April 26th

April 26th -- 2 Kings 11 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2011&version=NLT)

Queen Athaliah rules Judah ; Revolt against Athaliah ; The death of Athaliah ; Jehoiada's religious reforms

So Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, learns of Ahaziah's death and begins to destroy the royal family. Ahaziah's sister, though, takes Ahaziah's baby son and hid him so he would not be murdered with the other children. She left him with his nurse and Joash, who remained hidden in the Temple of the Lord for six years, while Athaliah rules the land.

In Athaliah's seventh year of reigning, the priest Jehoiada summons the army (basically) to the Lord's Temple. He makes a pact with them and makes them swear an oath of loyalty, then shows them the king's son who had been hidden there while growing up. Jehoiada then gives them instructions. He says that from those who are working/on duty on the Sabbath, a third must guard the palace itself, another third have to guard the Sur Gate, and the final third have to stand guard behind the palace guard. The two groups off duty that day need to guard the king at the Lord's Temple, forming a bodyguard, keeping weapons on hand, and killing any who try and get through.  Everything was done as Jehoiada had ordered. Jehoiada then brought out Joash, putting the crown on his head, giving him a copy of God's laws, and then anointing him and proclaiming him king. Everyone clapped and shouted.

When Athaliah hears all this noise, she hurries to the temple to see what the fuss is. When she arrives, she sees Joash, the new king, just crowned, standing in his place of authority. Commanders and trumpeters surrounded him and people rejoiced. When Athaliah sees this, she tears her robes and begins shouting about treason. Jehoiada orders anyone who tries to help her killed, but says she cannot be killed in the Temple, so she is escorted outside and then killed.

Jehoiada then makes a covenant between God and the king and the people, that they would be the Lord's people. He also makes a covenant between the king and people. All the people go to Baal's temple and tear it down, smashing the altars and idols, and even killing the priest, Mattan, in front of the altars. Jehoiada goes and stations guards at the Temple of the Lord. Everyone then escorts the king, Joash, to the palace, where he takes his seat on the royal throne. People rejoiced because Athalia was dead and Joash, though only seven, was king.

This story rather made me think of Solomon. Nobody died in Solomon's case or anything, but like Solomon, Joash was VERY young when put on the throne. I mean, a seven-year-old ruling the kingdom? That's a grade 1 or 2 kid ruling a land..... and people thought Mia Thermopolis was too young! (Princess Diaries reference for anyone who didn't get that...) But anyways, back on track - Joash is just another young person God was using for His glory. I ran chapel in my high school today, and my friend and I were talking about sharing your faith with younger children. So many people tend to just think that it's not important, and that they'll figure it out when they grow up. What would have happened, may I ask, if that had been the case with Joash, or Solomon? When they took over the country, they would suddenly have all they needed - why rely on God, then? There's the danger that this could have been the case....  if they had not grown up learning about God. However, they grew up learning about God, so they already knew of him, which allowed their faith to grow even while in power, instead of being stopped by false ideas that they did not need him anymore, for example. So never discredit the value of younger children knowing God. God uses ALL who are willing, children included, to work for His glory - not just the adults or the elderly. We need to train up young children in faith. It's even commanded in the Bible. In Deuteronomy 6, for example, verse 6 and a bit of 7 it says "⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children." We need to be bringing people up to know God, and teaching the young about Him - it's important.

Well, that shall be all! God bless! Shalom!