The Lord’s Anointed

New King of Judah

The story we are about to read is also found in 2 Chronicles 22 - 23

2 Kings 11 ESV

1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family.

Athaliah is motivated to do this for many reasons.

She may have used it to preserve herself. Since she was an only heir she had to stay alive for the sake of Judah’s organization.

The main reason being that she would be able to become Queen of Judah and partake in the luxuries of royalty.

In doing so, she usurped God’s divine process for selecting King’s over Judah and Israel. There was a certain way God wanted things to be done in order to show His authority over the nation.

2 Kings 11 ESV

2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. 3 And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land. 4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the house of the Lord. And he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the Lord, and he showed them the king’s son. 5 And he commanded them, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king’s house 6 (another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards) shall guard the palace. 7 And the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the Lord on behalf of the king, 8 shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.” 9 The captains 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, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 And the priest gave to the captains the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord.

This represents the return of David’s dynasty and legitimizes Joash’s succession.

2 Kings 11 ESV

11 And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house on behalf of the king. 12 Then he brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”

The testimony is most likely the law that was to be given to every king to study and abide by according to Deuteronomy 17:18-20

Deuteronomy 17:18–20 ESV

18 “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

Joash had the written direction of God as well as spoken direction of God through Jehoiada.

2 Kings 11 ESV

13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 14 And when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”

It was customary for the newly anointed king to stand in entrance of the Lord’s temple. This was to show that the King was ruling under God’s authority and law. The King was not supreme rather a servant under God’s rule.

Today, God’s anointed don’t just stand in the temple entrance, but have become the temple of the Lord. There are no earthly temples for God’s chosen to be anointed under rather the anointing now is becoming the temple of the Lord itself.

We have immediate and direct access to the Father thanks to Jesus through the Holy Spirit that now dwells in every child of God as a seal of our inheritance. He now guides and directs us in all the ways of God.

2 Kings 11 ESV

15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.” 16 So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses’ entrance to the king’s house, and there she was put to death. 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.

The immediate response of the people to God’s authority being re-established is the absolute destruction of idolatry.

2 Kings 11 ESV

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.

2 Kings 12:1–3 ESV

1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places.

Ahaziah was counseled in wickedness, Joash was counseled in wisdom.

Your counselor matters.

Do you seek counsel in the wrong places?

John 14:26 ESV

26 But the Helper (counselor), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Helper here literally means “one called alongside to help”

The Holy Spirit is our counselor, comforter, advocate, and helper. When we choose to follow the voices of the world we will always be lead astray into vain and selfishness. When we are counseled by the Holy Spirit and His word we will always be lead in the way of the Lord.

What’s interesting is Jehoiada’s name in Hebrew means “God knows” which further shows us God’s placement of Jehoiada in Joash’s life to steer him in God’s knowledge and ways.

If we are to take counsel from anyone they should be people who are led by the Holy Spirit and who walk in the knowledge, wisdom, and power of God.

For the only counsel that profits a man is godly.

Not only does it profit a man, but it profits the community of God.

I will close with these verses.

Proverbs 3:5–8 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean (support yourself) on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Let’s pray.