Year 1, Week 51, Day 2
I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Chronicles 23; Obadiah; Psalms 82-83.
Today’s reading introduces us to Joash becoming King of Judah. While Joash is installed as King, 2 Chronicles 23 actually focuses more on Jehoiada the priest who protected Joash and made the arrangements to make Joash king: “But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and…all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son! Let him reign, as the LORD spoke concerning the sons of David” (2 Chronicles 23:1-3). Jehoiada also oversaw the execution of Athaliah, who had seized control of Judah: “Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains who were set over the army, saying to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and anyone who follows her is to be put to death with the sword.”…So they laid hands on her, and she went into the entrance of the horse gate of the king’s house, and they put her to death there” (2 Chronicles 23:14-15). The events of 2 Chronicles 23 correspond historically to the historical record of 2 Kings 11. Today’s reading also inserts the Book of Obadiah, which is a prophecy of destruction against Edom, which was the nation comprised descendants of Esau: “Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom…and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken” (Obadiah 1a,18b). While the events referenced in the Book of Obadiah did not unfold during the time frame covered in 2 Chronicles; nevertheless, Obadiah predicts the fall of Edom for having aided the Babylonians during the destruction of Jerusalem. Today’s reading also includes two Psalms of Asaph. Both Psalms address the consequences that await those who oppose God’s people: “Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth” (Psalm 83:17-18).
One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the key role that Jehoiada and the priests played in the early years of Joash and his ascension to the throne: “The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded…Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, “Long live the king.” (2 Chronicles 23:8a,11). Jehoiada instructed the priests to provide armed protection for Joash: “The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.” (2 Chronicles 23:7). Jehoiada also coordinated protection from all the people: “And he set all the people as a guard for the king, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house” (2 Chronicles 23:10).
The installation of Joash as King was well received by the people: “there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments leading in the celebration” (2 Chronicles 23:13). But Athaliah had a different response: “And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” (2 Chronicles 23:13). But Jehoiada did more than rid Judah of Athaliah as well as install Joash as king, he sought to restore the true worship of the LORD: “And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the LORD’S people. Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down” (2 Chronicles 23:16-17). Jehoiada reorganized the priest to resume the sacrifices and restrict the unclean from entering the Temple: “And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the LORD under the direction of the Levitical priests and the Levites whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David. He stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean” (2 Chronicles 23:18-19). For the moment, true worship had returned to Judah.
The Chronicler recorded the events surrounding the installation of Joash in such a way that it would be seen that the real key to Judah’s vitality lay not simply in the king but in the LORD. Jehoiada and the priests emerge in a huge way, not only in how Joash was protected and made king, but in how worship was restored. It is context of the worship reforms that Joash is moved from the Temple to the king’s palace: “And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, marching through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they set the king on the royal throne” (2 Chronicles 23:20). And the outcome of worship reforms was a happy and peaceful nation: “So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword” (2 Chronicles 23:21).
What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?
Pastor Joe