Daily Devotional

Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, ‘Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David’ ” (2 Chronicles 23:3). 

Are 367 lawmakers a large enough group to legally kick a president out of office? This was the big question under discussion when Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil, was removed from office 

in 2016. During the trial she accused the lawmakers of conducting a coup d’état, meaning they were illegally grasping for power. Her accusation suggested that a small group of people must be leading the move to push her out of office. 

The dispute continued on and someday it will pass from the attention of the public and into the discussion of historians. In any case, it is clear that the clean ousting of a national leader is not an easy task and usually requires a conflict. 

As a high priest with connections in the royal family, Jehoiada was in a position to organize the removal of the wicked queen Athaliah. Jehoiada’s wife had hidden the heir to the throne from her queen mother. Athaliah, Jehoiada’s mother-in-law, had accomplished a coup d’état that involved killing off most of the royal family. 

Now it was Jehoiada’s turn to push the wicked queen out of office. After six years he called together the five “captains of hundreds” (2 Chronicles 23:1) and made a covenant with them. In his secret rousing speech, the high priest reminded the military leaders that the reign of the sons of David was God’s promise. Unlike the murders of Athaliah, Jehoiada’s takeover was a turn to the promises of God. 

On the Sabbath of the takeover, the soldiers surrounded seven-year- old Joash, a descendant of David, and Jehoiada crowned him king. With the shields and spears of King David that Jehoiada provided, the guards were able to capture and execute the angry queen. The greatest benefits of the takeover were the checks on Baal worship and the rebuilding of the temple. Sometimes witnessing for the true King is complicated and unpleasant, but when done on God’s terms it can lead to great revival. 

Father, please give me the courage to share my faith and proclaim Your promises.