Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 2 Kings 11 and Psalm 128

Jehosheba. Have you ever heard her mentioned as a heroine of the Lord’s people? I have certainly never heard the valour of this little-known daughter of King Jehoram and sister of King Ahaziah extolled in a sermon. However, Jehosheba had a critically important place in God’s plan of salvation.

The story really begins when King Jehoram of Judah (King Jehoshaphat’s son) made the strategic political decision to marry Athalia, daughter of Queen Jezebel and King Ahab of Israel (2 Kings 8). She soon led him astray to the worship of Baal and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. When he died he was succeeded by their son, Ahaziah.

When King Ahaziah was executed by Jehu (2 Kings 11), his mother Athalia set out to consolidate her own power in Judah by murdering anyone else who might have a claim to the throne. It’s easy to miss that this wicked woman was hereby seeking to destroy the line of King David – the royal line from which the Messiah had been promised.

Enter Jehosheba. Through her quick thinking, courage and creativity, she rescued Ahaziah’s son Joash, hid him securely in the temple for six years (while Queen Athalia ruled in Judah), and preserved the royal line of David through which the Messiah would come. Evil people like Athaliah will begin their work, but God can always raise up a Jehosheba. Through her brave intervention Joash was saved and later enthroned as king. He would go on to institute some very righteous reforms in Judah during his reign.

You and I may not have the opportunity to save a king’s life, but we should never despise the seemingly small opportunities the Lord grants us to make a difference in other’s lives. Who knows what future events might depend on our faithful interventions today.

Heavenly Father, please help me to be courageous in ministering to others today, trusting that you can use even my smallest, most seemingly-insignificant efforts for Your glory. Amen,