Real history or real experience never transpires in tidy pieces. Movies and stories follow a plot line, but often our experience feels like there is no plot, no progression, no resolution. As a Christian, I believe there is a plot because there is an Author writing His Story. But, that does not make me so naive or pompous as to think I know from day to day what the Author is doing and why. God is bringing His story to His desired ends, but that doesn't mean I can explain everything. Instead, I trust that He can explain what He is writing.
One odd place that I get comfort is in reading the chaotic accounts from long ago. The saga of Athaliah and Joash is one of those accounts. See 2 Chronicles 22-23 for the Bible's record of these events.
King Ahaziah of Judah foolishly allied himself with the wicked King Ahab of Israel, and in the same day that God executed judgment on Ahab, He also ensured Ahaziah was put to death at the hands of Jehu. But, this left Judah without a king. Who would rule? Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah, saw her opportunity to snatch power. She acted quickly. Instead of mourning for Ahaziah, she hatched a plot and in the palace in Jerusalem began killing all the royal family. But, her bloodbath was not total. Ahaziah's sister, Jehoshabeath, took her nephew and his nurse and hid them from Athaliah. The young boy was barely over a year old. His name was Joash. Jehoshabeath's husband was Jehoiada, the priest in the Temple of God. For six years, Jehoiada and Jehashabeath hid Joash in the Temple of God, preserving his life from Athaliah, his grandmother.
For six years, an evil woman reigned in Judah. And, for six years, Jehoiada and Jehoshabeath raised Joash to fear the Lord. Jehoiada drew courage from the Lord and began recruiting co-conspirators. He took into confidence trusted commanders like Azariah, Ishamel, Maaseiah, and Elishaphat. These men recruited Levites to their cause - making the true king reign in Judah. Imagine what it would have been like for these men to meet Joash. Judah has a king. What hope! They planned and worked and secretly began a rebellion. On a set day when Joash was only seven years old, the Levites assembled in Jerusalem. They made a solemn covenant before God. Jehoiada showed them Judah's king, "Behold, the king's son! Let him reign as the LORD spoke concerning the sons of David," (2 Chronicles 23:3). What thrill surged through the Levites as they saw God's next king over Judah to replace wicked Queen Athaliah.
But, what would their role be in helping Joash become king? Priest Jehoiada explained - some would guard the gates to the temple, some would guard the king at his house, and there would be rotation on and off the Sabbath. No one would be permitted to sneak in to get close to Joash. The Levites were to defend the young king against any possible harm. Then, Jehoiada armed the men, using the very shields and spears David had made long ago. Then, it was time.
With Levites and priests surrounding him like heavenly warriors, Joash stepped into the temple courtyard. As the crowd gathered, Jehoiada showed Joash to his nation and then a chant began, "Long live the king," (2 Chronicles 23:11). The shouts echoed around the temple complex, "Long live the king, long live the king." Soon the shouts were mixed with cheers as a crown was placed on Joash's head. "Long live the king, long live the king." He was hidden no longer.
Meanwhile, Athaliah heard the commotion, put on her royal clothes, and went to investigate. When she came to the courtyard, there was King Joash, crowned and trumpeted, and guarded, and loved and sung. Blood burned under her cheeks. She grabbed her beautiful robe and ripped it, and screamed, "Treason!" (2 Chronicles 23:13). But, before she could run and call her faithful soldiers, the Levites surrounded her. Jehoiada came to Queen Athaliah, who was now firmly gripped by faithful Levites and passed sentence, "Take her and her followers out of the LORD's house and kill her." Queen Athaliah, with her servants, was dragged out of the courtyard to a gate for horses near the place she called her home. There, close to the place where she had murdered so many, she herself was put to death.
Jehoiada and Jehoshabeath had persevered. King Joash began to rule in Judah. And, he listened to Jehoiada like a father. Joash would work diligently to repair the temple, no doubt spurred on because the disrepair had been evident while Joash grew up there. King Joash would follow the LORD all the days of Jehoiada. Things were as they should be. But no victory lasts forever...
This true story reminds me that while there is a God and His ways are good, there are many days that appear to happen without meaning, without a story, and without an Author. God reigns, and because of sin there are many days where seeing His hand is like trying to see across an ocean blanketed in fog. Imagine you were Jehoshabeath on the night you heard screams in the palace and learned that Athaliah was killing off the royal family one by one. What would you do? Her actions were brave, even heroic. She saved the king's life. God used her to save the line of David. God was at work, continuing His redemptive story even through the bloody lust for power that pumped inside of Athaliah.
God, help us to trust that You are at work even when we cannot see Your hand or when we don't know where we fit in Your plotline.
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