The Rightful King
Recently, in Cityview Church we spoke about Jehoiada the high priest who managed at the ripe old age of 95 to restore the rightful king Joash to the throne of Judah. (2Chron 23) Joash’s father who was king of Judah, had been murdered along with his brothers and their sons. Making the most of this opportunity, Athaliah the wicked grandmother of Joash, killed all remaining offspring of her own son so that she could ascend to the throne of Judah without threat from anyone. She didn’t know however, that one grandchild (Joash) escaped slaughter because he was taken from the palace and hidden away by the high priest Jehoiada. Jehoiada kept little Joash hidden for 6 years in the temple of Jerusalem, until the time came for Jehoiada the high priest to restore the rightful king to power. He meticulously planned the whole event, he risked everything but God honored him. Jehoiada managed to rouse part of the army of Judah and important leaders from families within Judah to support him in his mission to get rid of Athaliah; to dethrone her. And they did… Jehoiada executed a plan that restored the right king to the throne and he dealt swiftly with the enemy, for Athaliah was put to death the same way she put her own grandchildren to death - by the sword. And then all the people of the land rejoiced and there was peace.
Can you see this whole story is a mirror image of what took place in the New Testament? Jehoiada represents God, Joash the Son of God and Athaliah typifies the devil. God kept His Son hidden throughout the Old Testament, but when the time was right He revealed the true King. The devil is the one who screamed, “treason!” when Jesus took the keys of death and hell from him (Rev 1:18); when Jesus Christ died on the cross Satan lost his kingship over death. Man gave Satan kingship of death in the Garden of Eden, but Jesus Christ with his blood took back control and now He is the King of kings! Is He King of your heart?