2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 23: Joash is crowned in God's house

Begin in prayer

Before we hear how Jehoiada led the people into a covenant, let us pray. Ask God to show us His word to David standing, and to bring us to the King who makes a better covenant.

“Gather my saints together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

Psalm 50:5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Your word to David stood, and lead us to Jesus, the King of the new covenant. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

In the seventh year, the priest Jehoiada makes a covenant with five captains and gathers the Levites and family heads to Jerusalem. In God's house the assembly makes a covenant with the king's son, and Jehoiada says he must reign, as the LORD spoke. He sets guards at the doors, so that only the priests and serving Levites enter the LORD's house. They bring out the king's son, crown him, give him the testimony and anoint him. Athaliah comes, sees the king at his pillar, cries treason, and is killed outside the house. Jehoiada makes a covenant that they should be the LORD's people, and the worship of the LORD is set in order.

As you read 2 Chronicles 23, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD's word to David stood, and Jehoiada led the people into a covenant to be the LORD's people.

Joash had been hidden in God's house for six years, and in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest acted (verse 1). He made a covenant with five captains, and they gathered the Levites and family heads to Jerusalem (verses 1 and 2). In God's house the assembly made a covenant with the king's son (verse 3). Jehoiada said the king's son must reign, “as Yahweh has spoken concerning the sons of David” (verse 3). He set guards at the doors, so that only the priests and serving Levites could enter (verses 4 to 6). They crowned the king's son, anointed him, and rejoiced with trumpets and singing (verses 11 and 13). Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people and the king, that they should be the LORD's people (verse 16). The people broke down the house of Baal, and the worship of the LORD was set in order (verses 17 and 18). This shows the LORD's word to David standing, and His people called back to be His own.

How does 2 Chronicles 23 show us that the LORD's word to David stood, and that Jehoiada led the people into a covenant to be the LORD's people?

Jehoiada gathered the Levites and made a covenant with the king.

In the seventh year Jehoiada made a covenant with five captains of hundreds (verse 1). They gathered the Levites and family heads from all the cities of Judah (verse 2). In God's house the assembly made a covenant with the king (verse 3). Jehoiada said the king's son must reign, as the LORD had spoken of David's sons (verse 3).

The king's son was crowned, and Athaliah was put out.

They brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and made him king (verse 11). In verse 11 they said, “Long live the king!” All the people rejoiced and blew trumpets, and the singers led the praise (verse 13). Athaliah cried treason, and they took her out and killed her away from the LORD's house (verses 13 to 15).

Jehoiada made a covenant that they should be the LORD's people.

Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people and the king (verse 16). They were to be the LORD's people (verse 16). The people broke down the house of Baal (verse 17). Jehoiada set the offerings and singing in order, as David had ordered, and set porters at the gates (verses 18 and 19).

Jesus makes a new covenant, and His people belong to God.

At the table Jesus said that the cup was the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22 verse 20). God says that in the new covenant He will be their God, and they will be His people (Hebrews 8 verse 10). Jehoiada led the people into a covenant, and Jesus sealed a better covenant by His own death.

Memorise

Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king, that they should be Yahweh’s people.

2 Chronicles 23:16

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, whose am I, and will I come to Jesus, the true King?

Jehoiada made a covenant “that they should be Yahweh’s people.” At the table Jesus took a cup and said it was the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22 verse 20).

Our sin breaks every promise we make to God. So Jesus sealed a better covenant with His own blood. At the cross He died for His sheep, and by that one death the debt was paid once for all. He rose on the third day, and He is King forever. God says that in this covenant He will be their God, and they will be His people (Hebrews 8 verse 10).

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and will belong to the LORD.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD's word to David stood, and that Jesus makes a new covenant for His people. Parents, verses 7, 14, 15 and 17 tell of killing, so please tell it gently and briefly. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for the King who makes His people His own, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.

Psalm 144:15

Father, thank You that Your word to David stood in Joash's day. Thank You for Jesus, the King who made a new covenant by His blood and rose again. Please bring us to leave our sin and trust Him. Amen.