All hope seemed lost, as if the promises of God were not going to be fulfilled. When the King of Judah, King Azariah, died in battle, his mother Athaliah had all the royal heirs killed (her grandchildren) and assumed the throne. She was an evil leader and the people feared her.
For six years she reigned over Judah, not knowing that there was an heir left. Her grandson Joash, a rightful heir of the throne and a descendant of David, had been hidden by his aunt. She kept him in a room to keep him safe from her murderous rampage.
On the seventh year, the priest of the land Jehoida “summoned his courage” to do what was right. He went throughout the land and gathered other priests and leaders. Then he came back to Jerusalem, took the young boy Joash, and crowned him as king. Knowing that this was going to be a direct confrontation of the wicked Athaliah, he had all the priests carry arms in self-defense.
After the coronation, Jehoida had all the people erupt in loud shouts of celebration for the new king. Of course Athalia heard and came to find out what was going on. When she saw that the young Joash had been crowned king in her place, she screamed “treason” and ripped her clothes in fury and anguish. The commanders then took her outside of the temple area where she met her fate.
At that point Jehoida made a covenant with the people that they would once again be the Lord’s people (2 Chr 23:16). He broke down the altars to Baal and set the Levites and priests into their respective work and duties.
This doesn’t mean we go and do the same. This was a unique situation.
Every situation is different. This is what we have lost in our attempts at courage.
What we see here is that it appeared that God was on vacation and his promises were not going to be fulfilled. And yet God knew something others did not. That an heir of the throne was still alive, albeit hidden. This took great faith on the part of the people.
Yet we know that they kept the faith. Because when the time came that he was to be made king, they put their lives on the line to stand for the purposes and ways of God.
The days are imminent where we may wonder where God is at. What is he doing and why isn’t he doing something. It’s important to remember that he hasn’t gone on vacation. He hasn’t left his people. His plans and purposes are in place. But sometimes, oftentimes, it is about the right timing to fulfill purposes we do not understand.
