THE BOY KING
The story of Joash, the boy king of Judah is the stuff of legends. When his father Ahaziah died, Athaliah, who was the mother of Ahaziah and Joash’s grandmother proceeded to kill all her grandchildren and wipe away the dynasty of David. Why did Athaliah do such a thing? Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab and Jezebel, the couple who sold themselves to do evil and who a few generations before had brought Israel to the verge of annihilation with their pursuit of Baal worship. They had also unleashed an era of persecution of the godly prophets and but for the prophet Elijah, who confronted the entire spiritual force working against God on Mt Carmel, God’s plan through Israel would have been brought to naught. Israel survived and now a couple of generations later, their daughter sets out to do what her parents barely missed accomplishing. This just goes to prove how one’s primary relationship to God is what matters the most, much more than relationships or friendships. No matter how strong a relationship with a person might be, unless one is bound in commitment to God, everything falls apart.
But God’s plans cannot be undone. Joash’s aunt Jehosheba and her husband Jehoiada were able to hide the baby Joash from Athaliah and he alone survives hidden in the temple of God for around six years. The story is found in 2Kings 11, where we read how Jehoiada derives strength from God to stand firm against evil that reigned in the land as Athaliah ruled. At the right time, he makes his move- from a political, military and spiritual standpoint. He organizes an army to guard Joash and the temple and proclaims him king. In conjunction with a recognition by the people that when evil reigns, people suffer, they turn in with huge public support, acknowledging Joash as king and rejecting Athaliah, leading to her execution. Joash becoming a king at the age of seven, is remarkable and a demonstration that God eventually has his way even though evil temporarily reigns at different places of authority. God’s people need to be patient and decisive, following God’s lead to act in response to the leading of God.
‘Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.’ 2Kings 12:2
Joash ruled for 40 years and while most of that time was spent as a good king, in obedience to God, he quickly strays away from God after Jehoiada passes away. The Joash we see thereafter is one who is led astray by advisors who direct him to idol worship. Consequently, he goes as far as killing Jehoiada’s priest son who warns the nation to turn away from idolatry and return to God. God’s judgment is swift- his army is routed by a smaller Aramean army and he is wounded. Soon Joash gets entangled in the evil he propagated and ends up getting killed by his own officers. It is tragic to see how well he started only to fizzle away when he no longer had Jehoiada to advise him. The importance of godly instruction cannot be underestimated, be it as parents, teachers or advisors. The tendency of man to drift away from God needs to be guarded against. And the need to persevere to the end cannot be stressed enough.
The tragic story of the boy king shows that starting well does not guarantee that one also finishes well.
