Read 2 Chronicles 23
23 In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. 2 They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of Israelite families from all the towns. When they came to Jerusalem, 3 the whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God.
Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son shall reign, as the Lord promised concerning the descendants of David. 4 Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, 5 a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the others are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the Lord. 6 No one is to enter the temple of the Lord except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the others are to observe the Lord’s command not to enter. 7 The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each with weapon in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”
8 The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions. 9 Then he gave the commanders of units of a hundred the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of God. 10 He stationed all the men, each with his weapon in his hand, around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.
11 Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”
12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the Lord. 13 She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and musicians with their instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”
14 Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops, and said to them: “Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not put her to death at the temple of the Lord.” 15 So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.
16 Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the Lord’s people. 17 All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
18 Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the Lord in the hands of the Levitical priests, to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to present the burnt offerings of the Lord as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered. 19 He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Lord’s temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter.
20 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the temple of the Lord. They went into the palace through the Upper Gateand seated the king on the royal throne. 21 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.
Go Deeper
Reading the events recorded in 2 Chronicles reveal the highs and lows of the people of Israel, God’s people. From the perspective of those living in Judah, the promised line of David’s kingdom has been wiped out by the Queen Mother, Athaliah. After six years of her wicked reign, the High Priest, Jehoiada, organizes Levites throughout Judah to join in revealing that a son of David’s line is alive and will reign. This son, Joash, has been hidden in the temple for six years, protected and cared for by the priest’s wife, Jehoshapbeath.
The Levites surround Joash, armed with King David’s former weapons stored in the temple, and present their newly crowned king. Queen mother, Athaliah, hearing the joyful praising of the people for King Joash, tears her clothes shouting “Treason.” Her reign ends in her death by the Levite guards. God’s promise of David’s forever kingdom is preserved, protected by the bold actions of the priest and his wife. Sweeping reforms are directed by Jehoiada removing the pagan god, Baal’s, altars and Baal priests. Jerusalem experienced peace during the time of Jehoiada’s influence.
Repetitively, God’s promise to preserve David’s family comes under attack, but God’s faithfulness to keep His promises prevails. This truth will continue throughout our readings and remains true today. That is great news for us! Eventually, God’s promise is fulfilled in His Son, Jesus, who is in the line of David. Just as all hope seemed lost when there was no evidence of a living heir to David’s family during the Queen Mother’s purge, Jesus’ death on the cross appeared to be the final defeat of God’s promised king. But God raised Him from death to life on the third day defeating death and sealing the eternal hope for all who call on Jesus’ name.
In Acts 2, Peter confirms this victory with these words, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Jesus is our living, reigning King! Take heart, no matter the circumstances which seem to contradict God’s gracious, sovereign, faithfulness, He reigns and promises to make all things new!
Questions
- How does knowing God is faithful to keep His promises inform your perspective of your current circumstances?
- How does Jesus’ resurrection offer hope in difficult times?
- Who do you know who desperately needs to hear that Jesus is our living hope? Would you share this with them as soon as possible?
Listen Here
Be reminded of Jesus’ victory and eternal reign by listening to Phil Wickham’s “Living Hope” today!
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4 thoughts on “2 Chronicles 23”
Judah had been under the reign of evil Queen Athaliah for 7 long years. She had exposed and led the people away from worship of God into the idolatrous worship of Baal. God called the priest, Jehoiada, to confront Athaliah. I love how scripture records that “he got up his courage and decided to act” implying he faced down his fear of man by the holy fear of God. This was no small feat as the queen was so wicked she even had her own grandchildren murdered. However, God intervened through the obedience of Jehoiada and his wife and preserved the life of a single heir, Joash. Interestingly, it was the priest not a king who reinstated a covenant where Judah would once again be the Lord’s people. Psalm 73:26 reminds us that “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” May we ever tremble at his word and find courage to shatter the darkness around us.
We should never be surprised at what God has in store and always at the right time, every time. We think all hope is gone BUT GOD has a plan. We should take the time to renew our faith in God that through Jesus death and resurrection we have what we need to walk this world, here and now. We have kingdom responsibilities to influence others towards Christ by using our talents and Holy fear for God for His glory and honor. “The way we live now determines how we live in the forever.” John Bever. God is never late, His timing is good. Waiting is hard. Listening is not easy. Obedience is challenging at times. BUT GOD is good and perfect ALWAYS!!
God thank You for Your timing. Thank You for obedience to You even when it is scary, hard, weird, difficult, crazy, or uncomfortable. Thank You for guiding me to know what I need to know to make You glorified by my actions. I am sure Jehoida was thinking how crazy am I but You God knew what His actions would accomplish. Thank You for encouraging me to stay firm and stand on Your Word. Thank You for Holy Spirit guidance in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!
Lord God, give me the courage of Jehoiada to be your man, and obedient to your promptings to boldly stand against evil when you lead me to do so.
Thankful for the Holy fear that God instills in us through His Word that will keep us close to the Giver (Jesus) of life to the end. John Bevere.
Each morning I check the state of my heart and pray “Search me oh God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. (” Psalm 139:23-24)
“Many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your iniquity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.” (2 Corinthians 12:21) We profess the name of the Lord, but live contrary to His Word. (Me included)
Queen Athaliah was a prime example of how evil can lead you astray.