Year 1, Week 51, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 51, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Chronicles 21-22.

Today’s reading records the significant decline in the Southern Kingdom of Judah after the reign of Jehoshaphat. But much of the mess that unfolds in today’s reading is related to Jehoshaphat’s alliance consisting of the marriage of his son, Jehoram, with Athaliah, daughter of Ahab. Ahab and Jehoshaphat are not on the scene, but their alliance shaped what came after them. The chapters from today’s reading correspond to the historical accounting found in 2 Kings 8-9. 2 Chronicles 21 records the horrific act of Jehoram as he became the king: “When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel” (2 Chronicles 21:4). Jehoram resembled his father-in-law, Ahab: "And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 21:6). 2 Chronicles 22 records the reign of Jehoram’s son, Jehoahaz, who is also known as Ahaziah. Ahaziah (Jehoahaz) was a bad king: "He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly” (2 Chronicles 22:3). Ahaziah was greatly influenced by the Northern Kingdom of Israel: "He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing. He even followed their counsel and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead” (2 Chronicles 22:4-5).

As 2 Chronicles 22 continues its report, we are introduced to Jehu, an executioner. Jehu brought the Omri Dynasty to an end: “But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there, he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab” (2 Chronicles 22:7). Jehu kills Jehoram, also known as Joran (but not the same Jehoram, who was son of Jehoshaphat), the King of the Northern Kingdom. Then Jehu hunts down Ahaziah (Jehoahaz) and kills him: "And when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab…He searched for Ahaziah, and he was captured while hiding in Samaria, and he was brought to Jehu and put to death” (2 Chronicles 22:8-9). With no one to rule the Southern Kingdom of Judah, in place of Ahaziah, Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and mother of Ahaziah, became the ruler of Judah. Athaliah established her power by attempting to eliminate any potential claimants to the throne: "Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah” (2 Chronicles 22:10).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the emphasis upon the LORD’s commitment to keep a descendant of David upon the throne: “Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever” (2 Chronicles 21:7). Whether it was a bad king ruling over Judah, like the Davidic King Jehoram was, or it was the evil schemes of non-Davidic queen Athaliah was, the LORD would keep His promises. But while it appeared that Athaliah had succeeded in eliminating all the rightful descendants from the Davidic line, the LORD knew otherwise: "But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were about to be put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death” (2 Chronicles 22:11). Jehoshaphat hid her nephew, Joash; and along with her husband, Jehoiada, a priest, they preserved the Davidic line.

Jehoshabeath and Jehoiada kept Joash, “hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land” (2 Chronicles 22:12). The plans of God centered on a baby boy. What can God accomplish through a baby? We look back to the days when the Hebrew people lived in Egyptian slavery and remember that a great reversal of things began with the birth of baby Moses (see Exodus 2:1-10). We can also recognize the common thread in what is now a matter of history—baby Jesus’ arrival to accomplish an even greater rescue and reversal: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:11-14). God likes to accomplish big things through little children.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe