Good morning. Finally caught up - I will probably not have time to finish this daily study this morning but will take a stab at it.
I just realized that I did not finish yesterday's study! I stopped at the end of Chapter 21, so I will pick up with Chapter 22 Verse 1
Verses 1-9 Ahaziah becomes king after his father Jehoram dies. He was Jehoram's youngest son. All his older brothers were killed when the Arabs came in and destroyed the city. Ahaziah was 22 when he became king and reigned for 1 year. Ahaziah's mother was Athaliah (granddaughter of Omri) and she was the daughter of Ahab who was evil. Athaliah told her son to do evil things as her father Ahab had done. So he was brought up in his mother's ways which were not the ways of the Lord. He received counsel from Ahab. Ahab's son Joram goes to battle and becomes wounded. Ahaziah goes to see Joram.
Jehu is a man whom God raised up to bring down the northern kingdom of Israel, and Ahab. 2 Kings 9:1-10:36 provides more details about Jehu. Jehu is sent to destroy the house of Ahab, and since Ahazhiah and his prince were also there - he was killed too. They gave him a proper funeral only because he was Jehoshapat's grandson.
Now we start with today's daily reading.
Verse 9 Athaliah - Ahziah's Mother finds out Ahziah is dead so she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family in Judah. But one of king Jehoram's daughters - Jehosheba - takes Ahaziah's son Joash and has him safely hidden with his nurse in a bedroom so his life will be spared. The child was hidden in the temple of God for 6 years while Athaliah ruled the land.
Chapter 23 Verses 1-7. 7 years after Athaliah took over ruling Judah, Jehoiada, a priest, decided to take a stand. He makes a covenant with several leaders and goes through out Judah and gathers more priest and Levites, and they assemble at the temple of God. Jehoiada divides the group into thirds, and they surround the king. Anyone who enters the temple will be put to death.
Verses 8-11 Joash is crowned king. He is given King David's shields, his crown. He was anointed and every one said Long live the King!
Verses 12-13 Althaliah hears all the commotion and goes to see what is happening. When she finds out what happened she is distressed and tears her clothes and yells treason!
Verses 14-15 Althaliah and her supporters are taken away from the temple and executed.
Verses 15-17 Josiah makes a covenant between the himself and the people, that they should be with God. Then they tear down the temple of Baal.
Verses 18-21 Josiah restores Judah to worship God as they should. He assigns the priests and they give offerings as they should. He set the gatekeepers at the gates so no one who was unclean would enter the gates. He sat on his throne. And the people rejoiced and there was peace in the nation.
Father God, we finally read of a happy ending. Good triumphs over evil with King Josiah. I pray today that we will see the good at the end of a dark passage in life. Let us be bold as Jehoiada and share our faith. I pray that we keep our hearts pure, and worship with fellow believers and follow your commands. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
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