2 Chronicles-24

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Removal of Queen Athaliah; The Reign of King Joash

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Spiritual leaders can greatly influence the course of a nation.

  2. Spiritual leaders can greatly influence the conduct of an individual.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Surround yourself with good spiritual leaders.

QUESTIONS

  1. What was the relationship between Athaliah and Joash? How did they each come to power?

  2. What prophetic implications of the end time could be portrayed in these events?

  3. Who was Jehoiada?

  4. What good did Joash accomplish while Jehoiada was alive?

  5. What changed for Joash after Jehoiada died?

ANSWERS

  1. In 2 Chronicles 22, Queen mother Athaliah usurped the throne of the kingdom of Judah and sought to put to death any royal offspring, including her own grandchildren. But baby Joash was rescued from the massacre and hidden in the Temple precincts for six years. Here in chapter 23, Joash is brought out of hiding and crowned as the rightful king.

  2. According to Luke 21:24, throughout the Time of the Gentiles, Jerusalem is to be under foreign oppression. Athaliah usurping the throne of David and wrongly reigning as a wicked queen may prophetically represent these times. Meanwhile, as Joash was hidden away in the Temple awaiting the right time to be revealed as the rightful king in the line of David, so Christ today is hidden, as it were, awaiting to be revealed as the rightful king and establish His kingdom.

  3. Jehoiada, the high priest of the Temple, was married to Jehoshabeath, Joash's aunt. Jehoiada was very influential in Joash's spiritual upbringing.

  4. Joash encouraged the people of Judah to give freewill offerings which were used to repair the House of the Lord. The surplus was used to benefit the Temple as well.

  5. When Jehoiada died, King Joash turned away from the Lord because of bad counsel. The leaders wanted to bring idolatry back into Judah and were able to lead Joash astray.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss spiritual leaders, past or present, which God has used to influence the course of our nation. Are you praying for Him to raise up more of such men?

  2. If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you should be a spiritual leader. You may not be an upfront preacher or teacher, but you are a spiritual leader because younger and less mature believers are looking at you and to you and directly or indirectly patterning their lives after you. Have you sought out any younger believers to disciple?

CHALLENGE

  1. How are you surrounding yourself with good spiritual leaders whose lives challenge you and hold you accountable?

KEY VERSES

  • "Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the LORD's people." 2 Chronicles 23:16

  • "Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest." 2 Chronicles 24:2

  • "His own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed [Joash] on his bed." 2 Chronicles 24:25b

2 Chronicles, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 Chronicles 23-24