THE KID JOASH ANOINTED A KING In the last chapter we saw how God set Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab, who, together with his wife, family, priests, and acquaintances corrupted Israel, and almost turned it from a people of the true God to a pagan people that worship the Baal; oppress the prophets, and the men of God. That (plague) moved, as well, to Judah, when the two royal families entered into a marital relationship. But Jehu killed the two kings of Israel and Judah, and almost every one who belong to the house of Ahab. Now Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel received the throne in Judah; and bearing the spirit of her evil mother, she put in her heart to destroy the whole house of David, so that none of them would survive to reign; and got preoccupied with spreading the pagan worship in Judah. She was the only woman who reigned in Israel and Judah. In an attempt to strengthen his kingdom, Jehoshaphat king of Judah gave his son Jehoram in marriage to Athaliah the daughter of Ahab; a bond, according to many, was a part of a devilish plan to bring idol-worship into Judah. 1- The kid Joash saved from Athaliah’s hand 1 - 3 2- Joash anointed a king by Jehoiada the high priest 4- 12 3- Athaliah killed 13 - 16 4- A return to the worship of the true god 17 – 21 1- THE KID JOASH SAVED FROM ATHALIAH’S HAND; “When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs” (1) In the last chapter we saw a man set by the Lord to reign on the throne of Israel, to destroy the whole house that corrupted the leaders and the people. But unfortunately, although he did destroy them, he did not know how to deliver his own heart to the Lord, to have the words of the wise Solomon: “The king’s heart is in the hands of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverb 21: 1)…. Now it presents to us a different portrait of a woman who received the throne in Judah; and, instead of putting her heart in the hands of the Lord, she put in it to oppose Him; by which she actually opposed herself, and without knowing it, she destroyed her position and her life…. Those two: Jehu king of Israel, and Athaliah queen of Judah, even though contradictory,: for the former so seemed to be zealous on the worship of the living God; and the later, had zeal to spread the worship of Baal, but both of them, having not put their hearts in the hands of the Lord, provide us with a single call to set a kingdom of God in us; through putting our hearts in the hands of the king of kings; He who made us kings and priests (Revelations 1: 6). + Deliver your soul in the hands of the Lord; not only when you depart from the body, but even while it is still in the body; let your soul be in the hands of the Lord; for you cannot see it, nor its source, or where it reaches; It is in you, and, at the same time with God. “The king’s heart is in the hands of the Lord”, who leads and guides it … If the heart of man is in the hands of the Lord, how much more would be his soul? (St. Ambrose) + If the king’s heart is in the hands of God, he would not be saved by the strength of his arms, but by the divine leadership. … Not everyone is in the hands of God; but only him who is qualified to bear the royal name. (St. Basil the Great) + Surely, the prophet does not refer to the kings of this world; when it is written: “The heart of the king is in the hands of God”. The “kings of the earth” are those who have the authority over sin. Can we, for a moment, assume that the heart of Jolian the denier, ….or those of the persecutors Neron, Maximianus, Dakios, are in the hands of the Lord?? Far from it!... + Can the heart of Manasseh be in the hands of God: … Can the hearts of the evil kings of Judah be in the hands of God? … The “kings” are the saints whose hearts are in the hands of God. (St. Jerome) Athaliah was the mother of Ahaziah king of Judah; (not Ahaziah king of Israel, the son of Ahab and Jezebel); After her own son was killed, she put it in her heart to destroy all the royal seed; in an attempt to annul the divine promise concerning setting kings of the descendants of David forever. The way the seed of her father were destroyed by Jehu, she wished to destroy that of all who remained of the descendants of David. Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and jezebel, and the widow of Jehoram king of Judah, introduced the worship of Baal into Judah; Like her mother in her wickedness and violence, she did not hesitate to sheg blood to realize her goal. She could control her man (8: 18, 27; 2 Chronicles 21: 6), and her son (2 Chronicles 22: 2-4). According to St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syrian, Athaliah provoked her son Ahaziah to work, through the sons of iniquity, to draw the priests away from the house of the Lord to minister to the idols; and like a blind man, he obeyed her without debate. And once she received the throne, after her son was killed, she concentrated on realizing that by herself, in order to draw all the Jews from worshipping the true God to the old worship of Sidon. Pride was, yet, behind the destruction of both Jehu, whom God chose to chastise the house of Ahab, and Athaliah. When they both received the throne, assumed that by their own strength and wisdom, they could realize their mission with success. But despite all their possibilities, abilities, and talents, not turning to God with the spirit of humility, to seek His council, and wisdom, and to let Him hold the steering wheel of their life by Himself, they failed, and destroyed themselves, in spite of the appearances of shining signs of prosperity at the beginning of their reign,…. Pride or haughtiness is the way to the destruction of man by his own hands, whatever is his position. + A proud and a haughty man is like an ox prepared for slaughter, that is left to roam in relative freedom, to destroy what it wishes to destroy, until the day of its slaughter See proverb 7: 22). + All those proud men bear haughty necks; they not only practice evil, but refuse to see it as such; and when they are rebuked they tend to justify themselves. + When the wicked fight against God, the earthen vessel are broken into pieces; so are those who trust in their own strength, in “their embossed shield” about which the righteous ‘Job’ says the wicked “run stubbornly against Him, with a strong embossed shield” (Job 15: 26). (St. Augustine) + The sons of rulers, who boast in their ability of degrading some priests from their priesthood ranks; boast in things, not of true value, and, accordingly have not the least reason for boasting. … Some, who boast of having the power to cut the heads of men, “their glory is in their shame” (Philippians 3: 19); … And others who boast in their earthly riches… All these things are not worthy to be put into consideration, and it would be unfitting to boat in them. But to boast in being wise, to boast that for the last ten years we did not practice any carnal pleasures or lusts; or that we haven’t approached them since childhood, or in that we bear shackles in our hands for the sake of the Lord Christ; these are the things truly worthy of boasting. Yet even these things, as well, if we use our reason, we shall realize that we should not boast in them. Paul had what are worthy of boasting: the visions, proclamations, miracles, signs, the sufferings he endured for the sake of the Lord Christ; and the many churches he established in several locations of the world. According to human measures, boasting in those things would seem to people as natural; yet, to spare him from the danger of boasting even in such things, God the Father, in His mercy, as He granted him those privileges, lest he should be exalted above measure, he also gave him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him. Concerning this thing he pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from him; but the Lord said to him. ‘My grace is sufficient to you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (See 2 Corinthians 12: 7 – 9) + Hate greatness, for it is the fruit filled with death; Adam ate from it in Eden, and it gave him death By it, Satan had fallen in the beginning; By it, the house of Adam were driven out of paradise; Nothing is hated and despised by God like the love of greatness, and he who boasts with pride (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) “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 murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed” (2) “Athaliah:, Although her name means (the Lord is glorified); but unfortunately she did not walk as befitting of her name. She put in her heart to kill all her grandchildren, the descendants of Ahaziah, and all the royal seed; but failed, as Jehosheba, snatched her nephew Joash the son of Ahaziah, together with his nurse and hid him in the house of the Lord for a duration of six years, helped by her husband Jehoiada the godly high priest. Being the sister of Ahaziah, she had free access to the royal palace, beside that the workers there had compassion on the little infant and helped her to save him. And above everything else, we should remember that God promised David that his throne will endure forever; and that the Messiah will come from his seed (2 Samuel 7); He therefore, kept Joash for the sake of His promise to David. Jehosheba, daughter of king Jehoram, and sister of Ahaziah from his father and not from his mother; according to Josephus, not being the daughter of Athaliah she confronted her wickedness (2 kings 11: 2; 2 Chronicles 22: 11), and saved the little Joash by hiding him from Athaliah six years in the temple; and most probably Athaliah, having no knowledge whatsoever of his existence, she did not search for him to kill him. Jehosheba hid the little infant in the house of the Lord, until he could take the throne (11: 12); the way Miriam hid her brother Moses (Exodus 2: 3); Rahab hid the two spies (Joshua 2: 4); and Joseph and Mary hid the infant Jesus in Egypt (Matthew 2: 13); until the proper time assigned by the Lord.. In the house of God, we take refuge, not only from the wicked enemies, but in it we gain honor, as we offer the sacrifices of exultation and praise. There, as our hearts are sure of the perfect conquest; hence we raise our heads high in Joy and pride; despite being surrounded on all sides by enemies who threaten us. The temple was considered as a place of security (2 kings 11: 3; Nehemiah 6: 10); not on account of its strong walls and gates, but of that God dwells in it, and the fellowship of Him therein. There, the believer truly finds his security, inner peace, comfort, happiness, and perpetual growth. “One thing I have desired of the Lord; that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27: 4) “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Psalm 92: 13) “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord” (Psalm 118: 26) “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122: 1) “Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good” (Psalm 122: 9) “Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord” (Psalm 134: 1) “You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of God” (135: 2). + “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Psalm 92: 13). We are planted in a place, and will flourish in another. We are planted here, and will flourish in the kingdom of God. We are planted in the house of the Lord, namely in the church; not within its walls, but in its teachings; For the Lord says: “The kingdom of God is in you” (Luke 17: 21). All who are planted in the house of the Lord, and have their roots grow here, will bear flowers there… We may seem at home here, but, compared to the angels, and the heavenly hosts, we are not in our ultimate home, we are just in the beginning, and not in the end of the way to perfection. We shall not become angels, but like the angels. Do not ever count it as an easy matter, O man, to be like an angel. (St. Jerome) It so seems that before killing the sons of the king, Athaliah did not do a census of their names, and did not make sure of killing them all; but, assuming that she is the one of authority, she gives the orders to be The child was snatched from among the dead corpses of his siblings, suspected as dead; or from his nursery; In the ‘bedroom’, translated as the storehouse of beds and mattresses; a place that would never be searched for the sons of the king. Here we stand amazed before the hidden divine care: Jehosheba, the daughter of Jehoram, the evil king, got married to Jehoiada, a zealous and a godly priest; by which she could play the role of saving the child. On another aspect, her husband the priest could keep him safe in a secure place, that the evil queen would never suspect to be a hiding place for one of the king’s sons together obeyed by all. “So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land” (3) Not perceiving that God is the King of kings, Athaliah counted herself as the sole one of authority, who could do whatever she likes; and that no one would dare to stand against her. The wise Solomon previously warned against the wrath of the king, counting him like a roaring lion , not to avenge, but to exhort man against evil that could destroy him; saying: “The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger, sins against his own life” (proverb @0: 2). Who is this King, but the Lion who comes from the tribe of Judah. According to the scholar Origen the talk here is open on Christ being the King. Whoever provokes His anger by his sin, his own sins would stand against him]. Queen Athaliah never thought about the temple, nor cared for it.. For as long as six years she worshipped the Baal, and disregarded the worship of the living God; she built a temple for Baal, and appointed priests for it (11: 8). By comparing what came in 2 kings 12: 5-12 with what came in 2 Chronicles 24: 7, we can realize how Athaliah cared to spread the worship of Baal in judah, and to annul the worship in the house of the lord as much as she could. She considered the house of the Lord, no more than a storehouse from which the vessels could be drawn to use in the temple of Baal; It did not come into her mind to care to check out what went on there, being sure that it will eventually collapse before the might of the worship of Baal. 2- JOASH ANOINTED A KING BY JEHOIADA THE HIGH PRIEST: “ In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds—of the bodyguards and the escorts—and brought them into the house of the LORD to him. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son” (4). The high priest put a secure and a wise plan to guarantee that Athaliah would never have the chance to do a contrary action…. She was actually surprised by the fact that the kingdom returned to the seed of David after seven years of her reign, all by a divine ordinance on the hand of Jehoiada. “Jehoiada”, a Hebrew name, meaning (God knows) was the high priest in the days of Ahaziah, Athaliah, and Joash; a husband of Jehosheba, sister of king Ahaziah. He, together with his wife put in their hearts to save the infant Joash from the hands of Athaliah; being the only one left of the house of David, through whom the throne would be kept in the seed of David. He cared for him, and the Holy Spirit, through him ordained a political plan to make him sit on the throne a king, when he reached the seventh year of age; and he took the role of being his guardian. Because of his glorified works in supporting Joash, destroying the idols, and reforming the temple, Johoiada was buried in the tombs of the kings in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 24: 15, etc.); on account of that he cared to perform the following overall reform movements: 1- He enthroned the new king 2- He set a covenant between the Lord and the people to become the people of God (17) 3- He set a covenant between the king and the people 4- He motivated the people as a whole to tear the house of Baal down 5- They broke into pieces the altars and images of Baal 6- They killed Mattan the priest of Baal 7- He appointed the priests officers over the house of the Lord 8- A great joy and peace dwelt over the whole city, for the new reforms under the supervision of Jehoiada. The appearance of Joash, the youngest king in the history of Israel and Judah, is considered a decisive moment, for he sat on the throne when he was seven years old; and reigned for as long as 40 years; but unfortunately he perverted in his last years, and was slain by his servants when he was 47 years old. The church, since the apostolic era cared not to ordain the spiritual leaders, the bishops in particular, in their young years; with the exception of those who, together with youth, were granted wisdom, godliness, and reason. In the by-laws of the saintly apostles: [We hear from our Lord that the shepherd who is to be ordained a bishop over the churches in any eparchy, has to be blameless, free of all kinds of evil that prevail on the common people; and to be at least fifty years of age; so that he would have already crossed over his young years in good life … But in case a small eparchy has no one advanced in age, it is allowed to choose a younger man, who has a good reputation, to be qualified for the position as a bishop; who crossed over his years of youth in the meekness and reason of an old man; and, after testing him and writing a good report about him, he would be ordained in peace. … Josiah, reigned in his 8 years of age, walked uprightly (2 kings 22: 1); and Joash reigned when he was 7 years old (2 Chronicles 24: 1; 2 kings 11: 3-4).. Therefore, if the one chosen was young, let him be meek, gentle, and peaceful; for the Lord says through Isaiah: “On this one will I look, on him who is poor, of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66: 2)]. Through those six years, he hid the infant Joash in the temple, the Spirit of the Lord was working strongly in the life of Jehoiada. He not only ordained priests zealous on the kingdom of God, but he had an active role in the life of the kings’ officers and others, to prepare leaders and people who rejected the violence of Athalih and her opposition to the work of God. As it was high time to take a daring stand on the level of leaders and people to get rid of the tyrant Athaliah, and to receive the infant Joash a king, and to be submitted to God Himself, and to return to Him. “The bodyguards” refer to the royal bodyguards, who were often foreigners, as was done by king David, who were trusted more than the Israelites, if a rebellion or a riot happens among the people (2 Samuel 15: 18). The escorts”: refer to the messengers who were sent from one place to another, bearing the king’s commands, Jehoiada, being the high priest, let them enter into the house of the Lord, namely into the chamber where the little son of the king was hidden. There is no doubt that they, together with many of the children of Judah, longed for getting rid of the Athaliah who took the throne by force; and to bring it back to the house of David. In 2 Chronicles 23: 2 it came that, after their secret covenant, they went all over Judah, and gathered together the Levites and the elders of Israel, and brought them over to Jerusalem, where they, as well, made a covenant with the king in the house of the Lord; and were armed by Jehoiada with the spears and shields that were kept in the house of the Lord. “Then he commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall do:: one-third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king’s house” (5) The prophet David had previously divided the priests and the Levites into 24 divisions; every division to serve according to their order. Jehoiada chose the day of the Sabbath to declare the enthronement of Joash a king in the temple; on account of that it was the day the believers used to gather together. He most probably called all the divisions to come without knowing what he was going to declare; they were only prepared to receive the little infant of the seed of David to be the king. They came without weapons, as though to worship, and according to plan, those responsible for the enthronement of the new king, were armed with the weapons stored by king David in the temple (10). It was indeed a magnificent chance for the whole people to rejoice; those who lost any hope for someone of the seed of David to be enthroned, on the assumption that none of them survived. “One-third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down” (6). There were three divisions of guards, Jehoiadah commanded one third to keep the watch of the house of the king, namely where Athaliah dwelt; and two thirds to keep watch of the house of the Lord around the little king Joash. The first third: namely the guards on the house of the king were divided into three divisions: a- A division at the gate of Sur, most probably what was called ‘the gate of the foundation’ (2 Chronicles 23: 5) b- A division at the gate behind the escorts c- A third division were standby in the quarter of the guards. Through that regular assignments, Jehoiada intended to keep Athaliah from having any doubt of anything that may indicate treason. “The two contingents of you who go off duty on the Sabbath shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD for the king” (7). Those were the division that, even though already served their shift, yet were ordered to show up in the house of the Lord, and not to be dismissed as usual, to partake of guarding the little king. “But you shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within range, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.” (8) Through very careful planning, Jehoiada, did not leave any chance for someone to come to kill the little king to have favor in the sight of Athaliah; And at the same time, he did not leave any chance for any riot or disturbance to happen that would corrupt the celebration of the enthronement of the new king. “So the captains of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each of them took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest” (9) “And the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of the LORD” (10). King David dedicated those spears and shields to the house of the Lord, after striking the army of Hadadezer (2 Samuel 8: 9-11). And as those weapons were not in gold nor silver, they were disregarded by Shishak king of Egypt when he took over the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king’s house (1 kings 14: 25-26) “Then the escorts stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, all around the king, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, by the altar and the house” (11) By the altar here, is meant the altar of the burnt offering, that was in the court in front of the house. The watch was intact all around the king; but the true watch was that, it all happened in the holy house, dedicated to the Lord of hosts; who was the true “Guard””: about whom the Psalmist sings, saying: “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127: 1). + Why would we suffer of having no house, no cover, or no neighbors?... Is it not better for us to dwell in the Builder of our house, and be guarded by the Guard of our city? If David did not find comfort until he found (God His comfort); how could we seek comfort outside Him? (St. John Saba) + However clever and alert in your work, O shepherd, you cannot refer your success to your effort, strong personality, or diligence in work. For it is God alone who keeps the souls and whose grace watches over them. + “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127: 1) … We (the shepherds), watch over you as stewards of God; but we, likewise seek from Him to watch over us together with you. Even though we are your shepherds, but we are watched by God; for we are your fellow sheep. We may be your teachers, but we are your fellow students in the school of God, the only Master. If we wish for God to watch over us, As He humiliated Himself for our sake; let us be humiliated likewise. No one should count himself as something; for there is nothing good in anyone, unless he gets it from God, who is the only One good. + This is the house we build by living a virtuous life; by God’s help to us; for “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127: 1) (St. Augustine) “And he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!” (12) The enthronement of the new king (see 2 Chronicles 23: 11) was done according to the following steps: a- The little king who was hidden in the temple from the face of Athaliah for six years. b- A proclamation that he is the legitimate king c- The crown was put on his head. A similar crown to that put over the head of the high priest; namely a golden crown with a ribbon. d- He was anointed. The Holy Book mentioned that Saul the first king over Israel was anointed by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1); So was David (2 Samuel 2: 4); Solomon (1 kings 1: 39); and now Joash. The king was therefore called “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 12: 3, 5; 2 Samuel 1: 14, 16; Psalm 2: 2; Habakkuk 3: 13). e- When anointed, the new king was handed a copy of the law of Moses, to be committed to walk according to it (Deuteronomy 17: 18), in which was written the duties of the king concerning keeping the law of God. By the “testimony” given to the king, is meant a section of the books of Moses (Deuteronomy !7: 18), or what was written by Samuel (1 Samuel 10: 25), or the ten commandments. The “testimony” was a scroll that included the divine law, together with a reference that it is the guide in running the state affairs. As the word “gave” did not come in some versions, some understand that the priest put the crown, together with the testimony on the new king’s head, as an indication that he will submit to the law of God. f- By clapping their hands, and shouting, the people proclaimed their unanimous consent to welcome him as their king. According to ‘Harmer’, in the Hebrew text, as well as in Psalm 47: 1, and Isaiah 55: 2; it came as “hand” and not “hands”; for everyone used to clap his hand gently over his lips as a sign of joy. g- Shouting: “Long live the king”, means: “God save the king” This book portrays to us the celebration of the enthronement of the little king Joash, with formalities bearing holiness, done by the high priest himself, he who has for six years anticipated that joyful day, elaborately prepared for it, and spent much expenses, and effort to realize it…. It is a portrait of our coronation as kings and priests for God the Father (Revelation 1: 6). This double celebration is realized in the water of baptism in which we enjoy the new birth, be counted as the children of the King of kings, and enjoy the general priesthood, offering God the sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise. This coronation did not start to happen just then, but was prepared by God for long centuries; and had cost Him sending fathers, prophets, and the law; and even to deliver His only-begotten Son for the salvation of the world. … The fathers of the early church tell us about the creation of man to be a king and a ruler. + Man (Adam) did not enter into the world of existence until the sixth day of creation … For it would not be befitting for the ruler to appear before the things he is going to rule. But once his kingdom was ready, as the divine Creator prepared all things for a royal dwelling place for the king to come, the ruler was proclaimed. This royal dwelling place is the earth, the sea, and the sky, which is like a bow surrounding everything as a roof. In that palace, all kinds of material riches were stored; a world of animals and plants, everything with body, soul, and life. And in case the material things are to be counted as riches, they include everything beautiful and of value in the sight of man, of gold, silver, precious stones, to enjoy. The divine Creator hid all those things in the womb of the earth; as though they are a royal treasure, so that once man appears in the world, he would meditate in some, explore the others. and, enjoying all., he would give thanks to the Grantor of goods; and looking at the beauty of what he sees, he would be drawn to the unperceivable great power of their Creator. (St. Gregory of Nyssa_ + It is befitting to call the saints ‘kings’ in the language of the Holy Book; for they soar above the carnal emotions, control the pleasures of evil lusts, appease the flame of greed, bow down the haughtiness of pride, crush the thoughts of the body, and put off the fire of covetousness. They will forever sit on the throne of the eternal kingdom, and receive the authority to judge the others. So the Lord says to the Laodicean church: “To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3: 21). It is not a contradiction to proclaim in some place else that His disciples will sit on twelve thrones, to judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19: 28); while here, He says that they will be granted to sit on His throne. By the “twelve thrones”, He refers to the general judgment; whereas by “the throne of the Son”, he refers to the special exaltation of the higher Judicial authority. (Pope Gregory the Great) 3- ATHALIAH KILLED: “Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD” (13) Although Athaliah perceived that something seriousness was going on, yet she did not think about fleeing from the palace, her pride made her trust in her ability to manage any situation, and did not allow her to withdraw in weakness and disgrace, following the lead of her mentor – the devil – who dared to tempt the Lord of glory Jesus, and even to go with Him on the pinnacle of the temple, seeking from Him to show off His possibilities, by casting Himself down from there, to see if His angels will carry Him to safety. “When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!” (14). It is not easy to perceive the feelings of the queen, who was sure that she has managed to kill everyone who could sit on the throne, and lived six years in a false peace of mind, seeing, all of a sudden, an infant king surrounded by all the religious and civil leaderships, and exulted by all the people. She tore her clothes and cried out: “Treason, treason”; when she was, in truth, the one who committed treason, by killing all the house of David, to get rid of anyone who could compete against her to sit on the throne. “And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be killed in the house of the LORD.” (15) Jehoiada gave the command to arrest her, take her out of the house of the Lord, and kill her; because she killed all the seed of David, supported idol-worship, built a temple for Baal; robbed all what she could of the vessels of the house of the Lord to the account of the temple of Baal; and because, being an enemy of the people, she destroyed their peace. The high priest cared for two things: a- Not to kill her in the house of the Lord b- To kill with the sword whoever follows her to defend her, or to avenge those who oppose her. “So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses’ entrance into the king’s house, and there she was killed” (16). The way of the horses entrance into the king’s house is different from the way of the gate of the escorts (19); which was the normal way from the house of the Lord to the house of the king. 4- A RETURN TO THE WORSHIP OF THE TRUE GOD: “Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people, and also between the king and the people” (17). Now, having done the difficult task of getting rid of the wicked Athaliah, who took the throne by force, and shed innocent blood, the high priest cared to let the new king start his reign by setting a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people. He intended for the king to be faithful in his relationship with God, and his relationship with the people of God. He renewed the covenant on the level of the whole people (Exodus 19 24; 27: 9), by which the king is committed to govern in harmony, and conforming to the divine law; And the people, in turn, are committed to show love and obedience to the king in the Lord. At the start of his reign, the king walked uprightly, thanks to the influence of his aunt Jehosheba and his uncle Jehoiada. For a long time the king and the people did not renew their covenant with the Lord; Jehoiada, as the high priest acted as a guardian of the king, on account of that no one of his family was alive to do it instead. Jehoiada, therefore, being the actual ruler at the time, started by the following works: a- He renewed the covenant between God, and the king, and the people; and between the king and the people. As it came in Exodus 19: 5- 8; 24: 3-8; 34: 10 – 28); by which the king is committed to submit to the divine law; and the people are committed to submit to the king. b- He destroyed the worship of Baal; for whom, Jehoram or Athaliah might have have built a temple in the city of Jerusalem; and Mattan was the high priest for Baal. c- He brought king Joash to the house of the king, and let him sit on the throne.. “And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD” (18) The people began their renewal of their covenant with God by destroying the idol-worship introduced by Athaliah; for there is no fellowship between God and Bileal; nor between the light and the darkness. “Then he took the captains of hundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts, and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, and went by way of the gate of the escorts to the king’s house. Then he sat on the throne of the kings (19). “ So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword in the king’s house” (20). All the people rejoiced; as the fruit of being attached to the Lord, and of their return to Him, is the enjoyment of inner peace and the true joy. “Jehoash was seven years old when he became king” (21). ------------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 2 KINGS 11 SET YOUR KINGDOM IN ME, O HOLY ONE + Grant me to sing together with the wise Solomon, saying: O God, who by Your wisdom have formed humankind, to have dominion over Your creation; And to rule the world in holiness and righteousness; And pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul (Wisdom 9: 2-3) You wish for all to be truly kings, masters, and rulers; Not to enslave anyone, whatever weak are his capabilities; But, by Your Holy Spirit, to lead their hearts; And, by Your grace, to control their senses and emotions; And to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God. + You did not create man to be a slave of his brother or sister; But to carry the spirit of dominion and authority; To walk along the royal path, to cross over to You; Not to fear the devil and his evil hosts; Not to bow in humiliation to any evil or vain desire; Not to be enslaved to the love of the world, or to the desire of the vain glory; But by the spirit of love and humility, he, as a king, would be attached to his Father the King of kings; Grant me to be like a little child for whom You care with love; To reveal to me Your plan toward me; To grant me to find refuge in Your holy house; and to enjoy Your sweet love; Let the devil stir up; let him assume that he can destroy Your children; For You are a refuge and stronghold for their souls; They find their peace, joy, and prosperity in Your bosoms. + Who will set Your kingdom in me, but You? Who will guard my depths against the snares of the enemy but Your Holy Spirit? You are the Lord of hosts! You are my stronghold and salvation from the enemies; Proclaim Your divine presence in my depths By You, I cross over the journey of my life in peace; By Your Holy Spirit, my soul flies up to Your heavens. + The high priest Jehoiada cared to raise the infant Joash to become a king; He set for him a safe haven in the house of the Lord, to keep him safe from Athaliah; He put strong guard to protect him; He put the crown and the testimony over his head; He anointed him a king, and the people exulted and rejoiced; How amazingly joyful was the celebration to all! + What can I say concerning my own coronation, a king; and setting me a priest for God Your Father? According to Your plan, even before creating me? For my sake you sent fathers and prophets, and gave me the law to help me; For my sake You incarnated, and with me, You partook of everything, except for sin; You were counted among the doers of iniquity; for me to be counted among the children of God; You carried my reproach on the cross; to make me enjoy the fellowship of Your glories; You set for me a place of comfort; Not in a house made by a human hand, but by Your divine arm; You set a strong guard to keep the devil from crawling into me; Having made me a member of Your Holy Body, the angels desire to guard me; The devil who worked in Athaliah’s heart have no dominion to force himself into my depths + Reign, O Lord in my depths; to take away the spirit of bondage; And to grant me the joy of the Spirit.
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