“The name of the only Queen in Israel’s history.” A nice piece of Bible trivia that would make a great Bible Jeopardy clue. But more than trivia, the events surrounding her reign are a powerful story of God’s providence, faithfulness, and our response.
It was the eighth century B.C., long after the northern 10 tribes separated themselves from both Judah and God. Although the temple and the priesthood remained in Jerusalem, Judah was consistently inconsistent in its commitment to the Lord. Nevertheless, God remained faithful to His promise that David would always have a lamp (i.e., a son) on the throne.
That promise was in peril when King Ahaziah of Judah died from injuries sustained on the battlefield. He was young and died after ruling for just one year. But it was the actions of Athaliah, his mother — not a sword — that put God’s promise in peril.
“Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family” (2 Kings 11:1, ESV).
She destroyed the remaining members of the royal family, including her grandchildren, so that she could occupy the throne. She was successful, or so she thought, and reigned as queen over Judah for six years.
Can you imagine someone being so ambitious and power-hungry they’re willing to kill all their rivals, including their grandchildren, both young and old? Truthfully, it still happens. When people pursue idols at all costs, whether individually or collectively as a society, it’s the vulnerable that suffer the most. Children, the poor, the elderly, the unborn are all placed on the altar in exchange for power, money, success, and “happiness.”
Neither Athaliah’s schemes or Israel’s unfaithfulness would nullify God’s faithfulness:
“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. And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land” (2 Kings 11:2-3, ESV).
Despite Athaliah’s madness, Ahaziah’s previously unknown infant son survived because of Jehosheba’s courageous intervention. Jehosheba and her husband, Jehoiada, a priest, raised Joash in secret for six years. In the seventh year, Jehoiada, accompanied by other priests and Levites, presented King Joash to an enthusiastic crowd at the temple. Athaliah was deposed, executed, and, after a six-year pause, Judah once again had a son of David on the throne. As God promised, David’s lamp did not go out.
This story is a great illustration of God’s providence and faithfulness, but it’s also an example of how He uses His people to accomplish His purposes. God had Jehosheba in position to protect her nephew and the covenant, but she still had to act. Identifying an injustice is not the same as doing justice. She chose to do the right thing, and then made that same decision every day for six years.
God has similarly positioned each of us to be a Jehosheba for someone else. Perhaps it’s to foster care, or adoption, or to advocate for seniors in danger of losing their homes. Maybe it’s to volunteer to be a reading buddy at school down the street. It may appear to be too big or too long a commitment, or too small — but if God is in it, you can trust it’s part of His perfect plan. So let’s not settle for feeling sorry for someone. Let’s take advantage of the opportunities God presents us in these challenging days to advance His kingdom.
“Who is Athaliah?” would be the correct question to the Jeopardy Israelite Queen clue. The heavenly Jeopardy clue is, “The name of a 21st century kingdom agent in South Carolina.” The question is, “Who is (your name)?”