|
Who was the king of Judah after
Ahaziah's death? When Athaliah, the wicked mother of Ahaziah, saw
that her son was dead, she destroyed all the king's sons, and made herself
queen. Ahaziah's youngest son was then a babe; he could not take
care of himself, but God took care of him; and this little child was saved
when all his brothers were killed. His aunt, Jehoshabeath, hid him
and his nurse from wicked Athaliah, and brought him home, and kept him in
safety in God's house six years. The babe's name was Joash.
How sad it was for little Joash to live in a time of such trouble and
danger! He had no father, no mother, no brothers, to take care of
him. But God was the friend of Joash, and He could make Jehoshabeath
kinder to him than his own mother. The husband of this good aunt was
named Jehoiada; he was a priest of the Lord. Jehoiada lived in the
temple, and little Joash and Jehoshabeath lived there too. Joash was
better taught here than if he had been brought up in the palace.
Jehoiada and Jehoshabeath loved God, and they tried to make the little boy
love Him. They taught him to read God's word, and to sing God's
praises. Children are never too young to begin to love God.
Jesus wishes them to come to Him, and is always willing to receive and
bless them. He says now, as He said when he was upon earth,
"Suffer the little children to come unto me." Those are
happy children who have kind friends to bring them up in the fear of
God. It is better to have good friends who love God, than rich
friends who love the world. Little Joash was happier in God's holy
temple, than he could have been in Athaliah's fine palace. Athaliah
ruled over Judah. She was not the right sovereign; and Jehoiada and
Jehoshabeath remembered God's promise to David, that David's children, for
many generations, should sit upon the throne of Judah; and these good
people trusted in God to make little Joash king when the right time should
come. They knew God could keep this poor helpless child safe from
cruel Athaliah. And God heard their prayers for little Joash; and
taught Jehoiada what to do, and gave him wisdom for the work. When
Joash was seven years old, Jehoiada thought the right time was come to
make him king. But Jehoiada could not do this alone; so he called
the captains, and the Levites, and many of the people of Judah, and asked
them to help him. And Jehoiada did not forget to ask help of God;
for he knew that he could do nothing rightly without God's blessing; so he
prayed for strength to do his duty to his country and his king. Then
Jehoiada assembled all the people in the temple, and there they made a
covenant together. The good priest spoke to them, and said,
"Joash, the king's son, shall reign. God has promised that
David's sons shall sit upon the throne of Judah; Joash has a right to the
throne, and not Athaliah, who has had possession of the country so
long. Let us trust in God, and He will help us to make Joash
king. Divide yourselves now into three companies. Some must
stand at the doors, and some at the king's house, and some at the
gate. Let the priests and Levites come into the house of God, and
let the people stand round to keep watch without." So Jehoiada
armed the captains and the people, and placed them all round the temple,
to guard the young king. Then they brought Joash into the house of
the Lord, and put the crown upon his head; and Jehoiada anointed him, and
said, "God save the king;" and all the people shouted for joy,
and cried again, "Joash is king." Athaliah heard the noise
of the people running, and shouting, and rejoicing, and wondered why it
was—she knew nothing about Joash; she thought he had perished with his
brothers, many years before. So Athaliah ran in haste to the house
of God; and there she saw Joash standing, as king, by a pillar, and all
the princes and people blowing the trumpets, and shouting, and rejoicing,
and singing praises. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried,
"Treason, Treason!" But Athaliah had no friends to help
her now. Jehoiada called the captains; and they ran to Athaliah and
took her out of the house of God, and put her to death. She deserved
to die, for she had murdered many of her son's family, to make herself
queen; and she was justly punished for her wickedness, and put to death
herself. Punishment will always come upon murderers at last. Joash
was now king, and could reign in peace. What care God had taken of
this little child, all the six years he had been hidden from his cruel
grandmother! Why did God care so much for Joash? Because God
remembered his promise to David. God loved David, and He loved
David's children after him, and promised to give them the kingdom of
Judah. And God loved Judah, and would not let His people suffer any
longer under cruel Athaliah. He waited some years, but all those
years He was watching over Joash, and over His people in Judah too; and
when the right and best time came, He gave wisdom, and strength, and
courage, to Jehoiada, that he might make Joash king, and slay wicked
Athaliah. How wise and good God is! we may trust all to Him.
Ourselves, and our friends, and our country,—all are in His keeping; and
if we love Him, and trust in Him, as Jehoiada did, we may know that all
will be well, and not fear any dangers, nor difficulties, nor troubles.
|
