Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 22:1-12
Helpful thoughts:
- Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. She reigned in Judah for a little over six years. This may not seem like a long time as we read through the narrative of 2 Chronicles. But, when we compare it to the term-length of our presidents, it gives us a little perspective to the bleakness of this time in Jerusalem.
- The last sentence of verse 9 through verse 10 should leave the reader in suspense. Certainly, the nation (who experienced this crisis longer than it took us to read these verses) would have thought they had reason to mourn…until verse 11. There appeared to be no one left from David’s line to reign, until they found baby Joash.
- The sins of the house of Ahab, the invading armies of surrounding nations, the new king of Israel, and even the queen of Judah all did their best to destroy the line of David, but God would never allow it.
- Even when the king himself was wicked, God remained faithful. The Messiah would surely come.
Questions to consider:
- When Athaliah thought she was in control, who was in control? Who is in control today?
- What peace should this provide when the world (Or our nation, region, etc.) struggles with fears? How can the truths of Ecclesiastes (“There is nothing new under the sun”) and Revelation (“Behold, I am making all things new”) give us confidence to not only weather the storms, but press on in the Great Commission through the storms?