2 Chronicles 23:1-4 - In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his
strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah
son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of
Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri. They went throughout Judah and gathered the
Levites and the heads of Israelite families from all the towns.
When they came to Jerusalem, the whole
assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God.
Jehoiada said to them, "The king's son shall reign, as the LORD promised
concerning the descendants of David.
The high priest Jehoiada kept the king’s son….Joash… and
taught him for six long years….watching in disgust as the evil queen taught the
people of God how to depend on idols for their existence. He kept the secret
well…until one day God gave him a burst of courage…to send out some of his
trusted leaders…to gather the leaders of Israel to anoint this boy king. They separated into groups and lined the
Temple walkways with guards…and with loud shouts of praise…brought in Joash to
crown and anoint him king.
The ordination service caused such a clamor that the Queen
came to the temple to see for herself what had caused it. It provided the
perfect moment for Jehoiada to rebuke her for her evil…and call to the guards
to end her reign…permanently. She was executed far away from the temple she had
disgraced…in the horse stables close to the palace.
It is a reminder to me that there is a time to be patient
and allow God to nurture and provide for us the things he needs us to
have. Sometimes we are to follow the
advice of the Psalmist in 46:10…and be still...and just let God let us know he
is God…silently absorbing all the great things his places within our reach to guide
us. But there will come a day…when he
has placed in us a passion to move forth…that we will be called to act…and
clear the temple of the evil money changers ….just like Jesus did in John 2.
All the knowledge and wisdom…all the energy saved in resting…all
the resources gathered during the long wait…will be clarified and brought into
power. God will show us where to go…and
what wrongs we have been charged to correct. He will give us the courage and passion
to do what is right….despite the opposition around us. He will make us courageous and bold like
Jehoiada…revealing the moment he has planned for us to use what he has given
us.
Father…thank you for this story…that shows me the purpose
for waiting is still to come. Help me stay humble…and keep waiting as long as
it takes for you to reveal your great plan to prosper me and give me hope for
my future. I thank you for the many
great things you have already given me…and ask that you reveal to me the way I
am to use them for you. Create in me a clean heart… oh God…and renew within me
a right mind to do what is right…even when the temptation to follow the world
is easy. Amen.
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