2nd Kings 11 GOD SAVE THE KING! In Judah following the death of Ahaziah when he had gone north to see the king of Israel, there was a leadership vacuum his mother sought to fill. In order to do this, she had to eliminate every other claim to the throne. Even though they were her grandsons, she wanted them all killed. Jehoram, her husband had killed his brothers. Jehu had slain many of the royal family, and now Satan was using Athaliah to seek to thwart God's promise of David's seed continuing forever. It was, from the line of David, our Lord Jesus Christ would be born. The whole promise of the redemption of Israel, and for lost souls would fail if "God who cannot lie" did not fulfill His promise. Years earlier Solomon had prayed in faith at the dedication of the temple, "There hath not failed one word of all His good promises."
In times when we are wondering if things can get worse than they already are, and "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse," we must remember the promises of God. The Lord has promised to be with us to the end of the age. He has promised to come and receive us to Himself. He has promised eternal life to those who believe in Him. "Goodness and mercy" shall follow us all the days of our lives. The challenges against people who live by faith will continue and the attacks of Satan will also, but overriding all of this is our covenant-keeping God.
The darkness of the days did not keep the priest, Jehoiada, from remembering the promise of God and he did his part in keeping the covenant with the Lord by taking the infant boy-prince and placing him in the keeping of Jehosheba, the half-sister of the evil woman, Athaliah. It can be a great comfort to us to know our God has already arranged events and people to carry out His sovereign plans. Evil must be punished. Those who choose their own way and ignore the righteous acts of God, cannot stop the purposes of divine grace. God's will, will be done. Of that we can be sure.
There are always risks to be taken when we walk by faith, but when the covenants of God are involved, we can be sure that He will do His part when we do ours. The priest laid plans at the appropriate time, for the six years of Athaliah's reign to be stopped. The way he carried out these plans both secured the safety of the boy-king and the righteous carrying out of justice against evil. It is a lesson to be learned that when the time comes for us to act in faith, we need to take the time necessary to plan first and then carry out the work which we have been given. To jump ahead without considering how a thing is best to be done, and the consequences both good and bad of the action, is not of faith but of self-will.
Risks are always involved when we move into "uncharted territory" because we are mere mortal men who can easily fail. However, when we have biblical principles that apply to a situation and are in fellowship with the Lord and His faithful people, we can go forward in confidence. A "calculated risk" is not blind faith but a considered action that follows divine guidelines that have been tried and proven to be right. Fear of man can keep us from acting when we should, and self-confidence can make us act when we shouldn't. There will be times when like the people of Judah, we need to deliberately renew our commitment to the Lord, His work and His people.
The proclamation of Joash, a seven-year old boy as king, may have seemed to some to have been premature, but it is more important to deal with sin as quickly as possible, than to follow a protocol that we think should be followed. God who is able to make stones praise Him if He so chooses, is able to help a boy learn from his mentors and follow their advice. Children who have been saved by God's grace are able to learn when they are properly mentored. Too often believing children are left on their own in spiritual things until the early years of divine life have lost their glow and then it is hard to instill truth when they are spending most of their days learning secular things.
It takes time to learn how to define and carry out our responsibilities and obligations to our Lord. The mutual obligations of the king and his people would have been taught Joash by Jehoiada the priest. As time passed the role of leadership would have developed to the extent that he assumed the responsibility of leadership. The calmness of the city of Jerusalem after the death of Athaliah, the evil queen, would have made a big impression on the people. Even though their king was a seven-year old boy, they rejoiced and would have appreciated the new day that had dawned in Judah.
God had promised David that his "throne would be established forever," and in whatever way He chose, David's line was going to be preserved even through a young seven-year old boy-king. We too are involved in being blessed by the promises of God. "God save the king" was a public declaration of the hope of God's people in the past. Our King reigns over His people today and the day is coming when the whole world will know "Our God reigns."
2Kings 11:12. “And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.”
GOD SAVE THE KING. He stood there small and silent – obediently They stood with ancient spears and shields – definitely Looking out towards each entrance – cautiously Guarding a new life, a new hope, a new time – hopefully For faith and works go together – unitedly The time had come when he was identified as king – joyfully God save the king!
He lay in a manger far from home – obediently He sat with the ancients discussing scriptures – definitely He spent years laboring in obscurity – cautiously He stepped out publicly to call His own – hopefully He was rejected by the leadership – unitedly When He entered the city, people shouted – joyfully Hosanna … Blessed be the King!
He is preparing and waiting for His bride – obediently Many are watching and waiting for Him – definitely They go about life in the world – cautiously Wondering if this is the day, and looking up – hopefully Knowing that the living and dead saints will join – unitedly And see the One we know by faith – joyfully Jesus is our Savior-King!
Kings and nations come from all over the world – obediently They have no choice but to appear before Him – definitely They approach His throne and bow before Him – cautiously And all over the earth a new reign starts – hopefully Even the animal kingdom is changed – unitedly The time will come when all creation responds – joyfully Jesus is King of kings!
“For this day and every day, O God, I honor and reverence the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and King, Amen.”