Monday, August 31 2020 Devotional
“Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing."
2 Chronicles 22:2-4
Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezabel, had a perfect arrangement. Now that her husband had died she was able to reign over Judah by manipulating her stupid son, who was the new king. Her first priority was to destroy the worship of the true God and impose the perverted worship of Baal.
But her foolish son only lasted a year and was killed along with the household of Ahab in Israel.
“Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah.”
2 Chronicles 22:10
Now Athaliah had full control. By all appearances, the house of David was wiped out. God’s promise that a descendant of David would always sit on the throne seemed to have failed. How many people lost their faith in God’s Word at this point?
Wicked Athaliah ruled in Judah for six years and all hope appeared to be lost. The persecution of believers intensified. She and her agents broke into the Temple, stole all the holy vessels and used them for the worship of Baal.
But even in this dark moment there were some who kept their eyes on God’s promises. They “endured as seeing the invisible,” trusting that God would fulfill His Word.
No one else knew it, but Princess Jehoshabeath, the sister of Ahaziah and wife of Jehoiadah, the High Priest, had rescued the youngest son of Ahaziah when Athaliah was murdering the rest of them. She and her husband hid him and were raising him, waiting for the right time to show him to the people.
God’s Word will always prove true. He always keeps His promises. No matter how impossible it seems or how unshakable the “proof” the world offers that His Word has failed, He will always bring it to pass.
Whatever’s going on in your life today, you can know that God’s Word will never fail. You can trust Him, no matter how it feels or how things look. He is still able to “make all things work for good, for those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Lord, Your promises are solid. They will never fail. You know that we are sometimes overwhelmed by what’s happening around us and to us. Help me keep my eyes on You, who will ‘never leave me nor forsake me.’ I trust Your Word, and I know You will bring your purpose to pass. I will praise You today as I wait! Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles