2 Kings 11 & 12: Will You Rejoice?
Verse of the Day: (11:20) And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house.

1. Royal (11:1-3)
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. (11:1)

Since the beginning, God created archangel, Lucifer, who fell into sins because of pride. After the fall, Lucifer was called the devil as he seeks to destroy God’s plan including deceiving Adam and Eve, God’s first couple, to fall into sins. (Isaiah 14:12-15) However, God already has a redemption plan as He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world so that whoever believes in Him shall never spiritually die. Before Jesus’ birth, the devil, seek to exterminate all the Jews as Jesus shall come from the Jewish race, in particular the line of David. Now Queen Athaliah almost destroyed all her royal grandchildren or children of her dead son, King Ahaziah of Judah (who was killed by Jehu’s men) as she wanted to remain in power as the queen of Judah even without the King. (2 Kings 9:27) However, God persevered the line of David as Joash, one of her royal children survived the massacre, as Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram of Israel, hid him in God’s house. Indeed, God shall protect His royal children. (Romans 8:14-18)

2. Rejoice (11:4-21)
And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew the trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason. (11:14)

God used Jehoiada, the priest, to organise a campaign against Athaliah as he gathered the leaders to install Joash as the King. Athaliah then called them traitors, and subsequently they killed her. The people rejoiced as Jehoiada made a covenant between God and them and King Joash that they shall only worship the true God and destroy the house of Baal and all their idols. Indeed, let us rejoice in God as He is good all the time (Philippians 4:4)

3. Repair (12:1-21)
But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD. (12:14)

Though the people gave their money for the repair of God’s house, yet they failed to repair it. God again used Jehoiada, and this time, he prepared a chest to collect the money, and His house was finally repaired. Though Joash was a good king, yet his servants conspired and killed him. Again, God preserved the line of David, as Amaziah, Joash’s son, became the next King of Judah. Indeed, let us trust God in everything. (Romans 8:28)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always rejoice in You in good as well as bad time.