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2 Kings Chapter 11 (ESV)
17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord’s people, and also between the king and the people. 18 Then all the people of the land 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. And the priest posted watchmen over the house of the Lord. 19 And he took the captains, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching through the gate of the guards to the king’s house. And he took his seat on the throne of the kings. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king’s house.
21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
REFLECTION:
- If time permits, please read the whole chapter to find out how Jehoiada preserved David’s descendant from the mass murder of Athaliah and brought Joash to the throne.
- Athaliah ruled over Judah for seven years after brutally murdering the royal family including her grandsons except Joash. He was rescued and hid in the temple. During that time, Jehoiada must have taken time to instruct Joash of God’s law. Joash became one of the few good kings of Judah.
- What about Jehoiada do I most admire or dislike?
- How would I like, or not like, to resemble Jehoiada as a teacher and leader? Think of a teacher as anyone from whom others learn, and think of a leader as anyone who finds others following him or her. Even in friendships, sometimes one friend is the teacher and the other is the student, although they may not realize it.
PRAYER:
Pray for people who look up to me – either for good or bad. In that case, I am their teacher and leader. Ask God who He is asking me to reach out to as an informal teacher or leader. Or I may want to simply pray about what I pass on to others.
