This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
2CHRONICLES
1 And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
2 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.
Jehoiada waited 6 years, then went to some very influential "power" men of Judah and told them what he'd planned.
4 This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;
5 And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.
6 But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.
7 And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.
8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.
9 Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.
Jehoiada arranged things very well. He rehearsed the plan with everyone beforehand.
10 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.
11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.
When Joash came into the temple, surrounded by the guards, then they crowned him and anointed him king.
12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:
13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.
15 So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.
Athaliah heard the noise and came to see what was happening. She saw Joash, standing by a pillar in the temple, with a crown on his head and a Bible in his hand.
16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people.
17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.
19 And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.
20 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.
21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
Jehoiada quickly began to act as the king's "right-hand" man. He called the people together and made a covenant with them that they should belong to Jehovah ONLY. Please continue in Bible Study with us.
CHAPTER 23
In verse 3, he reminded these men that God had said the "sons of David" would rule over Judah. Then Jehoiada gathered the Levites and elders and shared the plan with them.
God's work is best done in a COOPERATIVE effort.
According to verse 8, he kept all the "courses" in Jerusalem. That mean that ALL the priests and Levites would be available.
They armed themselves with the shields and swords, and accompanied Joash when he came to the temple. They kept away all unauthorized people.
Most importantly, they gave him the "testimony." That was the WORD OF GOD!
Then they all cried aloud with great joy, "GOD SAVE THE KING!"
Immediately she yelled, "TREASON!"
Those who do evil quickly accuse those who do rightly with the same things they have done!
Jehoiada commanded that they take her outside and kill her along with anyone who was in her company.
This ended the reign of a treacherous woman self-indulging in power and evil.
They broke down the house of Baal, and killed the priest of Baal.
Jehoiada appointed the "courses" back in order so that there would be organization to God's house for worship and sacrifices. He did this according to the plan that David had given.
He also set "porters" on the gates of the temple so that no "unclean" person could come in.
Then he gathered all the people of authority and brought Joash to the king's throne and installed him as king.
The Bible is plain to say that the people "rejoiced." They did that because a wicked ruler had been repelled and a righteous one installed.