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2 Kings 11 Devotional

The Heir Kept Hidden

“And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.”2 Kings 11:3 (BSB)

When Athaliah learns that her son Ahaziah is dead, she sets out to destroy the whole royal family (11:1). If she succeeds, David's line ends, and with it the promise God made to David. But Ahaziah's sister Jehosheba steals away one baby, Joash, and hides him (11:2). For six years the boy is kept hidden in the house of the LORD while Athaliah rules (11:3).

In the seventh year the priest Jehoiada arms the guards with King David's own spears and shields, brings out the boy, and crowns him (11:10-12). Athaliah's rule ends, the people covenant to be the LORD's people, and they tear down the temple of Baal (11:17-18). The future of God's promise rested on one small child, kept safe by his aunt and a faithful priest. God's purposes can look that fragile. Centuries later another king would search for a child of David's line to kill him, and again God protected the child (Matthew 2:13). What God has promised, no ruler can erase.

To think about: What promise of God feels fragile to you right now, and how does Joash's story help you trust him with it?

About 2 Kings 11: Athaliah Falls and Joash Is Crowned

After Ahaziah’s death, his mother Athaliah seizes Judah’s throne and kills the royal heirs, but his sister Jehosheba hides the young Joash in the temple for six years. The priest Jehoiada then crowns the boy, Athaliah is executed, and the people renew their covenant with the LORD and destroy Baal’s temple.

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