FEAR GOD, AND YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO FEAR!
Tuesday, 6th September 2016
2 Chronicles 23 (NKJV)
In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri.
2 And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David.
4 This is what you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall be keeping watch over the doors;
5 one-third shall be at the king’s house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.
6 But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord.
7 And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”
8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each man took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed the divisions.
9 And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of God.
10 Then he set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and by the temple, all around the king.
11 And they brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the Testimony, and made him king. Then Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, “Long live the king!” …
Today‘s reading presents the dramatic enthronement of Joash as the King of Judah despite all the efforts made by Athaliah, his grandmother, to kill all the royal heirs of the house of Judah so that there would be no human offspring of David to ascend the throne of Judah. Yesterday, we saw how Jehoshabeath hid Joash when Athaliah was destroying the offspring of David. The efforts of Athaliah were futile, because once God is interested in you, He will defend you to the last and establish, settle and make you what you were born to be. In the present Nigerian situation, many people have been killed by terrorist groups to the extent that there is fear in the land. The appropriate thing in such situations is to fear God and live for Him, and He will definitely keep us from evil and make us whatever He already destined that we would be. On the other hand, make sure you are not among those who kill or harm others, just to rise to, or maintain positions in their establishments.
From v. 12 to the end of the chapter show us how Athaliah was killed despite all she did to protect herself and retain the throne. It is now clear that by strength shall no man prevail. The way Athaliah died among other things, teaches us that the wicked shall be silenced in darkness. Let us therefore eschew wickedness and cling to what is good, and God will take care of us.
Prayer: Father, into Your hands, I commit my life. Please help me to live for You. Amen.