A. INTRODUCTION: II KINGS 11:1-21
1. Two great sins.
a. Murder. “The king’s sons were slain” (11:2).
b. Cut off the line of Christ. “Destroyed all the seed royal” (11:1).
2. Two great acts.
a. Kidnapped. “Took Joash . . . and stole him from among the king’s sons” (11:2).
b. Concealed. “Hid him . . . in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain” (11:2).
3. Two adults of opposite influence.
a. “Athaliah did reign over the land” (11:3). “Athaliah . . . arose and destroyed” (11:1).
b. “Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king” (11:6).
B. HOW WAS JOASH PREPARED?
1. Raised in God’s house. “Hid in the house of God six years” (II Chron. 22:12).
2. Godly oversight. “Jehosheb . . . wife of Jehoiada the priest hid him from Athaliah” (II Chron. 22:11). “Jehoiada strengthened himself” (II Chron. 23:1).
3. Brought godly men to help him. “Went about Judah and gathered the Levites . . . and came to Jerusalem” (II Chron. 23:2).
4. Had a plan. “All the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God” (II Sam. 23:3).
5. Followed the political orientation.
a. Right place. “The king stood at his pillar at the entering in” (II Chron. 23:13).
b. Right symbols of authority. “Put upon him the crown” (II Chron. 23:11).
c. Right announcement. “Sounded with trumpets” (II Chron. 23:13).
d. Right response. “And said, ‘God save the king’” (II Chron. 23:11).
e. Right show of approval. “The people . . . rejoiced . . . clapped” (11:12).
f. Right seat. “He sat on the throne of the king” (11:19).
6. Followed religious orientation.
a. Symbol of God’s presence. “Anointed him” (II Chron. 23:11).
b. In the house of God. “Along by the altar and the temple” (II Chron. 23:10).
c. Gave him a copy of the scriptures. “Gave him the testimony” (11:12). “When he sitteth upon the throne . . . he should write a copy of this law . . . it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life” (Deut. 17:18-19).
d. Sing the Psalms. “The singers with instruments of music” (II Chron. 23:13).
C. TEN RULES TO FIGHT A SPIRITUAL ENEMY
1. Don’t attack your enemy when you are weak. “Hid” (11:2). We must protect children and not throw them to the wolves.
2. A hothouse environment is necessary when weak/growing. “Hid in the house of God” (11:3).
3. Strengthen yourself before battle. “Jehoiada strengthened himself” (II Chron. 23:1).
4. Get help. “Fetched the rulers . . . with the captains . . . brought them into the house of God” (11:4).
5. Plan your battle. “He (Jehoiada) commended them, ‘This is the thing that ye should do’” (11:5).
6. Keep your strategy secret. “Jehoiada . . . made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them” (11:4).
7. Use surprise to your advantage. “He (Jehoiada) brought forth the king’s son” (11:2). “Athaliah . . . cried, ‘Treason, Treason’” (11:14).
8. Eliminate your enemy. “Followed her outside the temple and killed her with the sword” (11:15, ELT).
9. Take possession. They inducted Joash into office.
10. Give glory to God. “God save the king” (11:12).
D. WHAT TO DO AFTER THE BIG DAY
1. Spiritual promise to God, i.e., a vow. Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord’s people” (11:17).
2. Get rid of your idols. “Went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly” (11:18).
3. Repair the sanctuary. “The priest had not repaired the breaches of the house” (12:6).
4. The Joash chest was set up to receive money. “But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the Lord: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord” (II Kings 12:9).
5. Godly influence. “And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (II Chron. 24:2).
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. Please contact me at 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. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
