A WICKED MOTHER

PROCLAMATION

“But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed of the royal house of Judah.”  2 Chronicles 22:10 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The words of First and Second Chronicles were written as one book under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar according to Jewish tradition.  After Jehoram died, his youngest son Ahaziah was made king of Judah.  He reigned only for one year.  He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab.  His mother Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, was his counsellor and she advised him to do the wicked and evil things that he did. (2 Chronicles 22:1-3)  Ahaziah did that which was evil in the sight of The Lord.  The men of the house of Ahab were also his counsellors.  They advised him to go with Jehoram, the son of Ahab and king of Israel, to war against Hazael king of Syria.  They were defeated by Syria and Ahaziah was wounded during the battle.  He returned from the war to be healed in Jezreel. (2 Chronicles 22:4-6)  It came to pass that Jehu, who was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah and slew all of them.  Jehu also caught Ahaziah and slew him.  When Athaliah mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to kill the whole royal family of the house of Judah so that she could rule the kingdom. (2 Chronicles 22:7-10)  However, Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and hid him and his nurse from Athaliah in a bedroom of the temple.  Joash remained hidden in the temple of God for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land. (2 Chronicles 22:11-12) 

 

APPLICATION

Sometimes the greed and selfishness within family members can make them so that they will turn on each other and even kill one another.  Occasionally the advice we receive from family members is what’s in their best interest and not ours.  We need to pray and ask The Lord God for discernment to help us identify the wolves around us including our friends and family.  Everyone who smiles in our face is not to be trusted.   We may need God’s protection from unseen dangers that are close to us.  Only God can see the heart of man and only He knows our motives and  intentions.