 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. 2 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly. 4 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing.5 He even followed their counsel and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians wounded Joram, 6 and he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that he had received at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was wounded.
7 But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there, he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. 8 And when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he met the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers, who attended Ahaziah, and he killed them. 9 He searched for Ahaziah, and he was captured while hiding in Samaria, and he was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom. Athaliah Reigns in Judah10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death. 12 And he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land. Meditation God’s sovereign grace preserves a lamp during the darkest nights. There is a light well-kept during evil days. God’s covenant faithfulness always provides a hidden hope for His people. The climatic conclusion of today’s reading culminates in a contrast between a young child “hidden in the house of God” and an evil daughter of Ahab, Athaliah, who is “reigning over the land” (12). Evil appears to be on the throne! But God’s glorious will cannot be undone. Ahab’s wicked legacy continued through Ahaziah, fueled by faithless counselors bent on death and darkness. Yet in the darkest of days, God preserves “the lamp” of His promises (21:7). The seed of the woman promised in the garden is the offspring of David, secure in the soil of God’s sovereign grace. “God had ordained the downfall…” (7) is a phrase rooting the ridiculous scene in God’s sovereignty, offering peace in present problems and hope for what is to come. Suffering is not the end of the story. God is working all things according to His will and for His glory. When the lamp is fully revealed He is the light of the world, Jesus Christ who came in the form of a hidden child rescued from the murderous and paranoid king Herod (Matthew 2:13-18). God protected His promise to preserve the offspring of Abraham and bring a king from the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10). God’s sovereign grace will preserve a lamp of hope. Our hearts must hope in God’s sovereign grace! Richly Dwelling -Do you believe God’s sovereign grace is solid enough to hold your hope during the hardest of times? Where do you need to believe this truth? -What stands out to you about the contrast at the end of the reading? How does it apply to our world today? -Jesus is the fullness of God’s faithfulness. How does God’s sovereign grace ruling over the suffering of Christ strengthen you in struggles today? Be Specific. Key Verse 11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death. Comments are closed.
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