Judah’s King Ahaziah
22 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, because the troops that had come with the Arabs to the camp had killed all the older sons.[a] So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah.
Here God shows that he is a keeper of his Word. There was no way that all of the sons would be killed because God said he would always have someone connected to David to sit on the throne to keep the lamp of God burning. The enemy could not kill all of them even if they wanted to. Death is something we do not understand. When life is taken unfairly, how does God deal with the life that was taken? I believe God has protection on that life that was taken, so much so, the human mind cannot conceive how quickly He steps in and pulls that life immediately and smoothly until we will have to wait to hear him explain the process.
2 Ahaziah was twenty-two[b] years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, granddaughter[c] of Omri.
Ahaziah was 22 years old. He reigned for one year. His mom named was Athaliah granddaughter of Omri. Here her father is not mentioned who was Ahab.
3 He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother gave him evil advice.
He reined fewer years than his father. When we have those who have done wrong, we should learn from them to take a different path if we expect different results. His mother gave him evil advice. As mothers, where do we get our guidance from to parent our children? If we are not giving our sons and daughters God's Word our advice is costly, expensive, and deadly. Parenting is a role that only God can fill.
4 So he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight like the house of Ahab, for they were his advisers after the death of his father, to his destruction.
His directions were instructions from the dead. If we are not connected to the Word of God we live as the dead. Imagine being led by the blind and you are king. He was old enough to make godly decisions. All of his brothers were killed. Still, he did not get the picture. Think about it. God spared your life. The enemy could not kill you because you had a purpose and you did not think for a moment who the God of your fathers who did what was right obeyed.
5 He also followed their advice and went with Joram[d] son of Israel’s King Ahab to fight against King Hazael of Aram, in Ramoth-gilead. The Arameans[e] wounded Joram,
Ahab's son is wounded. He continues to follow the advice that is no good. If God has given you a position to lead, are you thinking about what you are telling your followers by your actions?
6 so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they inflicted on him in Ramoth-gilead[f] when he fought against King Hazael of Aram. Then Judah’s King Ahaziah[g] son of Jehoram went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab since Joram was ill.
King Ahaziah went DOWN to visit. Many times when I am studying the Word of God and the cardinal direction is mentioned, down usually is followed with more than the direction: it seems at times, the writer is informing us to watch for something that may be of no good end.
7 Ahaziah’s downfall came from God when he went to Joram.
God gave him more than enough times to consider his evil ways. Here God said enough is enough.
When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.
When people think of God's anointing we tend to think of someone who teaches God's Word. Anointing is the ability of God through a human to carry out his plan.
8 So when Jehu executed judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the rulers of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them.
God was behind the move of Ahaziah. Ahaziah's brother's son's life was taken because they followed his foolish leadership. Not only did his relatives lose their lives, all those who served under his command that was with him lost their lives also. We have to take full responsibility for those who lead us.
9 Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah, and Jehu’s soldiers captured him (he was hiding in Samaria).
Jehu looked for Ahaziah. His soldiers found him hiding.
God will expose who and where you are when you think that you have a spot that no one can find you. Jehu's anointing was in his instructions to those who worked under him. When we follow a leader that anointed by God, we incorporate the same blessing on us as what is upon them. What they teach us is what God has instructed in them so we get the same blessing if we obey what God told them.
So they brought Ahaziah to Jehu, and they killed him. The soldiers buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat who sought the Lord with all his heart.” So no one from the house of Ahaziah had the strength to rule the kingdom.
He lost his life. He did not leave anyone to take his place? Who will keep the lamp burning now?
Athaliah Usurps the Throne
10 When Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs[h] of the house of Judah.
Ahaziah had sons. His sons were Athaliah's grandsons. Grandmothers without God can be corrupt. She had no value or sense of connection for her relatives. She was evilly breaded.
11 Jehoshabeath,[i] the king’s daughter, rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. Now Jehoshabeath was the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of the priest Jehoiada. Since she was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she did not kill him.
God saved a member of the family whose name is Joash. He was a year old and his aunt hid him in a bedroom ( some commentators mentioned that it may have been a room where beds were housed) until he was 7 years old. She hid her nephew from his grandmother's murderous tantrum.
12 He was hiding with them in God’s temple for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Jehoshabeath was related to an evil brother. As tempting as it may be to stereotype all family members. We must not label people because of their relationship with family members.
Jehoshabeath was not like her brother or half-brother. She married a priest who had the responsibility of maintaining his position in the temple. He kept an eye on the hidden child.
After the death of Ahaziah, reigned in her son's stead for 6 years. Her rulership in Judah was horrendous.
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