A GOOD GRANDSON COMES FROM AN EVIL GRANDMOTHER
A. INTRODUCTION
1. Generational sins. “Visiting the iniquity of the fathers (or mothers) upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” (Ex. 20:5).
North South
Ahab and Jezebel Jehoshaphat
Athaliah married Jehoram
Ahaziah
Athaliah
Joash
2. Corrupter: Great grandmother Jezebel was the power behind the throne of Ahab.
a. Built sanctuary to Baal – I Kings 18:19
b. Hired priest for Baal – I Kings 18:22
c. Killed godly priest who opposed her – I Kings 18:4
d. Threatened Elijah – I Kings 19:3
e. Lied and murdered Naboth – I Kings 21:1-16
3. Ruthless: Grandmother Athaliah was a “chippette off thee olde block.” Athaliah was as mean as Jezebel her mother.
a. Seized the throne when her son Ahaziah died.
b. Killed all her grandsons (no threat to her reign) (II Kings 11:2).
c. Neurotic over power – II Kings 11:14.
B. WHY THE GRANDSON TURNED OUT GOOD
1. The influence of a good woman. His great aunt Jehosheba (the sister of Athaliah) hid (saved) Joash from slaughter. “Took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from the king’s sons which were slain, and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain” (II Kings 11:2).
2. The influence of a godly environment. Joash was raised in the temple. “He (Joash) was with them, hid in the house of God six years and Athaliah reigned over the land” (II Chron. 22:12).
3. The influence of a good grand uncle. The high priest Jehoiada was the godly influence in Joash’s life.
a. Jehoiada believed. “He said unto them Behold the king’s son shall reign; as the Lord hath said of the sons of David” (II Chron. 23:3).
b. Jehoiada planned. “So the Levites and Judah did according to all things which Jehoiada the priest commanded” (23:8).
4. A regal coronation. “And they brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the testimony, and made him king. Then Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, ‘Long live the king!’” (II Chron. 23:11).
5. The sovereignty of God. “Yet the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever” (II Chron. 21:7).
a. Joash was the only seed of David left.
b. This was Satan’s attempt to cut off Messiah.
C. A GOOD GRANDSON
1. Joash made a pledge of devotion. “Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people” (II Chron. 23:16).
2. Joash cleansed the land of sin. “And all the people 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” (II Chron. 23:17).
3. Joash reinstituted worship. “Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David” (II Chron. 23:18).
4. Enforced discipline. “And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter” (II Chron. 23:19).
5. Joash was loyal to the symbols of office. “They came through the high gate into the king’s house, and set him upon the throne of the kingdom” (II Chron. 23:20).
6. Good testimony. “Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (II Chron. 24:2).
D. HOW TO RAISE GODLY GRANDCHILDREN
1. Make sure they are protected from the Evil One. A godly relative can offset the influence of an ungodly relative.
2. Raise them in the godly environment of a good home, Sunday school, AWANA, etc.
3. All the resources of a church are needed to help influence a child for godliness.
4. Celebrate the significant “passages” of life in a godly way.
5. Get rid of evil forces from a child’s life.
6. Make sure children make good decisions and use your influence to keep them from making bad decisions.
7. When a child doesn’t have discipline, give him an environment where they do the right thing and they can develop self-discipline.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com.
