II Chronicles 22:10-23:21
Dear RTB’ers,
Jehoshabeath and Jehoiada, Judah’s deliverers! Where would Judah have gone if this married couple had not acted? The Chronicler tells us that …in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and … (v. 23:1a). Only at that point did he begin the task of setting Joash on the throne. I don’t think the Chronicler is telling us that it took that long for Jehoiada to screw up the courage to undertake his task; I think, rather, that we was waiting for Joash to “come of age”, even though six is a bit young to be king! Because, no doubt, it took courage for Jehoshabeath and Jehoiada to even begin this undertaking. I daresay, today we are reading of one of the finest married couples in all of Scripture!
So I ask myself – when have I had to screw up the courage to speak up for my convictions or to act against something that I felt was wrong? Yes, there are a few instances that I could recount, but what I remember most is when I did not have the courage to speak out. I was an 18-year-old, first-year. second-semester college student. I had been invited to join the university Honors Program and to read a certain book before classes began. I read the book and attended the evening session. The book had formed my opinion one way, but the instructor and all the students spoke to a very different central point with which I disagreed. However, I remained silent and simply nodded in agreement. The next morning I dropped that class and dis-enrolled from the Honors Program. Truly, I was ashamed of myself for not taking a stand and vowed to never let that happen again. I think that since then I have held to that vow when it really mattered and I am thankful for that initial failure.
So, speaking up… When the Holy Spirit prompts us, we need to set aside our misgivings and reservations and speak up! He will honor our efforts and use them to His glory. Never mind the outcome – that’s His responsibility. Our charge is simply to speak up.
Blessings!
Fred