The Holly chieftain., 1922-04-06
LESSON FOR APRIL 9
THE LORD PRESERVES JoAsH

REFERENCE MATERIAI-1l Kings
u:1S-2o: II Chron. 23:l-21; Matt. 2:13-23.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Takes Care OF
q Boy.
JUNIOR ToPIc-How Boy Became
King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Boy Saved for Great Career.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Safety.
Joash, viewed in the light of his an
cestors, was a poor prospect for king.
His grandmother was the wicked
Athaliah and his great grandparents
were Ahab and Jezebel. There was
enough bad blood in his veins to as
sure his doom. Despite this fact, he
brought about some noble reforms and
turned the people back to God.
!. Athaiiah usurps the Throne
wv. 1-3).
/. Her attempt to destroy the seed
royal (vv. u. In order to remove
any rival claimant to the throne she
tried to kill all the royal male chill
dren.
2. Joash preserved by Jehosheba
tvv. 2, 81. Though Athaliah was Keen
eyed she was checkmated by another
woman. Her fatal omission was not
to get rid of the women too. This
woman, the wife Of the priest. stole
away the child and hid him in the
bedchamber for six years. God had
promised that through the Davidlc
line the Messiah should come. In
order that this line be unbroken Joash
must be preserved. No purpose Of
God can fall.
u. Joash Crowned King wv. 4-12).
/. Jehoiada's preparations wv. 4-11).
The high priest and his wife were In
telligent and strong characters. AS
the high priest, Jehoiada felt that it
was his duty to thwart the heather
project of Athaliah. Doubtless his CO.
operation with his wife made possible
the saving of Joash.
~ Secured the aid Of the military
leaders ". ~. He knew somehow
that these men were not loyal to
Athaliah. (2) Bound them under
solemn oath ". ~. He took an oath
of them in the house of the Lord.
Honest men will stand by their word.
(3) Excited their spirit of patriotism
". ~. He gave them sight of the
kings son. This, no doubt, was great
surprise. Now having seen the heir
to the throne they would risk every
thing, even their lives, in order to
set him on the throne. az CO-ordinates
all matters wv. 5-1D. The soldiers
were divided into companies and arms
were distributed to them. Each
group was assigned to specific duties.
2. The coronation ". 12). (1) The
kings son brought forth. This was a
great day in Jerusalem. After six
years Of usurpation. the people all the
while supposing that all the heirs to
the throne were dead. now to gaze
upon the kings son would be notable
event. (2) Put the crown upon him.
This was the formal induction into Of
fee. (3) Gave him the testimony.
This was copy Of the law, showing
that the king was to rule according
to the law of God The act of putting
the law upon his head showed that
the king himself would be under the
control of the law. a. Made him
king. This shows that he was made
king by the choice of the people. (5)
AnOinted him. They poured oil upon
his head. This was the usual method
Of consecrating prophets, priests and
kings. (6) Clapped their hands. This
was token Of joy.
III. Athaliah Slain wv. 1910.
l. The noise of the coronation of
Joash brough Athaliah to the temple
". 15). Up to this time she thought
her place on the throne was secure
and that her heather religion had
free course.
=. Her dismay ". 14). Upon her
arrival at the temple she saw the
king wearing the crown and sur
rounded by the guards, so that she
could do nothing. In her despair she
exclaimed: "Treason, treason!" How
prone wicked men and women are to
cry out as though they had been
wronged when their. wicked plots and
conspiracies are exposed and thwarted!
3. Athaliah executed (vv. 10. 18).
The orders were that she should not
be killed in the temple. They led
her out by the way of the horses en-
trance to the kings palace and slew
her. What tragic end for the sim
ner! Sin can only prosper for time.
~. Worship Of the True God wv.
II, 1S).
Joash was seven years old when he
was made king. The high priest made
covenant between the Lord, the king
and the people that they would be the
Lords people. In carrying out this
covenant they broke down the temple
Of Baal and slew the priest of Baal.
The Way to God.
pr.nN Nor narriaa ia halfu,nu Cad