priests during those years. Then at the right time the priests would be on her side.
Christians, we should take a lesson here. We should be grooming those whom God will use for the political arena.
Jehoiada was a godly man and High Priest of Israel. Later, he married Jehosheba. Jehoiada also became the guidance counselor for Joash when he became king.
It takes godly men standing in righteousness to prepare people who will act in righteousness in the political arena.
When she came, she was allowed to see the king. He was standing "..by a pillar, as the manner was..."(verse 14).
Athaliah went into a rage. Those who have obtained power by ruthlessness are the first to yell "treason" when power is taken from them.
Notice that Jehoida commanded her death OUTSIDE the Lord's house.
Friends, those who work for God INSIDE His house, ought also to work for God OUTSIDE His house.
That covenant was that they should ALL belong to God, and not be mixed with Baal-worship.
Therefore they destroyed the temple of Baal.
Friends, when the people of God work in the political arena, THEN and ONLY then can idols be destroyed!