How to create the potential for lasting change among God’s people
2 Kings 11:1-21
In my previous post, I mentioned the debates around past leadership in Eastern Europe after Communism. However, it is not enough to restrain earlier influences in governance, the thinking of ordinary people on the ground also matters. For instance, after the initial elation in Hungary, the second democratic election four years on brought back into power the former Communists (now restyled as the Socialist Party). It was a development in other Eastern European countries as well and highlighted the difficulty of changing the outlook of the general populace. Freedom no longer tasted as sweet when inflation and unemployment was high and people could no longer rely on the state to intervene and shield them from such adverse effects. Many talked nostalgically of the days of cheap bread and full employment and voted back those who spoke their language and promised a return of those days.
God at work in hidden ways
After a long focus largely on Israel (1 Kings 16-2 Kings 10), we now turn to Judah. In contrast to Jehu’s reform done entirely on his initiative, the restoration effected in Judah will aim for a renewal of the people themselves. Since Jehu murdered the king of Judah, the queen mother now seizes power (2 Kings 11:1; 9:27-28). As a woman and the daughter of Ahab (2 Kings 8:26),[1] she has no right to David’s throne, so it becomes imperative to get rid of competition (v.1). Yet during the mayhem that ensues as her grandchildren are slaughtered, her own daughter snatches away a child with his nurse to safety (2 Kings 11:2). Even in the darkest moments of history, the Lord has His own people in place and so David’s dynasty is not extinguished. Given that this son will become king seven years on when he is seven, he could not have been more than a few months’ old at the time of his rescue (2 Kings 11:4, 21).
How to create the potential for lasting change
The events that unfold give the potential for lasting change. First, the rescued child, Jehoash is removed from the evil influence prevailing in the court and is brought up in the temple by the priest Jehoiada (married to Jehosheba who saved the child, 2 Chron 22:11). Jehoiada clearly commands respect and can gather the army and the guards sympathetic to David’s dynasty to stage a coup (2 Kings 11:4). Second, as the young Jehoash is crowned, he is given not only a crown but ‘the testimony’, a likely reference to the law (Exod 31:18) and a reminder to the king that he must rule in justice and godliness in accordance with God’s will.[2] Third, Athaliah is decisively dealt with by execution outside the temple precincts (2 Kings 11:15-16). While this may seem harsh, the ancient world had no other option for a usurper, unlike a democracy where there are alternative ways of removing someone from power. Finally, the priest Jehoiada brings together the people, so that king and people can commit themselves to the Lord first and then to each other (2 Kings 11:17). Notably, it is this united outlook and attitude that leads all the people to be involved in dismantling Baal worship in the land (2 Kings 11:18).
A united outlook under the Lord
We see in this story important aspects of genuine renewal for God’s people that was not only true for Israel but is still true for the Church. It is a process that is a joint effort and produces change from the inside out. It starts with godly leadership, committed to living in obedience to the Lord and to His Word. It must also bring together God’s people with a commitment to God and to their leaders to put things right and live for God. The incident described to us from Judah’s history is a dramatic new start, but the principles present in it are applicable in less dramatic circumstances. It is a reminder to us that true change comes from the heart. External actions such as reorganisations of structures are in themselves not enough. Neither can lasting and impactful change be imposed from above if the congregation does not catch the vision and stand behind it.
[1] Athaliah is Omri’s granddaughter and Ahab’s daughter. She was married off to the king of Judah likely to seal an alliance between Israel and Judah. Her evil influence is mentioned on both her husband Jehoram/Joram of Judah and on her son Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:16-18, 26-27).
[2] It is unlikely that the king would have been given the two tablets of stone with the ten commandments as these were kept in the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies in the temple (cf. Exod 25:16). It is more probable that it would have been a scroll with at least part of the law or the ten commandments on it. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 envisages the king writing out the law on a scroll and studying it all his life. While this is an ideal picture, it conveys the importance attached to the human king obeying and being subject to God, the ultimate King.
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