Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

The history is pursued through this Chapter. Joash is made king. Athaliah is slain. Jehoiada restoreth the worship of God.

2 Chronicles 23:1

Here we have introduced the beginning of that revolution which was so favorable to the interest both of the church and kingdom.

We need not dwell particularly upon the relation here given of this event, because we have already considered it in the history which is delivered in nearly the same words, 2Ki 11. I would only beg the Reader to make a spiritual remark as he passeth through it, and observe with me how often the Lord Jesus, the lawful king of his people, is hidden from them, while his enemies in our corrupt nature, the world and the devil usurp, as Athaliah did, not merely for six years together, but many a six years during our unregeneracy, the empire of our hearts. Oh! precious Lord Jesus! thou art that priest indeed which, in the seventh year of Jubilee, hast brought liberty to thy captives!

When the day of judgment, even in this life, comes to the wicked, what an awful day it is! And what will that tremendous day of God be, when it shall arrive in another! The rejoicing of the people at the sight of their king, may serve to give us some faint idea how lovely the sight of Jesus is to a poor soul who hath long groaned under the tyranny of Satan, as Judah had under the tyranny of Athaliah. And, Reader! let your imagination conceive, if it can, what will he the bursts of joy when Jesus shall appear on his throne of glory, and the redeemed surrounding him in the realms above.

There is a beautiful order in the account here given. The first object of reform is to show that God graciously looks upon his people and remembers his covenant. The covenant that is said to be made, is between him, and between all the people, and between the king. Him means, no doubt, the Lord, and Jehoiada, as his priest, might be supposed to represent him. Sweetly suggesting to us Jesus, our glorious Head and Mediator, whom Jehoiada typified. Hence, what a beautiful portion of gospel comes in, in the midst of this history? And where we expected to find nothing but a simple narrative concerning Judah, here we find a lovely shadow of the Lord Jesus! The next object in this revolution of Judah is the destruction of Baal and his images. When the hearts of the people are turned back again to the Lord, then immediately follows the destruction of idolatry. Reader! how precious a part of our holy faith is it, when we so love the Lord as to hate his enemies, David makes this the subject of appeal in proof of his sincerity, Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? Psalms 139:21. The third step in the reform of Judah, is the arrangement of the temple service. During the usurpation and tyranny of Athaliah all had gone to disorder. But now the Lord shall be again worshipped in the beauty of holiness. And lastly, all the departments of government were brought into regularity and order. So that when God is honored, in his house of prayer, and true religion prevails through the land, all ranks of the people are made happy; there is no leading into captivity, no complaining in the streets. Well might the Psalmist, in the view of such a nation, cry out; Happy is that people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord. Psalms 144:15.

REFLECTIONS

I WOULD pass over both the history itself, and all the circumstances connected with it, while I review the gracious events the Lord's right hand here accomplished, to give my meditation wing in flying to the yet more precious subject of that revolution wrought by grace, when sin and rebellion, with all the usurpation of Satan, are put down in the heart of man. I desire to bless God for the mercies here wrought for his Judah, and that he raised up this Jehoiada for the deliverance of his people. But oh! my soul, think of that everlasting deliverance wrought for all his people, when God our Father brought forth his dear Son, his true Jehoiada, hid from ages and generations, and set him as his King in Zion, when declaring the decree of redemption in his name. Here was the everlasting overthrow of Satan's usurpation, tyranny, and power over our poor nature! Here was the final destruction of false gods, when the heathen oracles, by the coming of the Lord Jesus, were struck dumb forever. And here was the introduction of that glorious kingdom of righteousness and peace , which shall flourish forever. Hail, thou glorious, thou almighty Jesus! I see thee and thy lovely form beautifully shadowed forth in the character of Jehoiada, who ministered in thy name! Thou hast made a covenant indeed in thy blood and righteousness: for thou thyself art the whole of it. And it is thou that hast both set up the reform, and art the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption of thy people. Oh! dearest Jesus! while the Father crowns thee King in Zion, and all the redeemed congratulate thee in thy coronation in the church of the first-born which are in heaven, do thou by the influences of thine Holy Spirit enable my soul to put the crown of my own personal redemption on thy sacred head, that I may exult as the people here did in the view of their lawful sovereign, for thou art my lawful God and King forevermore. And oh! my gracious Lord, while thou art blessing me with the communications of thy love, and my soul truly enjoys the fullness of blessings under thy reign, let thy grace draw out my heart in thy service, that all the idols of creature affection may be destroyed, and Jesus alone govern my heart and affections forever.