Sat.’s Devo - A True King Comes to the Throne

Read: 2 Kings 10:32-12:21; Acts 18:1-22; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 18:1 Jehu had served the Lord well in destroying the family of Ahab so God told him his descendants would be kings for four generations. Jehu didn’t do so well in obeying the Law of the Lord with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit which was the worship at the golden calves at Dan and Bethel. When Jehu died, God began to whittle down the territory that Israel had gained. King Hazael conquered the land east of the Jordan River. Jehu’s son, Jehoahaz became king for 28 years. (When Pence becomes President after Trumps next four years, he would have been in politics about 28 years.) Meanwhile in Judah, there was a lot of drama unfolding. Athalia, who was the queen mother of King Ahaziah started killing all of the men who would be eligible for the throne. Her sister, Jehosheba stole the new-born heir named Joash and hid him in the temple with the priests. Athaliah reigned for 7 years. Athalia’s name means “God’s due season”. When the seven years were up, Joash was 7 and it was time for a changing of the season. Jehoiada, the priest stationed men with swords and shields all around the Temple as they brought Joash out of hiding and pronounced him king, placing a crown on his head. Jehoiada had Athaliah killed at the gate of the city. They made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people that they would save the Lord. They all went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. During his reign, Joash did what was pleasing in God’s sight because he allowed the priest, Jehoiada to instruct him. Joash repaired the Temple and corrected the financial corruption in the priesthood. I bet it was this that caused his officers to assassinate him. Joash died at the hands of his trusted advisors. Joash’s name means “Jehovah has become a man” and he was a type of Jesus. Jesus’ own brothers killed him without a cause so we can guess that Joash was killed because of jealousy just as Jesus was. In Acts, we read about the spread of the gospel through Paul and the apostles in Corinth. God gave Paul a vision telling him not to be afraid to speak out or no one would attack him. He also told Paul that He had many followers. God gave Paul this dream to prepare him for what would happen next. Paul was brought to trial by Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue and accused of changing their way they worshipped God. The new governor, Gallio sat in the judgment seat when Paul was brought in. When he realized this as a case about their religion, he kicked them out of his courtroom and Soshtenes was beaten by the followers of Christ. God defended Paul just as he told him he would. Paul traveled on to Ephesus, Jerusalem then back to Antioch. Lord, this is a great reminder that our reward and acceptance is not on this earth but in the heavenly realm with you. Our reward comes when we stand before you and are rewarded according to everything that is true.