2 Chronicles 22-23
Things got worse as Ahaziah and Athaliah led Judah deeper into apostasy. Ahaziah continued the sordid ways of his father and suffered a rather ignominious death. His mother Athaliah behaved in a demonically inspired way as she attempted to destroy the line of King David. But she was opposing the Lord who had promised to uphold and protect the line of David. Her cold blooded efforts designed to thwart God’s will created many problems for Judah and her people, but, ultimately, her efforts failed. The Lord was working in the situation to preserve the lamp of David through the heroic efforts of Jehoshabeath and her husband Jehoiada, the priest. They saved Joash from the queen-mother’s fury and then worked to install him as the rightful King.
The message of the Chronicler for those returned from exile and for us who suffer persecution in this world and who endure the widespread acceptance of immorality and evil in our own society is that despite how bad things may look, God is always at work. He is working in the situations, difficulties and illnesses we face to strengthen uphold and protect those who worship Him and place their faith in Him. Wicked men seem to prosper, gain in popularity and lead many astray. Evil is at its height. The devil seem to have the whole world fooled and under his thumb. Yet we see from the triumph of Joash that no matter how much evil is exalted, in the end, God will have His way. He will punish all iniquity. Thus we can have hope in the midst of utter darkness.
Comments