2 Kings 11
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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS
Queen Athaliah Removed; Coronation of Joash
BACKGROUND NOTES
DOCTRINAL POINT(S)
Satan tried to destroy the Messianic line through the bloodbath of a wicked woman.
God preserved the Messianic line through the compassion of a godly woman.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Let us be loyal to the true King.
QUESTIONS
Who was Athaliah? What did she do when her son, Ahaziah, was killed?
Who was Jehosheba, and what did she do in this scenario?
Who planned a military coup, and what was it about?
Discuss the timeliness of this coup.
What was Joash given at the time of his coronation?
What was the reaction of the people? What did they cry out?
What did Athaliah cry out?
What happened after Athaliah was killed?
How did Satan try to destroy the Messianic line?
How did God preserve the Messianic line in this instance?
ANSWERS
Athaliah was the daughter of Queen Jezebel (like mother, like daughter, they were both wicked). Athaliah had married King Joram (Jehoram) of Judah. Their son, Ahaziah, was King of Judah. Athaliah was a wicked, heartless woman. She secured the throne for herself when Ahaziah was killed. Ahaziah had no living brothers, so she killed of all of the royal descendants, even murdering her own grandchildren.
Jehosheba was Ahaziah’s sister, and she rescued a one-year old son of King Ahaziah. She was married to the high priest, Jehoiada. They took little Joash and hid him for six years in an apartment in the temple.
The high priest, Jehoida, planned and organized a military coup to remove wicked Queen Athaliah, who had wrongfully usurped the throne. It was time to restore the rightful heir, Joash, to the throne.
The plan called for the coronation of seven year old Joash to take place in the temple area. It would take place on a Sabbath, when many loyalists would be gathered for worship. And it would take place at the time of the changing of the royal guard, to avoid suspicion.
A copy of the testimony, that is the Scriptures.
All the people clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!”
“Treason! Treason!” But actually, she was the one guilty of treason.
Under the direction of Jehoida, the high priest, the people renewed their covenant commitment to the Lord and to the house of David. They tore down the temple of Baal that Athalia had erected in Jerusalem, and they removed the pagan priest of Baal.
Through the bloodbath when Athaliah murdered her own grandchildren. Satan knew that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah and be in the line of David. If Athaliah had been successful and had been able to destroy all the royal offspring, the Davidic line would have ended. She was a willing pawn in Satan’s master plan.
He preserved it through the compassion of a godly woman, Jehosheba, who took Joash and hid him until he was seven years old. She was in the right place at the right time, and did the right thing.
DISCUSS/CONSIDER
When you read a true story like this, do you stop to marvel at God’s sovereign power over the devious plans of Satan? Do you realize afresh that God’s sovereignty and power are operative today, even when things seem to be going Satan’s way? Do you see God’s plans, even in the midst of devastating world conditions? Do you trust Him?
How important is it to you that the Messianic line was not cut off?
CHALLENGE
Would you have dared to be a Jehosheba under an Athaliah’s reign? How loyal are you to Christ? What has it cost you? The cost of disloyalty?
KEY VERSES
“A covenant was made between the Lord…that they should be the Lord’s people.” 2 Kings 11:17
“All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet.” 2 Kings 11:20