Athaliah & Jehosheba

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.

~II Kings 11:1

Who might be included here?  Other sons?  Grandsons?  What would cause such a total loss of natual affection that Athaliah could do such a thing?

• If she wanted to destroy the whole royal family then I think she definitey would have included other sons and grandsons.
• Greed

Have you ever been so eager to get your own way that you did something you're not proud of, even ashamed to admit you did?  What was it?  What was the outcome?

• I think everyone gets this kind of eagerness, however, I don't think I've every done anything so drastic that it was practically a comitted crime or something

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.

~II Kings 11:2

Why do you think Jehosheba saved only Joash?  What might have been going through her mind during these events?

• So that Isreal would still have a king to rule the people
• that Isreal really needed a king inorder for it to survive.

Recall a time in your life when you bravely did what was right.  Was it hard or easy?  What was the result?

• I can't think of a recent event but I do imagine that most brave actions don't come with an easy dicision

He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

~II Kings 11:3

For six years God let Athaliah reign unopposed while young prince Joash hid.  Have you ever had to wait for God's plan to be fulfilled?  Six years?  Longer?  Describe what you learned.

• Definitely!  I've been waiting for close to three years for God's plan to be fulfilled  for me to have a job.  I sure hope it won't be six years or longer until then.  But what I have learned during this time is to just not worry about it and let God take care of all the business.  Take the hand that He has stretched out to you and follow His lead.

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD. Then he showed them the king’s son.  He commanded them, saying, “This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath—a third of you guarding the royal palace, a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple—and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king.  Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

  The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest.  Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD.  The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

  Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”

~II Kings 11:4-12

This passage contains details of the careful preparatoin Jehoiada made before showing young Joash to anyone.  Why would such preparation be necessary?  What would have happened if Joah had been killed?

• Because Athaliah could have found out about his whereabouts and have killed Joash and if that happened Jesus would not have had a bloodline.

When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the LORD.  She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”

  Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple of the LORD.”  So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

~II Kings 11:13-16

Note Athaliah's response when she sees the child king.  How could she have responded differently?  Why did she respond as she did?

• I suppose she could have responded with mere disappointment, but she responded in teh way she did because she wanted to kill Joash so she could be the solo ruler as a female

Every situation can bring different responses from us.  Describe a difficult situation in your life and list possible responses to that situation.  which response did you choose?  Was it the right one?  Why or why not?

• I just recently encountered a difficult situation yesterday.  The story goes that I recieved a call while I was on vacatoin from a hopeful future employer saying that they were interested in interviewing me.  I explained that I was currently on vacation and that I would be back in about a weeks time.  They understood my situation and told me that I could call them back and firm up a date with them once I returned home.  So a week goes by and I called them back.  However, the response that I got was very different from what I expected to here.  Here , during that span of time.  They talked with another candidate and decided that they really liked this person so they went ahead and filled the possition anyway.  I was shocked to hear that answer of course!  I could have responded with "But why?  I followed through with what you told me to do!  This isn't fair!"  However the only way I could think of professionally responding was just saying a mere "Thank you" for at least letting me know about what the did.  I would say that I have definitely chosen the right one to respond with because, if there would ever be a chance that the position I was looking at taking became available again in teh near future, I could apply for it again and hopefully they would be interested in checking me out again, hopefully this time with getting an actual interview in the process.

Jehoiada then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.  All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD.  He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the LORD and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne.  All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

~II Kings 11-17-20

Why was this a victory for the Lord as well as for the monarchy?

• so that God's people could survive and have a positive ruling king

In verse 17 the peopel make a covenant, a promise to "the Lord's people."  If you have ever made such a promise, what has it meant in your life?

• It has meant a great deal in that I know I should keep it until my promise is fulfilled.