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November 1924
T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
the royal guard to the cities of Judah to enlist a force of Levites and others, and bring them to Jerusalem. (2 Chron. 23:2.) This was done quietly and without arousing the suspicions of Athaliah. The day was fixed, the guard carefully disposed about the temple and the palace, the young king crowned, anointed and saluted. Athaliah rushed to the temple to find the occasion of the turmoil. She cried, “ Treason, treason,” and was arrested, conducted out ‘ of the temple and slain by order of Jehoiada. Jehoshaphat had allied himself with Ahab, for political reasons, but contrary to God’s command (Prov. 14:12). The second step in this unholy alliance was 1 the marriage of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Athaliah was a successful follower of a foul mother, a chip of the old block. Both were devotees of a vicious cult. Jezebel had introduced Baal worship into Israel. Athaliah introduced it into Judah, Each of them opposed the Lord. Jezebel slew the priests of Jehovah and threatened Elijah. Athaliah overturned true worship, made breaches in the walls of the ,temple, and gave God’s offerings to Baal. Jezebel murdered Naboth and God’s prophets. , (1 Kings 21:8-14.) Athaliah murdered all the offspring of her son. Jezebel controlled Ahab-and used her power over him for unholy ends. So, also, Athaliah ruled Jehoram (8:18; 2‘ Chron. 22:3). God’s laws are plain (Deut. 7:3, 4). Whosoever trans gresses God’s law of the unequal yoke must suffer (2 Cor. 6:14). When a woman marries a man to reform him, she usually falls to his level. Everywhere are the wrecks that have been shattered on this rock. Poor Israel! Poor Judah! Poor Church of the Living God! What sorrow and suffering attend the violation of these unchanging and unchangeable laws! (2) COMPASSING THE YOUNG KING, 11:4-11. “ And ye shall compass the young king round about.” v. 8 . There is a remarkable contrast between Athaliah and Jehosheba,— a believer in the God of Israel, a woman of courage, discreet, purposeful, she secreted the young king in the storeroom of the palace. The boy was in a nolv atmosphere. His young heart was directed to the worship of Jehovah. How little the wicked queen knew of God’s purpose, auu of the presence of God’s elec);. (Psa. 76:10.) They could not get rid of Joseph by selling him into Egypt. Edicts Could be issued against Elijah, but God pre served him for a visit to the skies. They could lock the gates of the prison upon Peter, but God opened the .doors. The young Christ Child was driven into Egypt, but He returned to be a King. You can never outwit God. Jehoiada became God’s instrument for the preservation of the boy and the destruction of the queen. God must have some agents who are aggressive. There was but one life between God’s promise and its fulfillment (1 Kings 8 : 25). Had the boy died, the Word of God would have failed. But he was as safe in Jehoiada’s keeping as he would have been in heaven. (Psa. 34:7.) (3) CROWNING THE YOUNG KING, 11:12-16. “And he brought forth the king’s son and put the crown upon him.” v. 12 . It was a great day when Jehoiada gave Queen Athaliah a surprise party. The young king was crowned and the testimony of the law was-put into his hand (Deut. 17:18- 20). There, was rejoicing, with glad shouts. The queen heard it, rushed to the temple, saw the young king, and read her doom! Retribution is sometimes slow, but sure, and often it is sudden.
they saw Captain Je-hu standing at the top of the stairs. “ Is all well?” cried one of the Captains. Captain Je-hu smiled and nodded assent. Then another asked, “ Why came this mad man to thee?” ' “ You know the man and his mes sage,” 3 aid Captain Je-hu; hut they declared they did not know and they all cried, “ Tell us! Tell us!” Standing there at the top of the stairs, Captain Je-hu repeated what the young man had told him, that Elisha had sent the messenger to anoint Captain Je-hu to be King of Israel. When the soldiers heard, with a great shout, each one took off his cloak and threw it upon the stairs so that their beloved Captain might use them for a royal car pet as he descended. The trumpeter of the army sounded his trumpets, and with one accord all shouted, “ Je-hu is King!” King Je-hu was as faithful in carrying out God’s com mands as he had been to obey his king’s commands when he was a soldier. The temple of Baal was torn down and destroyed and all the false prophets and priests of Baal were killed. Wicked Queen Jezebel and her: son met their death as God had commanded. Captain Je-hu was rewarded ac cording to his works, which pleased God. Let us repeat our memory verse, “ Then He shall reward every, man according to his works.” If we expect a great reward, we must be faithful to all the tasks we have to do for others and we must be faithful in our service for God; we must live 100% for the Lord Jesus, just as the old song says: “ I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, O’er mountain or plain or sea; I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, I’ll be what you want me to be.” ' NOVEMBER 23, 1.934 (LESSON 60) JOASH, ATHALIAH AND JEHOIADA 2 Kings, Chapters 11 and 12 Golden Text: “ The house of the wicked shall be over thrown; but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.” Proverbs 14:11. OUTLINE : At Ahaziah’s death (9:27) Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, the queen mother, murdered all of her grand children except the youngest, Joash, who was secreted by his aunt, Jehosheba, wife of Jehoiada, the priest. Athaliah seized the kingdom and for six years, LESSON without resistance, retained authority. EXPOSITION She maintained the worship of Baal, T. C. Horton which was introduced into Judah by Jehoram. (1) CONCEALING THE YOUNG KING, 11:1-3. “ And he was with her, hid in the house of the Lord six years.” v. 3. For six years Jehosheba kept the young prince with her, and when he had reached the age of seven years, Jehoiada, believing the time had come to establish him as king, pro ceeded with great caution to make his plans. He sounded the captains of- the royal guard and found them favorable. They agreed to obey his orders. His next step was to secure a strong, safe body guard. So he sent ( l j Concealing the Young King, 11:1-3. (2) Compassing the Young King, 11:4-11. , (3) Crowning the Young King, 11:12-16. 1 ( 4 ) The Culpable Priests, 12:4-8. (5) The Conservation of Funds, 12:9-16. INTRODUCTION:
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