Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-06
Golden Text: '"The Lord Pre-
serveth All Them That Love
Him." Pisa. 145: 20.

Asa was succeeded by his son,
Jehoshaphat, who was one of the
holy men of Israel-a man who
trusted in Jehovah more than he
did in the largest army Judah had.
ever knoWn-a million. one hundred
and sixty thousand men-just twice
the size of his fathers. JehOshaphat,
however, made a very serious mis-
take in forming an alliance with
Ahab, the wicked king of Israel. 1t
was done nc doubt with the good in
tention of effecting unity among
the tribes again, put it did not work
outward organization never brings
inward unity. What it did result in
was a debasement Of his own fami-
ly and bloodshed in Judah for many
years. For his son, Jehoram, mar
ried Athaliah. the daughter of Ahab
and Jezebel, and the policies of Jez-
ebel dominated the kingdom of Jul
dah for fifteen years at least. When
Jehoshaphat died, upon Athaliah's
advice, Jehoram slew all of his
brothers, leaving not another son OF
Jehoshaphat alive.
Because of Jehoram's sinful life.
the Lord stirred up the Philistines
and the Arabians, and they carried
away captive all of his sons, except
the youngest, Ahaziah, who succeed
ed to the throne of Judah when he
was twenty-five years old. CThere
is an interesting bit of chronology
in connection with Ahaziah. The
account in 2 Kings s: 26 SAYS he was
twenty-five years old when he began
to reign; while that in Chron. 22:2
says he was forty-two years old
when he began to reign. His father
was only forty years old when he
died, so this would have made him
two years older than his father! The
critics enjoy a contradiction ike
this, but they have not eyes to see
the wonderfully accurate account
the Holy Spirit has written. the
account in Chronicles is translated,
"a son of forty-tWo wears. etc. and
investigation shows that when Ahaz-
iah began to reign he was twenty
two years old, as the account IN
Kings says, and it was exactly forty
two years after the dynasty OF Omrl
had been established. The book CO
Chronicles is the religious history
of Judah and Israel. while Kings is
the political. Therefore, the Holy
Spirit in recording in Chronicles
Ahaziah's accession to the throne
speaks of that wicked descendant OF
Omri in terms of his ancestors dy-
nasty, while in Kings he gives his
actual age. There is no conflict in
the inspired word of God, although
at first sight there NAV seem to
be. Dig deep and you will find the
wonderfully spiritual truth the Holy
i,1rr INy hn n10I0Qrpnf
conflict)
AhaZiah reigned onlv one wear. He
had Joined forces with Jehoram, king
of Israel. Jehoram had been IN
jured in battle. and Ahaziah went
down to Jezerel to see him. Jehu
appeared on the scene and slew both
kings that day.
Gods Promise at Stake
His mother Athaliah, the daugh-
t :. of Ahab and Jezebel, the wife &
Jehoram, king - Judah ana the
sister of Ahaziah and Jehoram,
kings of Israel, usurped the throne
of David, and to make her claim
sure slew all the sub-royal--an OF
AhaZiah's brethren who had been
carried captive " the Arabians, al!
of tie daughters in whom royal
blood flowed, including her own,
and even all of her own grandchll-
dren. Such was Jezebeps daughter.
Just here let us STOP and get these
relationships straight, for they are
apt tc be confusing. In judah the
three kings of this period were j,
j, A. In judah, Jenoshapat, Je-
homar, Ahaziah; in Israel, Ahab,
Ahaziah, Jehoram. The names be
ing similar is confusing. The last
two-Ahaziah and Jehoram of IS
raeI were brother and sons OF Ahab
and Jezebel. The were also broth
ers of Atha1iah, who was the wife
of Jehoram and Judah and the
mother of Ahaziah of judah. PROB
ably that is why the names get
mixed.
But there is one other relationship
we must remember. Ahaziah of Jul
dah had a sister whether the daugh-
ter of Athaliah also is uncertain), Je-
hosheba by name, who was married
to the priest Jehoida. Jehosh -oa,
therefore, was the aunt of Ahazlah,s
sons. And one of these sons Joash
is gu" hero today.
The wicked Athdliah thought she
had done a complete job in killing
all the seed roval. But if it takes
! thief to catch thief, it took Wom-
an to Outwit a woman. Jehosheba
managed to outwit Athtliah, and
one of Athaliah's grandsons escaped.
| He was little JoaSh, wee boy; for
| his aunt, Jehosheba, and AiS uncle,
| Johida, hid him IN a stOreroom of
| the temple where beds and cots were
piled away-a baby boy amongst the
! bedding, royalty in the midst of the
| rummage! Here he was hidden with
| his nurse, and later removed to their
| rooms in the temple and raised there
| within its sacred -alls for six years.
! Of course, Athaliah never found
| him, for she was too busy building a
temple to Boal hard - and manag-
ing the kingdom so as to make her
own position secure.
All! but what about Gods from
Use? He had .romised David e
sum, 1912 that he would establish
his throne forever; that if one of his
sons sinned He would chasten him,
but would not withdraw His mercy
ON him as He had withdrawn
from Saul. The Davidic covenant
i guaranteed the throne to David for
| ever and to every one outside it
| ! 01Ied as though Gods promise had
| failed. But it had not failed. II was
| hung by a thread, bit that thread
! was stronger than a steel rope be-
| cause God was back of it. 1t de-
! pended on a wee baby boy whose
/ lie was in Imminent danger OF dis
| covered. Joash was the only living
! descendant of David; but God was