Athaliah & Jehoiada

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

We're going to look at two people today. Though our study is on the kings of Israel and Judah, neither one of these people fit into those roles.

I'm putting these two together because they are intrinsically entwined in their history, one to another.

I. Athaliah’s Nature

(What is their History / Background?)

Reigned 6 years

Family Connections:

Daughter of Ahab & Jezebel

She was the ultimate link between the two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

Jehoshaphat would give his eldest son, Jehoram, to be wed unto their daughter.

This was one of the three tragic compromises in an otherwise godly life of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.

She was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.

Wife of Jehoram King of Judah

Joram was a despicable king. If you look back to 2 Chronicles 21, after he had risen to the throne and Jehoshaphat his father was dead, he killed all of his brothers.

But we see something very interesting in 2 Chronicles 21:6 “And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.”

Athaliah undoubtedly had strong influence over her husband. And it's no wonder why she did the despicable things she did in witnessing her husband do the wicked things that he did as well.

Because of Jehoram's wickedness, God would bring a curse down upon him. And he would die by sickness of his bowels until they fell out.

She was the wife of Jehoram king of Judah.

Mother of Ahaziah King of Judah

Of course, Athaliah and Jehoram spawned Ahaziah. He would then take up the throne and reign for two years.

She was the mother of Ahaziah, king of Judah.

II. Athaliah’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

Assumed The Throne After The Death Of Her Son (2Chr. 22:10)

I'm sure you remember the story. Ahaziah went to visit his uncle Jehoram king of Israel in Jezreel after Jehoram was injured in battle at Ramoth-Gilead. God anointed Jehu to be king of Israel, and Jehu would then hunt down Jehoram king of Israel and slay him, slay Ahaziah, Athaliah's son, and all of the men seed of Ahab.

Ahaziah had apparently several children. We don't know exactly how many. But rather, one of them being anointed the king of Judah, she assumed the throne.

In doing so, she murdered her grandchildren, the other heirs to the throne - save one

Murdered Her Grandchildren / Heirs To The Throne (Save One) (2Chr. 22:10-12)

(Read the text)

This woman would set out on a rampage to murder her grandchildren. This was the lust that she had not only for power but to try to destroy the Word of God.

Remember, God had said that a descendant of David would remain on the throne, and she tried her best to kill all of them. It didn't matter that they were her chilrens children.

She murdered her grandchildren, who were the heirs of the throne, except for Joash, who Jehoshabeath rescued.

Was Overthrown by a Religious Uprising (2Chr. 23:3; 16-18)

I call this a religious uprising because it was.

We see in 2 Chronicles 23:3 that Jehoiada desired to fulfill the word of the Lord.

We see in 2 Chronicles 23:16-18 what his true goal was in mind, and that was that Judah would return to God.

Jehoiada would conspire with men of the country, and the priests and Levites, to anoint and protect Joash. And then when Athaliah came to protest, they killed her.

She was overthrown by a religious uprising.

III. What Makes her Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

Holding Position Doesn’t Equal Having Authority

One thing I think to recognize is that though men have called Athaliah queen on numerous occasions, God never recognized her as holding that position. Multiple times in his word, he said that she reigned, but he never called her queen of the land.

By contrast, God recognized Joash as King in 2 Chronicles 23:3 before he ever made the plans to overthrow Athaliah.

What this tells us, church, is that you may have a position in the eyes of man, but that does not mean that you have gained that authority and are recognized by God.

I believe pulpits are filled all across our land of men and women in positions though God has never ordained or recognized them as pastors.

Let me say this: God has not and never will recognize a woman as a pastor of any Christian church. They do not meet the basic requirements.

In like manner, There are, I believe, a multitude of people who are recognized as Christians. That is, they are recognized in the eyes of man, but not in the eyes of God.

Church, just because you are called one thing or claim one thing does not make it so. Holding position doesn't equal having authority.

You Miss Out when Absent the House of God (2Ch. 22:12)

What an amazing hiding place they had for Joash - the house of God.

I believe that they not only hid Joash in the house of God because Jehoiada was the priest, but also because Athaliah never went there. She was like her mother, before her a worshiper of Baal.

What insight to the way things truly are could she have gotten if she had only gone to the house of the Lord?

Many Christians look at going to church as a chore. And given some of the gibberish that comes from the pulpit, I can see why it feels that way. However, if you are in a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-preaching church, it is only a chore if you make it that way. Because if you go to the house of God under those circumstances, you will gain insight and wisdom. You will understand how things in this world really are, not what we are told by pop culture to believe.

(Ill.) I can't tell you how many times I have talked with people that are going through struggles and trials. And they just don't understand why they're experiencing what they are ‘because they’re a Christian’. Yet, they're rarely at the house of God, so they are not exposed to the basic teachings and tenets of the scripture.

The moral of the story is you miss out when you're absent from the house of God.

Coming to church, if you approach it correctly, will enhance your life.

Coming out of Desire to know God & His expectations of you

Seeking to Give and bless others, you will surely GET

You Can’t Fight Against God and Win

I've made this point on multiple occasions. And I continue to make this point because it is just as true now as it was the first time I said it. And the examples are numerous. And it's always true.

Satan Tried it

King Saul

Jeraboam

Ahab

Jehoram

Jezabel

The Prophets of Baal

Saul of Tarsus (“it’s hard to kick against the pricks”)

The Scribes, Pharisees crucified our LORD, only to have Him raise from the Grave 3 days later

This world waxes worse and worse. Our country continues to spit in the face of God. And I don't care how big we think we are, we are not above falling.

You can't fight against God and win.

In 2 Chronicles 24:7, sums up the woman Athaliah well. 2 Chronicles 24:7a “For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman…”

I. Jehoiada’s Nature

(What is their History / Background?)

The Priest of the LORD

Jehoiada would have been the high priest. The Bible calls him, in 2 Chronicles 24:6, Jehoiada the chief.

Married to Jehoshabeath, daughter of Ahaziah

Jehoiada married into the family of Ahab, in a sense. It was still the family of David, which, of course, would be polar opposites. The good news is his wife Jehoshabeath was a godly woman after the sword of the House of David.

He married into the family of David, And was the granddaughter of Athaliah.

Granddaughter of Athaliah

As Athaliah is on her murdering rampage, she rescued her infant brother from certain death.

Was the granddaughter of Athaliah.

II. Jehoiada’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

Protecting the Lineage of David

After his wife rescued Joash from Athaliah, Jehoiada risked his life by protecting him in the house of the Lord.

But he wasn't just a caretaker of a person, but of a promise. For had Joash been killed, God's promise would have died with him.

He is known for protecting the lineage of David.

Organizing the Overthrow of Athaliah

In both 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings, the story is laid out in much detail. How he had organized the people, placed them in positions to guard the king, and then ultimately overthrow and kill Athaliah.

Jehoiada's impact upon the kingdom of Judah and history itself cannot be overstated.

Organizing the overthrow of Athaliah.

Promoting Religious Reforms in Judah (2Chr. 23:16-21)

After Joash is installed as king, Joah didn't look at the war as half being won. He took this opportunity to help reshape and mold the kingdom of Judah into the image of God.

Being the Spiritual Anchor for Joash (2Chr. 24:2; 17-22)

The Bible says of Joash’s Great-Great-Grandfather Asa: 1 Kings 15:14 “But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.”

2 Chronicles 24:2 “And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”

2 Kings 12:2 “And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.”

As long as Jehoiada was around. Joash followed the Lord. However, once he died, he succumbed to the flattery and bribes of the wicked and turned away from the Lord.

He's known for being the spiritual anchor for Jewish.

Raising a Godly Son (2Chr. 24:19-22)

We are told of a story concerning his son Zachariah in 2 Chronicles 24:17-22 of great importance.

(Read the text)

This is, to my knowledge, the only mention of Zechariah in scripture. But it's easy to see that the apple did not fall far from the tree. What an amazing testimony he had. And the gladness he brought to the memory of his father.

Proverbs 15:20 “A wise son maketh a glad father: But a foolish man despiseth his mother.”

Proverbs 23:24–25 “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: And he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, And she that bare thee shall rejoice.”

He's known for raising a godly son.

III. What Makes him Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

The House of the LORD is a Place of Refuge (2Chr. 22:12)

We see that the house of the Lord is shown as a place of refuge for Joash.

This, I believe, should be the case today.

The house of the Lord is not a place of competition. It should not be a place of conflict. Nor should it be a place of compromise. It should be a place of refuge. This world tears you apart and beats you down. The house God is supplied unto us as a shelter from the storm.

If you look through Jehoiada's story, you see that the House of the Lord is the constant theme throughout. (Read through the examples in 2Chr. 22-24)

The house of the Lord is a place of refuge.

There is a Time to be Discreet, and a Time to be Bold (2Chr. 22:12-23:1)

We see a great contrast between these two verses.

In the first, we see Jehoiada being discreet in hiding Joash.

In the next, we see that he "strengthened himself."

Two opposite ends of the spectrum, yet both of them employed at just the right time.

Proverbs 29:11 “A fool uttereth all his mind: But a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”

Proverbs 12:23 “A prudent man concealeth knowledge: But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.”

When Jehoiada was brought up to the king at one year old, that was not the time for him to stand up against Athaliah. He needed to wait for the leading of God and formulate the strategy.

But when the time came, he was bold as a lion.

Church, when you see wickedness prevailing and it is within your power to do something about it, we must do as Jehoiada did and that is “strengthen ourselves” and boldly stand for the LORD!

There is a time to be discreet and a time to be bold.

Weapons in the House of God Serve a Purpose (2Chr. 23:9)

I thought this was an interesting point in that you go back to David's time. They kept weapons in the house of the Lord. Why did they do that?

I think the answer is simple: there were things inside the house of the Lord that it was worth protecting.

There are some that think that the church house is no place for guns. I am of the opinion that it's a shame that there must be guns in the house of God. But I am glad that the Second Amendment still stands, and we have the right to bear arms. And let me just say this, I feel sorry for the soul that comes into this church house intended to do harm.

Weapons in the house of God serve a purpose.

The Head is Blamed for the Slothfulness of the Body (2Chr. 24:6)

When we read this story here in 2 Chronicles 24, the Levites are slacking, and the one who's getting the blame is Jehoiada, their head.

We have seen all of the great work that Jehoiada has done, the blessing he's been unto the people, the manner in which he's handled himself. And here some others are the ones slacking, not him, but he is catching the brunt of it.

This is often the way it is, even in business circles today.

That leads me to address two different topics:

Church discipline

There is a reason why the church should exercise church discipline, and that is because sin that we enter into affects not just you, but your church and your pastor.

The image of Christ we project to the world.

Jesus lived 2,000 years ago, and yet there is a multitude of people who think very little of him today.

Let me say this with as much enthusiasm as I can, and that is that they don't think of him poorly because of anything he did, but because of the way in which we represent Him.

The head is blamed for the slothfulness of the body.

Unvarnished Godliness is of Great Influence (2Chr. 24:2)

When you live a life sold out unto God, risking your wealth and happiness for the cause of Christ, it will most certainly be of great influence to some.

Now I didn't say it would influence all. If Jesus himself had a multitude walk away from him, you can expect no better.

But unvarnished godliness is of great influence. May we live our lives in spirit and in truth.

Conclusion