Day 129 · Part 8: Two Kingdoms
The Hidden King
In the Story
In context
When Ahaziah dies, his mother Athaliah destroys the royal family of Judah and reigns six years (2 Kings 11:1–3). Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the wife of the priest Jehoiada, hides his young son Joash and his nurse in the Lord’s house (2 Chronicles 22:11–12). In the seventh year Jehoiada arms the captains with King David’s spears and shields and says, “the king’s son must reign, as Yahweh has spoken concerning the sons of David” (23:3, 9).
The boy is crowned while the people clap and cheer for their king, and Athaliah, crying treason, is taken out and killed away from the Lord’s house (2 Kings 11:12–16). Jehoiada makes a covenant that king and people will be the Lord’s people, and Baal’s house is torn down (11:17–18). Joash is seven years old (11:21).
Joash does right “all the days of Jehoiada the priest,” and the temple is repaired with money dropped into a chest with a hole bored in its lid (2 Chronicles 24:2; 2 Kings 12:9–12). After Jehoiada dies at 130, Judah’s leaders turn to idols. It is a hard reading: Jehoiada’s son Zechariah warns them and is stoned at the king’s command in the court of the Lord’s house (2 Chronicles 24:15–22).
Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’”
2 Samuel 7:16 · A hidden boy kept David’s line on Judah’s throne; the Lord had promised David, “Your throne will be established forever.”
For families
When Athaliah set out to destroy the royal family, Joash’s aunt Jehosheba took the boy and his nurse and hid them in the Lord’s house for six years (2 Kings 11:2–3; 2 Chronicles 22:11). Her husband, Jehoiada the priest, later crowned him and taught him, and Joash did right “all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him” (12:2).
Joash’s aunt kept him safe, and her husband taught him. Who in your family has looked out for you?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
2 Kings 11
Loading…
2 Kings 12
Loading…
2 Chronicles 22:10–12
Loading…
2 Chronicles 23
Loading…
2 Chronicles 24
Loading…
A hymn for today
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name · words by Edward Perronet
- All hail the pow'r of Jesus' name!Let angels prostrate fall;Bring forth the royal diadem,And crown Him Lord of all.
- Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre,And, as they tune it, fallBefore His face who tunes their choir,And crown Him Lord of all.
- Crown Him, ye morning stars of light,Who fixed this floating ball;Now hail the strength of Israel's might,And crown Him Lord of all.
- Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God,Who from His altar call;Extol the Stem of Jesse's rod,And crown Him Lord of all.
- Ye seed of Israel's chosen race,Ye ransomed from the fall,Hail Him who saves you by His grace,And crown Him Lord of all.
- Hail Him, ye heirs of David's line,Whom David Lord did call,The God incarnate, Man divine,And crown Him Lord of all.
- Sinners, whose love can ne'er forgetThe wormwood and the gall,Go spread your trophies at His feet,And crown Him Lord of all.
- Let every tribe and every tongueThat bound creation's call,Now shout in universal songThe crownèd Lord of all.