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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 10 October 2025:
2 Kings 11:1 – Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family.
Athaliah’s actions reveal the terrifying depth of human depravity when self-preservation becomes one’s god. Upon her son’s death, she sought to annihilate every possible heir to the throne, even her own grandchildren, to secure her power. This was no ordinary political maneuver, it was a direct assault against God’s covenant promise that David’s line would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:16). Her murderous ambition, like that of Jezebel before her, mirrors the serpent’s ancient attempt to snuff out the “seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15). Yet, in the face of such evil, God’s faithfulness shines. No human scheme can overthrow His redemptive plan. As in Pharaoh’s slaughter of Israelite infants (Exodus 1:22) and Herod’s massacre in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16), Satan’s rage is no match for God’s sovereignty. The darker the hour, the brighter His preservation of promise.
Selfishness can grow in a person’s life to where they are willing to do unthinkable things. When a person is fundamentally motivated by selfishness, though they might appear nice under favorable conditions, you never know what they will be willing to do under unfavorable conditions — “It’s you and me until it’s you or me.”
2 Kings 11:2 — But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death.
In the midst of Athaliah’s bloodshed, God worked quietly through a courageous woman named Jehosheba. Her bravery and faith became the thin thread by which the Davidic covenant was preserved. God often works through the hidden obedience of the faithful, those who act not from power or prestige but from love and conviction. Like Moses’ mother hiding her child in the Nile (Exodus 2:3) or Rahab concealing the Israelite spies (Joshua 2:4), Jehosheba’s simple act of faith preserved the line through which Christ would one day come. Evil may appear to rule the day, but God’s purposes are never at risk. He needs no armies but uses willing hearts. One act of obedience, hidden from the world, can alter the course of history.
Unselfish people are willing to take great risks and make great sacrifices for others, placing others over self. While Athaliah was willing to murder for personal gain, Jehosheba was willing to risk her life for a baby. Jehosheba played a critical role in the history of Israel and earned a place of honor in God’s eternal word because she was willing to put it all on the line out of love for another; at the moment of decision, she did what was right, and it made all the difference.
2 Kings 11:3 — And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the LORD, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
For six long years, the rightful heir to David’s throne lived hidden in the temple, safe under God’s watchful care. This concealment was not delay but divine protection and preparation. God often shelters His chosen vessels in obscurity before revealing them in power. Joseph spent years in prison, Moses decades in the wilderness, David years fleeing Saul — all being shaped for the moment of God’s appointed time. The same principle governs our spiritual formation. Hidden seasons are not wasted seasons. In God’s temple, His presence, we are protected, purified, and prepared until He says, “Now.” To those who wait in obscurity, God whispers, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
2 Kings 11:4-8 — But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of the Carites and of the guards and had them come to him in the house of the LORD. And he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the LORD, and he showed them the king’s son. And he commanded them, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king’s house (another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards) shall guard the palace. And the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the LORD on behalf of the king, shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”
Covenant relationships are life commitments that instill powerful trust and confidence and amazing accomplishments. Marriage is intended to be a covenant, not a contract.
Jehoiada the priest, after six years of secrecy, summoned courage and faith to act. He gathered the captains of the guard, bound them by covenant, and revealed the young king. Jehoiada’s leadership demonstrates the spiritual power of covenant faithfulness. He risked everything to restore the rightful ruler, not because it benefited him, but because it honored God’s word. True leadership aligns itself not with the tides of culture or fear but with divine promise. Jehoiada understood that the throne of Israel belonged not to human lineage alone but to God’s eternal purpose. His actions echo those of Samuel anointing David in the shadows of Saul’s reign (1 Samuel 16:13). Jehoiada’s faith teaches that revival begins when the people of God renew their covenant with Him in courage and conviction.
2 Kings 11:5 — And he commanded them, ‘This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king’s house….
Even God-enabled efforts require planning and organization.
2 Kings 11:8 — And whoever approaches the ranks is to be put to death.
Strict rules surround holy things. Where there is no room for error, there can be no opportunity for complacency or compromise. Today, in our “it’s all good” society, we have grown too comfortable around holy things.
2 Kings 11:9 — The captains did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded….
Someone has to be in charge and must command the loyalty of others. In this case, warriors submitted to the tactical leadership of a priest.
2 Kings 11:9-12 — … and they each brought his men who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. And the priest gave to the captains the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord. And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house, on behalf of the king. Then he brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony, and they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”
Note, the church kept weapons and had a plan to fight.
The captains obeyed Jehoiada’s command, surrounding the young king with weapons taken from David’s own armory in the temple. The scene is profoundly symbolic — the instruments of David’s victories were now repurposed to protect David’s lineage. God never wastes what He has done in the past; every victory, every deliverance becomes a resource for future faith. When the time came, Joash was brought forth, crowned, anointed, and proclaimed king, and the people shouted, “Long live the king!” What had been hidden in the temple was now revealed before the people. Likewise, the things God nurtures in secret eventually burst forth in power. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6). Joash’s coronation was not merely political restoration, it was divine vindication. God had kept His promise to David despite every human attempt to destroy it.
This was a revolt against the standing government. But how do you reconcile this act with Romans 13:1, 2 — “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”? We obey government until government tells us to disobey God. All authority has been given to Jesus. We must obey government until government calls us to disobey the KING of Kings. We serve King Jesus above all else.
2 Kings 11:13-16 — When Athaliah heard the uproar of the people, she rushed to the temple and saw Joash standing by the pillar, crowned and surrounded by rejoicing worshipers. She tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”
The irony is striking — the true, murderous traitor accuses the faithful of treachery. Evil always cries “injustice” when justice prevails. Jehoiada commanded that Athaliah be seized and executed outside the temple, ensuring that her blood would not defile the holy place. This distinction underscores that while God’s justice is firm, it is never careless. The place of worship must remain pure. Like Haman hanging on his own gallows (Esther 7:10) and Pharaoh drowning in the Red Sea (Exodus 14:28), Athaliah reaped the judgment she had sown. God is not mocked; what one plants, one reaps (Galatians 6:7).
2 Kings 11:17-18 — And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, that they should be the LORD’s people, and also between the king and the people.
This renewal of covenant was the true climax of the story. The goal was not merely to restore a throne but to restore the worship of the one true God. Jehoiada’s first act after Athaliah’s fall was to rebuild the people’s allegiance to Yahweh. He tore down the temple of Baal, smashed its altars and idols, and killed its priest. This sequence teaches that revival begins not with political reform or cultural victory, but with renewed covenant faithfulness and the removal of false gods. Before God restores His people publicly, He purifies them spiritually. The people’s joy and peace flowed directly from the renewal of worship. In the same way, every personal revival begins when idols are destroyed, and the heart returns wholly to the Lord.
2 Kings 11:20 — So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king’s house.
Peace follows righteousness. When God’s order is restored, chaos yields to calm. This quietness was not the silence of oppression but the stillness of divine order reestablished. “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7). The joy of the people marked not only the end of tyranny but the triumph of God’s covenant faithfulness over generations of rebellion.
People want justice and rejoice in justice, but they often aren’t willing to pay the price of sacrifice to get justice. Everyone benefits from justice, but only a few are willing to fight for justice. Jesus said we are the “Salt and Light” of the world. Salt preserves, and light exposes darkness. We must be the few in society that are willing to expose the darkness and preserve society. Proverbs 29:2 — When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
2 Kings 11:21 — Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
The people who advise the leader are often more important than who the leader is.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 10 October 2025: The hand of God preserves His promises through both great miracles and small acts of faith. While Athaliah sought destruction, God was at work through Jehosheba’s courage, Jehoiada’s faithfulness, and a hidden child in the temple. When all seemed lost, God’s promise lived on, quietly, securely, powerfully. In our own lives, His preservation often comes through hidden seasons, quiet obedience, and the courage to act in faith when others yield to fear. He preserves what He plants. Our task is to trust His timing, to remain faithful in the shadows, and to participate in His covenant renewal each day through obedience, worship, and courage.
Pray: “Lord God, You are the faithful Keeper of promises, the Preserver of all that is good and true. When evil rises, You hide Your purposes in the shelter of Your presence until the appointed time. Teach me to trust You in the hidden seasons, to act courageously when You call, and to remain steadfast when the world trembles around us. Guard me from fear, from compromise, and from the deception of power. Let Your Spirit make me an instrument of quiet faithfulness like Jehosheba, leaders of covenant renewal like Jehoiada, and witnesses to Your sovereign preservation like the people who rejoiced at Joash’s coronation. I thank You that no weapon formed against Your purpose will prevail. May my life, too, be hidden with Christ in God until the day You choose to reveal Your glory through us. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
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