Day 335 – Protector

2 Kings 11:1 When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed the royal heirs.

 2 However, Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons slated for murder; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom from Athaliah, so that she could not kill him.

 3 Thus, he stayed hidden with her in the house of JEHOVAH for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

 4 In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds—of the bodyguards and the escorts—and brought them into the house of JEHOVAH to him. He made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of JEHOVAH and showed them the king’s son.

 5 Then he commanded them, saying, “This is what you will do: One-third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath will keep watch over the king’s house, 6 one-third will be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You will keep a watch of the house, lest it be broken down. 7 The two contingents of you who go off duty on the Sabbath will keep the watch on the house of JEHOVAH for the king. 8 However, you will surround the king on every side, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within range, kill him. You will stay with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.”

 9 Then, the captains of the hundreds did according to everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each of them took his men who would go on duty on the Sabbath, with those who would go off duty on the Sabbath and came to Jehoiada the priest.

 10 The priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields in the temple of JEHOVAH, which had belonged to King David.

 11 Then the escorts stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, around the king, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, by the altar and the house.

 12 He brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”

 13 Now, when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of JEHOVAH.

 14 When she looked, the king stood by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. The people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”

 15 Jehoiada, the priest, commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not kill her in the house of JEHOVAH.”

 16 Thus, they seized her and killed her as she went through the horses’ entrance into the king’s house.

 17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between JEHOVAH, the king, and the people, that they should be JEHOVAH’S people, and between the king and the people.

 18 The people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. The priest appointed officers over the house of JEHOVAH.

 19 Then, he took the captains of hundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts, and the people of the land; and brought the king down from the house of JEHOVAH and went through the gate of the escorts to the king’s house. Then he sat on the throne of the kings.

 20 Thus, the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword in the king’s house.

 21 Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Kurios – Supreme Authority

God’s character:

Protector

Kingdoms rise and fall. Conspiracies abound surrounding the deaths of the monarchs of kings and dynasties from the beginning of time. Today is no different. Conspiracies over deaths of dignitaries have reporters scratching out what they perceive happened, especially if they can’t get the details. It’s hard to determine real news from fake news, even with the information available on the Internet.

When Ahaziah died, his mother killed every heir to the throne except one. It was a custom when the reigning ruler died, that the successor would kill everyone associated with the line of the former king. Jonathon made a covenant with David not to kill his family when he became king. Saul made the same request of David while he hunted David to kill him. Therefore, it did not surprise the people when Athalia killed the king’s sons. However, she didn’t know one escaped death until she saw him standing by the pillar when Jehoiada proclaimed Jehoash king of Judah.

JEHOVAH kept Jehoash safe with the help of Jehosheba, Ahaziah’s sister. He promised David he would always have a lamp in Judah. JEHOVAH promised Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden that His Son would become their Messiah. It could only happen through the line of Seth to Abraham to David to Yeshua. Satan determined to destroy the line so that the Messiah could not be born of the virgin in Bethlehem.

What better way to kill the heir than with the custom to kill every person associated with the family line. Satan did whatever he could to destroy David’s line before Yeshuwa’s birth in Bethlehem.

What would your life be like if Satan had succeeded and you could not accept Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord? No salvation. The world would be lost. JEHOVAH safeguarded David’s line, so it wouldn’t happen. He took care that there always was a royal seed on the throne of David.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you could do so only because JEHOVAH kept David’s lineage safe. However, it doesn’t end there. Satan still does his best to destroy everyone who accepts Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord. He didn’t accept his defeat when JEHOVAH told Joseph to take the child, Yeshuwa, into Egypt to keep Him safe because Herod determined to kill Him. He didn’t accept defeat when Yeshuwa died on the cross and rose again the third day. He will never accept defeat. He will battle for the throne until JEHOVAH casts him into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone at the end of the Tribulation.

Your job as a child of Yeshuwa is to read and study His Word, pray for your loved ones to know Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord so that Satan cannot destroy everything belonging to you as a child of Yeshuwa. His sole purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy everyone who accepts Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord. However, Yeshuwa’s purpose is to save everyone and see them repent and give them an abundant life.

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)

2 Peter 3:9 The Kurios is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Revelation 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Satan knows his end but will never accept it. Therefore, he does his best to destroy everyone who accepts Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord. Don’t let him. Read Yeshuwa’s Word, study, and pray for your loved ones for their salvation. When you do, you will see their salvation, either in this life, or when they join you in heaven. JEHOVAH is faithful to His promises.

Who do you need to pray for? Pray and watch Yeshuwa keep your loved ones safe and bring them to Him for salvation.

Let’s pray: Father, Your Word is faithful and true. Keep my loved ones safe from Satan as I pray for their salvation. Let my loved ones know You are their only hope for salvation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 19 December 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux