Pastor Marshall Ochs | October 27, 2024
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from 2 Kings 11-12. These chapters cover the biblical narrative of Athaliah's corruption and the preservation of the Davidic line through Jehosheba, emphasizing God's faithfulness in turmoil. Despite Athaliah's efforts to eradicate the seed of David, God works through ordinary individuals to fulfill His promises. The narrative warns against superficial reforms without true heart devotion to God, illustrating how Israel's reliance on outward change rather than covenant faithfulness leads to cycles of sin and chaos.
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2 Kings 11
Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, seizes power after her son’s death. Her first act as queen is to kill all her grandsons—potential heirs to the throne of Judah. Her ruthless actions raise a troubling question: what about the Messiah? God had promised that a Savior would come from the line of David. If Athaliah’s plan succeeds, it appears that David’s lineage could be wiped out.
The story invites us to wrestle with questions of faith: Can God’s promises withstand times of intense tribulation? Can one person’s evil actions thwart His divine plan? These questions remind us that people have wrestled with the same doubts throughout history.
In the face of Athaliah’s massacre, God raises up an unlikely hero—Jehosheba, a young woman who quietly rescues her nephew, Joash, and hides him from the murderous queen. This act of courage preserves David's lineage. Just as Miriam protected Moses and Mary protected Jesus, Jehosheba becomes part of God’s plan to safeguard the promise of a Savior.
Jehosheba’s faith and obedience show us that God doesn’t always work through grand miracles; often, He fulfills His purposes through ordinary people's faithful obedience. This story challenges us to rethink what it means to be “people of faith.” We believe God works through extraordinary events, but we also believe He works through our ordinary obedience and even through actions that may seem insignificant at the time.
For seven years, it seemed that Athaliah’s wickedness had triumphed and that the line of David had ended. But while Athaliah ruled as queen, God’s promise was alive and growing in secret. Joash, the rightful heir, was being hidden and nurtured until the right time. At the age of seven, with the guidance of Jehoiada, the priest, Joash was crowned as the rightful king, and Athaliah’s reign came to an end.
This scene parallels the story in 2 Kings 9-10, where Jehu overthrows Jezebel and wipes out Baal worship in the northern kingdom. Now, Jehoiada, the priest, orchestrates the downfall of Athaliah and brings an end to Baal worship in Judah. God’s timing and purposes prevail, even when all seems lost.
The victory over Athaliah raises a critical question: Are the people truly committed to Yahweh or merely seeking a different ruler? It’s one thing to replace an evil leader; it’s another to be genuinely transformed. This story reminds us that outward actions alone are not enough—God desires genuine faith and heart change.
As we reflect on this passage, we are called to examine our own motivations. Do we seek God’s kingdom for what it truly is, or do we merely want circumstances to change to suit our desires?
Reflection Questions:
Jehosheba’s courage and obedience preserved God’s promise. Are there areas in your life where God is calling you to be faithful, even if it seems small or unnoticed?
How can you find confidence that God can use your ordinary obedient actions to fulfill His purposes?
Joash, the promised king, grew in secret until the right time. Are there aspects of God’s work in your life that you cannot yet see?
When Athaliah ruled, it appeared God’s promise had been broken, yet God was still at work. Have you ever felt that God’s promises were at risk due to difficult circumstances?
How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness during times of trial or doubt?
Jehoiada, the priest, executed a plan to bring the true king to the throne. Who are the “faithful leaders” in your life who help guide you toward God’s promises?
How can you lean on Godly mentors or trusted spiritual leaders to help you stay in step with the Holy Spirit?
2 Kings 12
In 2 Kings 12, we encounter Joash, a king of Judah who “did what was right” in the eyes of the Lord. However, his obedience was partial—Joash removed Baal worship but allowed the high places of worship to remain. These high places were locations where people worshiped both pagan gods and, at times, Yahweh.
Joash’s incomplete reforms reflect a problem that ran deeper than outward actions. The people had become accustomed to outward religion without true devotion. Joash’s failure to remove the high places shows us that true faith goes beyond surface-level obedience. It involves a heart fully devoted to God, not just partial obedience.
Joash saw the need to repair the temple—a noble and important task. But even with the building project underway, something was missing: a genuine, whole-hearted devotion to God. The first temple’s construction under Solomon was marked by a theme of devoted hearts (1 Kings 2:4, 3:6, 8:23). In contrast, Joash’s project focused only on external repairs.
After the repairs were completed, tribulation hit, and Syria began to conquer Judah’s land. Rather than seeking the Lord or turning to prayer, Joash responded by paying off the enemy with treasures from the temple. This act shows a troubling pattern: a reliance on manipulation without true dependence on God. When faced with challenges, Joash’s first response was to rely on bribes instead of God, revealing the absence of a true heart devotion.
Joash’s reign highlights a recurring issue in Israel’s history. With each new leader, the people of Judah seemed to spiral further into sin, focusing on external reform while neglecting the inner heart change that comes from a life wholly devoted to God. As a result, the kingdom’s leaders had fewer and fewer words of wisdom and godly instruction, indicating a spiritual drift away from covenant faithfulness.
This passage warns us against trusting in human leaders or movements that promise change without calling for deep heart transformation. Outward transformation without inner change leads to superficial spirituality, and without true devotion, God’s people become vulnerable to compromise and idolatry.
This serves as a reminder that our devotion is not just about external actions or religious habits; it’s about knowing and living God’s Word with a devoted heart. If we, as God’s people today, lose sight of His Word, we risk falling into the same patterns. Outward religion without inward devotion leads to a life that may look good on the surface but lacks the deep, abiding relationship with God that He desires.
Reflection Questions:
Joash did “what was right” but didn’t fully obey God. Are there areas in your life where your obedience to God is partial or surface-level?
What steps can you take to bring all areas of your life under God’s guidance?
Joash repaired the temple but did not pursue a truly devoted heart. Are there “high places” in your life—habits or influences that distract from your relationship with God?
How can you identify and remove these high places, focusing instead on whole-hearted devotion?
When trouble came, Joash relied on a bribe rather than turning to God in prayer. How do you respond when facing difficulties?
In what ways can you seek God first, trusting Him to guide you through challenges rather than relying on quick fixes or manipulation?
Covenant faithfulness calls for knowing and living God’s Word. How much time do you spend in Scripture, seeking to understand God’s heart and commands?
How can you prioritize Bible study and prayer, allowing God’s Word to shape and guide your life?
Throughout 2 Kings, we see the tragic consequences when people settle for superficial religion rather than complete devotion to God. This chapter calls us to examine our own lives and make sure that our faith is not just outward but deeply rooted in God’s Word.