The story of Jehoiada, the high priest and husband of Jehosheba is recorded in 2 Kings 11 and 12. When Athaliah (the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel), usurped the throne of Judah and killed all the members of the royal family, upon learning that her son Ahaziah, was killed by Jehu, king of Israel, Jehosheba rescued Jehoash (aka Joash), the son the Ahaziah and rightful successor to the throne and hid him for six years in the house of the Lord. After six years, Jehoiada presents Jehoash and restores him as king (2 Kings 11:4-12). He then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people; and between the king also and the people (2 Kings 11:17). This led to the people destroying the idols of Baal in the land (2 Kings 11:18). King Jehoash reigned for forty years and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as Jehoiada instructed him. Though Jehoiada was not a king, when he died at the age of a hundred and thirty, he was buried with the kings in the city of David, because he had done good toward Israel, toward God and his house (2 Chronicles 24:15-16).
What can we learn from Jehoiada?
Like Jehoiada, we must be willing to present the rightful King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ to the people and make a covenant between the LORD, Jesus Christ the king and the people, that they will belong to the LORD. This should lead to the tearing down of idols in our lives. When we love the Lord, and his people, as Jesus commanded us to, we may end up amongst the kings, when we depart, if that is in God’s will. Think about that!
2 Kings 11:1-4,12 (KJV)
1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.
3 And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.
4 And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king’s son.
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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.
2 Kings 11:17 (KJV)
17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people; between the king also and the people.
2 Kings 12:2 (KJV)
2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
2 Chronicles 24:15-16 (KJV)
15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.
16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.