#571 Son Of

Joash[a] was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada got for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.

4 After this Joash decided to restore the house of the Lord. 5 And he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you act quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly. 6 So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the congregation of Israel for the tent of testimony?” 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also used all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord for the Baals.

8 So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 And proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished.[b] 11 And whenever the chest was brought to the king's officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king's secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it and return it to its place. Thus they did day after day, and collected money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who had charge of the work of the house of the Lord, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord. 13 So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it. 14 And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made utensils for the house of the Lord, both for the service and for the burnt offerings, and dishes for incense and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord regularly all the days of Jehoiada.

15 But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died. He was 130 years old at his death. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.
Joash's Treachery

20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” 21 But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”[c]
Joash Assassinated

23 At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah[d] had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

25 When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son[e] of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite. 27 Accounts of his sons and of the many oracles against him and of the rebuilding[f] of the house of God are written in the Story[g] of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place. 2 Chronicles 24 ESV

Sister 2 Kings 12

Joash reigned well when he was reigned in. Jehoiadas are a wonderful thing, and though they may live long, they do not live forever. While the one who spared him, raised him, and brought the kingdom back to his house, lived, and while he was under the influence of one so set upon the true God, he did well. We must teach our children correct doctrine, good behavior, give them every advantage toward the things of God, but if their religion stops with us then it falls short. If we leave them with the vision of piety and self righteousness, then they may well see the need of the building where we meet but not the temple that is their heart. They may take pleasure in the exercise, the show, the outward symbolic gestures, and yet be tarnished inside from all manner of idolatry. I get it, I understand that the care of the building where we meet is important, and it's neglect may well represent the state of those falling away, it was good he recognized this. It was good that he made sure, as stewards should, that the money went to the proper hands so that the work took place and no one was taken advantage of in the name of the cloth. We should take care when we give that we do not broadcast it to our glory, but also that we see where it is going. The same things that plague government also plague the church, they are men in both places and men can not only be wrong, but also corrupt. We must take care and guard against such. Once they knew where the money went and saw it work to good use, they gave over and abundantly. 

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully4 will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency5 in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9: 6-9 

Jehoiada dies at 130 and I also think of note, he is buried among the kings, so much respect there was for this man, this man who literally laid all on the line for the line. The house of David was kept alive in the temple that this priest presided over, and during his time the government was held in check, and so after his time he rested with David. The vultures can see a carcass from far away and the jackals see the vultures, so the princes come to Joash. Some men are easily buttered, complimented, they love the gestures as well, the titles and find their greatness easy to believe. Come now Joash, surely you see that the need for everyone to worship at the temple was an invention of Jehoiada, his need to control, some wondered whether he was the king or you. Let us return to the high places, that each man may worship God in his own way, and that all else may be cursed. A little leaven, and now they go all the way to those idols long ago found useless. God sends prophets and they will not listen to the prophets. Then, the son of the man who saved you, the one who brought you back to the throne you would not have known of without, his son. He speaks to you and all the people and you can't stand what he says, that you have forsaken God so now He has forsaken you. How dare he speak to you this way, as if you have made all this history, that God has not made those who intervened on your behalf, but rather than confess your wrong and lack, stone him, crucify Him. Oh the blood of those who warn us of our sin, the blood of the innocent, the blood of the one whose father protected you. You were dead without him, your own grandmother would have eaten you alive, but now you will have to answer for the blood of his son. The hope of Judah hangs low, the enemy from within has called the enemy from without. The Syrians take your bloody counselors, those foolish princes that you found so wise, and your own servants conspire for your blood, you will not be buried with the kings of Judah. 

“There was a want of principle in Joash, and it is of that I want to warn all our friends. Do not, I pray you, be satisfied with the practice of piety without the principles of piety. It is not enough to have a correct creed; you must have a renewed heart. It is not sufficient to have an ornate ritual; you must have a holy life, and to be holy you must be renewed by the Holy Spirit. If this change is not wrought in you by the Holy Ghost, you who yield so readily to good will yield just as quickly to evil.” (Spurgeon)

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#570 Preservation

But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. 2 And they went about through Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada[a] said to them, “Behold, the king's son! Let him reign, as the Lord spoke concerning the sons of David. 4 This is the thing that you shall do: of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers, 5 and one third shall be at the king's house and one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. 6 Let no one enter the house of the Lord except the priests and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the Lord. 7 The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

8 The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men, who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the divisions. 9 And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of God. 10 And he set all the people as a guard for the king, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house. 11 Then they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, “Long live the king.”

Athaliah Executed

12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 13 And when she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments leading in the celebration. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains who were set over the army, saying to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and anyone who follows her is to be put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Do not put her to death in the house of the Lord.” 15 So they laid hands on her,[b] and she went into the entrance of the horse gate of the king's house, and they put her to death there.

Jehoiada's Reforms

16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord's people. 17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the Lord under the direction of the Levitical priests and the Levites whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the Lord, to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David. 19 He stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean. 20 And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching through the upper gate to the king's house. And they set the king on the royal throne. 21 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword. 2 Chronicles 23 ESV

There are those times, instances in life, where standing up or speaking contrary to the crowd and present rule requires that one take courage. It is not a readily available thing here for Jehoida; it was and always is easier to remain quiet, continue on in your place. You are still a priest, you still have a job, but your wife is probably nagging you, "when are you going to say something?" Athaliah is the purest concentration of Ahab and Jezebel, and though God did not let her completely wipe out the line of David, she does hold the power now. You will have to tell others about the truth that has been hidden in the temple, and in doing this you will expose yourself. What if those you tell decide that they should rather keep their jobs and their positions or be rewarded for turning you in? He tells the captains, and they decide to support the line of David, as it is written by the prophet Samuel, "Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before Me."

2 Samuel 7 Son of David and Son of God

Before Moses could lead the people out of Egypt he had to be hidden in a basket. A young girl, his sister, had to reveal herself to Pharaoh's daughter, to offer a plan that would return him to be nourished and taught by his mother. He had to stand before another Pharaoh, a man who looked down on him, who thought he knew more and was worth more. Jesus would be hidden from Herod, taken to Egypt, for "out of Egypt have I called My Son." The corrupt of this world, which is everyone, if left untouched, desire nothing more than that of the father of lies, to destroy this seed. We are scared silent, all the while He is saying, "if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." Now Jehoiada breaks the silence and starts a conspiracy, a coup d'état. They take the shields and spears of David, and the Levites surround the king to protect him, he is given the testimony (word of God) that instructs him and tells him how to judge righteously. We should so pray for those who have rule over us, for if they do not hold up God's law, then they only hold up the day, their own whims, society's ideals that have gained popularity at the time. They are reeds blowing about in the wind, ever changing and by preferring some they cannot be just to all. Long live the king, but when his grandmother hears it she does not rejoice. She rents her clothes, for she has ridden atop this kingdom for more than 6 years. This time belonged to her, so she is not happy to find her own grandson still alive, "traitors, traitors" she cries. Traitors, like someone who would kill her own grand children, like a woman who would sell out the family of her husband, who would defy the God that made this nation, direct the people to worship an idol, that kind of traitor? She held the power of influence over both her husband and her son, but now she was supreme, and in her mind entitled, more royal than all those around her. The violence that awakens in those whose sovereignty is challenged. Its my body, its my kingdom, I won it fair and square, the end justifies the means, it was time for a woman to rule, but the people are cheering for her grandson. It must have been a horrible 6 years, but now it's over and they repay her for her murders. The people also go of their own accord and rid themselves of the house of Baal, the abomination that she has brought unto them, that she has soiled them with. Thank you Lord for not forgetting Your people, for providing and maintaining the Way. Praise be to the God of David. 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:


6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
The Flight to Egypt

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Herod Kills the Children

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:


18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2

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#501 Seven Years Old

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.

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.

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.

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. 2 Kings 11 KJV

Athaliah was in Judah, but she was a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. So hungry was she for power and revenge, that she killed all those in her extended family, almost. There was one who was hidden, like Moses in his little ark, like Christ in Egypt for a time. This line is a prize to Baal's kingdom, to the proud and obstinate. Is anyone really so insane? Come out of the woods, take a look around the world of men, turn on the news and study politics for a few minutes. Did Hitler come on to the scene shouting murder at the first? What about Stalin or every other cult leader? Did they not talk about peace and prosperity, about brotherhood and love? Did they all not give their parties a common enemy, deciding they were themselves the good? Athaliah does not waste a moment to avenge her own pride, another kingdom, not Judah, not the line of David, but she is a child of her father and God is not her father. For six years there is one rightful king underneath her nose, hidden by Ahaziah's sister, raised up by the priest. In his seventh year, oh the people must mourn, for what does this mean to all of scripture past, has God finally been brought down, beaten in His Prophecy or did someone misspeak? Six years of this woman, and the lamp has gone out, but in his seventh year, look. No, could it be, a candle hid under a bushel? There was hope all this time, but we were unaware. He was right here all along, and just a child, but still a light. 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16 KJV

The secret is now out and hope is brought back to life for those to whom the priest makes it known. They will pledge themselves to the glory of God's providence, standing against the present rulers of the darkness. Athaliah will come in screaming unfair, it was my turn, "treason", "treason". It is treason to the present rule, but she is not the choice of God, regardless of her brutality. She is the measure of treason herself, to her own family, to God's sovereignty, to sanity, to the humility of a common good. What man or woman is fit to rule when they would design to do so by such ill means? Peace is not the promise to your people, it is your job. Blind adoration is for fools to give, not for good citizens to bestow at the point of the sword. She rents her clothes at her own dishonor, for she cares nothing about the offense she is to God. Those that hold on to the world so tightly end up strangling it in their grasp. When you hold on to what God is saying is not yours, then no matter how long it is, that will be it against an eternity of want. The whole world, is that all you can offer me? Then keep it, for heaven and earth shall pass away, but look here, "God has given", His word still stands. There is nothing to go back to with her, she has failed as a ruler, and she has introduced such abominations that should have never gone up in such a land. Tear down the house of Baal and kill his priest. A little child leads them, and all is quiet for a time. A lovely woman, but just a glimpse of things to come, that spirit of Jezebel is never quiet for long.

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

babylon the great

the mother of prostitutes

and of the abominations of the earth.

6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. Revelation 17: 3-6

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