Today we are going to look at the deaths of three people. All three wicked. They represent the downward trend and consequence of Jehoshaphat sin of making a marriage alliance with the house of Ahab. In the end the house of Judah becomes like the house of Israel. Marriage is a symbol of two becoming one. and when one commits spiritual adultery, then you will at some point leave God and become one with idols. They who worship become like them. Nevertheless, the last death is also a sign of spiritual renewal, and faithfulness. That God will punish the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation, but his steadfast love extends to thousands.
Gods Faithfulness in restoring Judah from the brink.
- A death no one Regrets.
- A death leaves no one to rule
- A death brings joy and peace.
A death no one regrets.
Today we come to the sons of Jehoshaphat. You remember that he was a good king that lacked discernment. We see that again in the very beginning of the chapter. He gives gifts to all his other sons, but gives the kingdom to the firstborn, who was an evil man married to Ahab’s daughter. It even says in 21:13 that all his brothers were better than him. And if you know anything about Ahab, you know that you do not want your kids hanging out or marrying king Ahab’s kids. This guy was utterly wicked. And when you flirt with wickedness you get burned.
And the effects of this are devastating on the house of David. Indeed, the ancient prophecy was true, the line of the serpent would bruise his heal, but the line of the woman would crush his head.
Jehoram gets busy right away and kills all his brothers, and some of the princes. In Ahab’s house again and again we see violence and idolatry go together. And both have spilled over into Judah. This is the way the kingdom of Satan has worked – by trying to eliminate the opposition. A. Like Cain did to Abel, like Israel did to the prophets, like Herod did to all the babies in Bethlehem, like the Jews did to their fellow Jew, Jesus.
verse 6 says, “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.”. The marriage alliance that Jehoshaphat had made with Ahab was not just a marriage alliance between two people. But the two had become one flesh. And in a sense the two kingdoms were spiritually uniting. The kingdom of Judah was cheating on God with other gods and becoming like Israel.
Yet God is faithful to his covenant promises. Verse 7 says, “Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, since he had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.” It is the promises of God that move history forward. It is because of his faithfulness that we are not destroyed! His commitment to previous generations determined the fate of future generations. He had promised to keep the lamp burning, and he would do so until the sun of Righteousness would arise with healing in its wings.
Yet that does not mean does not discipline sin. Read verse 8-10. We see again and again, spiritual strength leads to military strength, and spiritual bankruptcy leads to military weakness. In verse 8-10 we have Edom and Libnah revolting. No longer do the nations submit to the son of David. Why? “because he had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers (v 10).”
And because of this he gets a letter from Elijah. Elijah is a prophet to the northern kingdom. But the southern kingdom had become like the northern, so Elijah’s ministry also no extends south. Notice the language of adultery again. Look at the graphic language in v. 11, “Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah and led the inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom and made Judah go astray.” The verb Zanah (play the whore) is used three times in 2 verses (11, 13).
The King and people have cheated royally with other gods and forsaken the one true God. Therefore, judgement is imminent. God will bring plagues on his family, and his stuff, and he himself will suffer from some bowel sickness, until they come out. It reminds us of the plagues of Egypt. First there would be plagues and last the firstborn would die. Judah had gone into spiritual captivity, and the plagues of God was a sign of judgement. But it was not just a letter of judgement but it was a love letter, calling the people back to himself. He could have just eliminated them, instead he warns them! O that he would heed that warning voice.
What would Jehoram do? Repent? He is given the chance! God says your idolatry will kill you.
Church. idolatry kills. Forsaking God is a death sentence plain and simple. Jehoram chooses to harden his heart like Pharaoh – and suffers intensely. Imagine have a stomach flu for two years straight. And every day being worse than the last. A daily Reminder him of his rebellion against God. It would have felt like hell – but a sinner would rather want hell then God.
Not only does he die, but all his stuff and family get carried off. The temple, and Jerusalem is gutted. And left empty – a sign of the spiritual state of the people of God! They are spiritually empty and bankrupt.
And he dies to no one regret. Can you imagine someone saying this at your funeral? He died to no one’s regret. There are certain politicians or kings in history one might say this of. His god was himself – he cared for no one else. He wanted power. He wanted to be central. He lived in fear, fear that someone would take his power – so he killed all opposition.
And in the end, we are left with a sick king and sick kingdom that look like they are destined to the history books. Never to be heard from again. Sin leads to death. A death where all you have ever done is lived for yourself. You want to know how to live a life where you will die to no one’s regret. Live for yourself. And nothing else. Turn you back on God – he in whom all beauty, goodness, and truth, and love resides.
The line of Christ comes down to one person. Only the youngest son is left to rule the kingdom. So, we move from an oldest son to the youngest. Would he be any better?
A death leaves no one to rule the kingdom.
First, we have the oldest son who was the worst son influenced by a marriage with Ahab’s daughter, and now we have the youngest influenced by his mother. The kingdom is getting weaker and weaker….first the oldest son, now only the youngest is left, and soon it will look like no one is left. Things are looking bleak. There is no joy, peace, or rest.
And the youngest son is no better than his Father. Verse 3 and four give a dark description. “He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab… he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done.”
Why? well those verses also explain: “… for his mother was his counselor…” Who are the people you listen to? Who are your role models? Dear church – young and old the world is full of influencers. That’s what they are called on Instagram. And they have millions of followers. Music, movies, social media can be the Athaliah’s of our age – infiltrating the church and trying to counsel them to worship other gods. If more of your time is following some influencer, so that you can dress like them, talk like them, be as successful as them, cook like them – then stop! Spend time with Godly parents. Physical or spiritual. Visit the older people the fathers and mothers of this church and ask them how God has worked in their life. Listen to their advice. Goldy grandparents. Take time to prepare for an elder or deacon visit and apply the wisdom they share.
Who are the people that have discipled you? The world has its own discipleship programs – its own indoctrination program through their music, their literature, and their worship, and communities on social media. Dear church, make sure that you are learning growing, and immersing yourselves in the story of the God – being discipled by people who know God – so that you see yourselves as part of the story.
Chronicler calls the house of Ahab wicked. This wickedness is not just the failing of individuals - it is the failing of a people. It becomes systemic, genetic, and contagious, like cancer it invades the whole body and destroys, or at least tries to. The house of Ahab had infiltrated the house of David, like the serpent had infiltrated the Garden, to their destruction. The seed of the serpent was trying to choke the life out the seed of the woman.
The foolishness of Jehoshaphat decision is passed down. And his sons repeat the sins of thier grandfather. Look at verse 5, “He even followed their counsel and when with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth.” He makes alliance with same people, to go against the same city. Foolish.
Same outcome too… the king of Israel is wounded – and ends up dying. But instead of going home to the shalom of Jerusalem, Ahaziah goes to visit the wounded king! And once again just like Gods providence was behind the arrow that struck Ahab, so we read that “God ordained that the downfall of Ahaziah should come through his going to visit Joram.” For Gods appointed servant, Jehu, who is sent to bring judgment on the house of Ahab, catches him also away from the City of David, and kills him in the place were this whole mess started – Samaria.
Ahaziah tried unsuccessfully to hide from the vengeance of Jehu in Samaria. But he failed, because God knew where he was, and he was not hiding in God in Jerusalem in the temple but away from Him.
We see in the next chapter a king that seeks shelter in the temple protected. Beautiful contrast. You cant run from God. You can only hide in him. That is the only save place in the universe. In the temple of the Lord, among God’s people. The church.
And he is taken to Jerusalem and buried because, the Bible says “he was the grandson of Jehoshaphat who sought the Lord with all his heart.” The only thing good that can be said about him is that he was the grandson of one who sought the Lord with all his heart.
And it ends with that heart rending line, “And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom.” There was no to rule over the house of David. It seemed as if all is lost. It looked like the seed of the serpent had conquered. O how often does not this feeling come upon the church – often due to their own sins. The times in Israel had grown dark because of their spiritual adultery.
At the same time, it is a great encouragement because no matter how bad, or dark things get God is faithful to his covenant! He will keep his promise! There is always a remnant. But we have not hit rock bottom yet. The kingdom of Judah would go one step lower, and basically become the kingdom of Israel.
A death of wickedness brings about a covenant renewal
This happens when someone who has no right to the kingdom takes it by forces. Athaliah – the daughter of Ahab. And this completes the transformation. Judah has become Israel. All because of one marriage alliance.
A grandmother normally adores her grandchildren and shows of the pictures. But not this one. She slaughters her own grandsons and anyone else that might threaten her throne. She tries to do what God himself will not do because of his covenant promises – destroy the house of David. The seed of the serpent tries to wipe out completely the seed of the woman. The birth of the Messiah is hanging by a thread. The war is waging. It looks like the Davidic dynasty is gone. It has only one thing going for it – God.
Athaliah is not able to finish the job. For a nursing mother saves one of the little children and hides him away. It is the contest of mothers. The protective mother verses the cannibal mother. Jehoshabeath. Her name means Yahweh vows. God uses this faithful woman to keep his oath to maintain the lamp of David. It is through the woman that sin came into the world, and through the woman that salvation came into the world.
Athaliah is the seed of the serpent. She is like a pharaoh, slaughtering infants of the royal family of Israel, and Joash is a new Moses who will be the agent of a recovering the covenant law.
Jehoshabeath who mostl likely was his moth and was married to the high priest, jehoida, hides the boy in the house of God. And for six years we have one who was raised in the house of Ahab reigning over Judah, and a young boy being raised in the house of the Lord who is the rightful king.
Where you grow up and your influence from a yout age makes a big difference for the direction of your life. Dear church we are the temple of God – Fathers you are the priests in your home, called to raise you children in the fear of his name.
For the first six years it looks to Athaliah she has won the day and I am sure many of the righteous in the land would have felt the same thing as they witnessed the house of David being wiped out by this evil queen. They might of sang alone with Psalm 73, “I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…. Their pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes sell out through fatness, their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.” But if only these people would catch a glimpse of what was happening in the house of the Lord they would catch a glimpse of the end of the wicked.
After six year the whole assembly is called (23:3). Beautiful. A people gathered around the temple and priesthood, exalting in the line of David in worship! This word is Only used in Chronicles in the context of revival, reformation, and covenant renewal. The powers of wickedness do not have the last word.
Jehoiada strategically places these Levites at separate gates, and he gave these men the weapons of God that came out of the temple of God. The house of God, and the king must be guarded! For it is holy! This was not about Jehoiada, or Joash but about God and his covenant. His honor at stake, and these were his soldiers.
What a surprise it must have been for this wicked woman when she heard the shout, “Long live the king!” She thought she had forever killed off the Davidic kingdom! But it has risen once again and this king would crush the serpent, Athaliah. It is exactly what happened so many years later when Herod had eliminated all those babies in Bethlehem, he believed that he was secure, only to find out that it was in fact the Davidic kingship that was secure, because it was sustained by the covenant promises of God.
Jehoiada is not selfish unlike Athaliah. He appeals to the promises of God anchored in the Davidic Covenant (21:2). You see in the kingdom of God it is not about self-interest. It is about God’s interest. And that is where Jehoiada is focused. It’s not about putting ourselves first but God first.
Athaliah cries out treason. Which is obviously very ironic, because she is the one that killed all the sons of David, committing the act of treason. Its those people that gain power through oppression and injustice that are the first to cry out Not FAIR!!!
And Jehoiada commands that she be killed and anyone else that followed her. For it was in fact they that had committed treason against the Highest God! The evil had to be completely eliminated – all who committed treason had to be purged from among Gods people.
And immediately we see Jehoiada taking further action. This was the priest work from beginning to end – purifying the sin from among the people. And making a covenant. Read verse 16. “And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the LORDS people!” A covenant – a binding agreement of allegiance to God! And this means action! Which is exactly what happening.
All false worship is destroyed, and broken, and true worship is restored. In terms of sacrifice, praise, and a protection of all that is holy. And there is unity as we read in ver 20 – and all the people of the land brought the king down form the house of the Lord, and they set the king on the royal throne! David’s throne had been restored! Gods promises had not failed.
And the conclusion of the matter is, “All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the Sword.” As the Bible says, the judgement of the wicked returns on them, and the judgement of the Lord leads to quietness in the land (Psalm 76:8)
Sin leads to death through the generations. We become what we pursue. There is not communion between good and evil. We must resist evil wherever we see it, not ally with it, or it will destroy us. Look to the covenant God in the darkest times, trust his provision. His promises cannot fail. The king has made a covenant with us. And we can uproot the evil where we see it. Only then can there be Rejoicing and quiet. Praise. Worship. And Peace! This is what happens when wickedness is driven out, and worship of God is restored.
Amen.