Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your
Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters
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Speaker 1: I'm John Stangi, and today we're in Second Chronicles, chapter
Speaker 1: twenty three, and we'll be reading from the new English translation.
Speaker 1: In the seventh year, Jehodiah made a bold move. He
Speaker 1: made a pact with the officers of the units of
Speaker 1: hundreds Azariah son of jehoram Ishmael son of Jehochinnan Azariah
Speaker 1: son of Obed, Messiah son of Adiah, and elisha Fat
Speaker 1: son of Zikri. They traveled throughout Judah and assembled the
Speaker 1: Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as
Speaker 1: the Israelite family leaders. They came to Jerusalem and the
Speaker 1: whole assembly made a covenant with the King in the
Speaker 1: Temple of God. Jehoyada said to them, the King's son
Speaker 1: will rule just as the Lord promised David's descendants. This
Speaker 1: is what you must do. One third of you priests
Speaker 1: and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath, will
Speaker 1: guard the doors. Another third of you will be stationed
Speaker 1: at the royal palace, and still another third at the
Speaker 1: foundation gate. All the others will stand in the courtyards
Speaker 1: of the Lord's temple. No one must enter the Lord's
Speaker 1: temple except the priests and levites who are on duty.
Speaker 1: They may enter because they are ceremonially pure. All the
Speaker 1: others should carry out their assigned service to the Lord.
Speaker 1: The levites must surround the king. Each of you must
Speaker 1: hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever tries to enter
Speaker 1: the temple must be killed. You must accompany the King
Speaker 1: wherever he goes. The Levites and all the men of
Speaker 1: Judah did just as Jehoyada. The Priest ordered each of
Speaker 1: them to took his men those who were on duty
Speaker 1: during the sabbath, as well as those who were off
Speaker 1: duty on the Sabbath. Jehoyada the Priest did not release
Speaker 1: his divisions from their duties. Jehoyada the Priest gave to
Speaker 1: the officers of the units of hundreds King David's spears
Speaker 1: and shields that were kept in God's Temple. He placed
Speaker 1: the men at their posts, each holding his weapon in
Speaker 1: his hand. They lined up from the south side of
Speaker 1: the temple to the north side and stood near the
Speaker 1: altar and the temple, surrounding the King. Jehoiada and his
Speaker 1: sons led out the king's son and placed on him
Speaker 1: the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king
Speaker 1: and poured olive oil on his head. They declared, long
Speaker 1: live the King. When Atheliah heard the royal guard shouting
Speaker 1: and praising the king, she joined the crowd at the
Speaker 1: Lord's temple. Then she saw the king standing by his
Speaker 1: pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters stood beside
Speaker 1: the king, and all the people of the land were
Speaker 1: celebrating and blowing trumpets, and the musicians with various instruments
Speaker 1: were leading the celebration. Atheliah tore her clothes and yelled treason, treason, Jehoyaa.
Speaker 1: The priest sent out the officers of the units of hundreds,
Speaker 1: who were in charge of the army, and ordered them
Speaker 1: bring her outside the temple to the guards, put the
Speaker 1: sword to anyone who follows her. The priest gave this
Speaker 1: order because he had decided she should not be executed
Speaker 1: in the Lord's temple. They seized her and took her
Speaker 1: into the precincts of the royal palace through the horse's entrance.
Speaker 1: There they executed her. Jehoyda then drew up a covenant
Speaker 1: stipulating that he, all the people, and the king should
Speaker 1: be loyal to the Lord. All the people went and
Speaker 1: demolished the temple of Bail. They smashed its altars and idols.
Speaker 1: They killed Matan, the priest of Bail, in front of
Speaker 1: the altars. Jehoyada then assigned the duties of the Lord's
Speaker 1: temple to the priests the Levites, whom David had assigned
Speaker 1: to the Lord's temple. They were responsible for offering burnt
Speaker 1: sacrifices to the Lord with joy and music, according to
Speaker 1: the law of Moses and the edict of David. He
Speaker 1: posted guards at the gates of the Lord's temple so
Speaker 1: no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter.
Speaker 1: He summoned the officers of the units of hundreds, the nobles,
Speaker 1: the rulers of the people, and all the people of
Speaker 1: the land, and he then led the king down from
Speaker 1: the Lord's temple. They entered the royal palace through the
Speaker 1: upper gate and seated the king on the royal throne.
Speaker 1: All the people of the land celebrated, for the city
Speaker 1: had rest now that they had killed athaliah Let's pray.
Speaker 1: Lord We thank you for your word, and we thank
Speaker 1: you for the privilege of being able to look at
Speaker 1: it today. But it's fascinating when we look into all
Speaker 1: that took place in the lives of the kings and
Speaker 1: of your people. As we go through the book of
Speaker 1: Second Chronicles, Lord, we could see that you are continuing
Speaker 1: to fulfill your plan and work out the details through
Speaker 1: which you were about to bring your son Jesus Christ
Speaker 1: into this world. But Lord, we recognize that in the
Speaker 1: midst of all of that, in the midst of everything
Speaker 1: you were doing, there was always opposition to your heart
Speaker 1: and to your will as it was being expressed among
Speaker 1: your people. It seems that there are always people seeking
Speaker 1: to take the life of the king, and there are
Speaker 1: always people trying to usurp the leadership of the king.
Speaker 1: But yet, Lord, you show yourself faithful to your people,
Speaker 1: and you do that even now. You are faithful to
Speaker 1: us as a reflection of your character. Your very nature
Speaker 1: demands the fact that you are completely faithful to your people.
Speaker 1: You can't be anything but that. So we're grateful Lord
Speaker 1: for what that means. In our day to day lives.
Speaker 1: We know, Lord, that in every life we experience and downs,
Speaker 1: We experience trials and setbacks, but we know Lord that
Speaker 1: you are constant, Your presence is right here with us,
Speaker 1: and you work all things together for the good of
Speaker 1: those who love you. So Lord, we're grateful for that reality.
Speaker 1: We're grateful that we are welcomed into your family through
Speaker 1: faith and your son Jesus Christ. And throughout the course
Speaker 1: of this day, we pray that our hearts would be
Speaker 1: encouraged in knowing who you are and in reflecting on
Speaker 1: the fact that you are genuinely and sincerely faithful to
Speaker 1: your people in all contexts by your grace. Lord, we
Speaker 1: pray that we would be faithful to you. But we
Speaker 1: know Lord that we struggle. So we rely on the
Speaker 1: strength that's supplied to us through faith in Jesus Christ,
Speaker 1: and we pray that you would be honored in all
Speaker 1: aspects of our lives. We just thank you for all
Speaker 1: these things, Lord, and we thank you for your presence
Speaker 1: with us. We pray it all in Jesus' name. Amen.