II Kings 11-12
Dear RTB’ers,
Today we return to the Southern Kingdom, Judah, and we meet Amaziah’s mother, Athaliah, who makes herself queen. Amaziah was the young king of Judah who was killed by Jehu when he had visited Jehoram, the king of Israel. His mother, Athaliah then “succeeded” him. She quickly eliminated any others who might claim the throne (except for one, Joash, see below), and continued the worship of Baal that she and her husband, Jehoram had initiated. (vv.8:17-18) She had Baalism in her blood – she was, after all, Ahab’s daughter!
As for this Joash (aka Jehoash), the heir to the throne… He was saved from Athaliah’s purge and was raised by the wife and husband team, Jehosheba and Jehoiada. He was, by most accounts, a good king: And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. (v. 12:2) Jehoiada had destroyed the Baal worship that Jehoram and Athaliah had initiated (v. 11:18), but the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places. (v. 12:3) Presumably these sacrifices were to God, not Baal, but there is still the possibility for wrong worship when people go to these high places instead of to the temple.
I am impressed by that wife and husband team, Jehosheba and Jehoiada — the courage and foresight exhibited by Jehosheba in saving Joash and the strength and faithfulness exhibited by Jehoiada in raising and guiding Joash in faithful practices. We’ll learn later in II Chronicles 24 that Joash turned aside from following the Lord after Jehoiada died, reminding us of how important it is for us to have Godly leadership, to not take lightly those who have gone before us.
Blessings!
See also: