2 Kings

2 Kings 11: A king hidden in the temple

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the boy hidden in the Lord's house, let us bow before the Lord together. Ask Him to keep our hearts safe in Him, and to show us Jesus, the Son of David.

In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.

Psalm 31:20

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that a son of David was kept alive, and that Your promise to David stood. Help us to know Jesus as the King who reigns forever. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

When Ahaziah dies, his mother Athaliah destroys the royal family, but Jehosheba hides the baby Joash in the temple. For six years, Joash stays hidden in the LORD's house while Athaliah rules the land. In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest gathers the captains and the guard in the temple and shows them the king's son. He gives them orders to surround the young king, and they bring him out, crown him, and anoint him. When Athaliah hears the noise and cries, “Treason!”, she is taken out of the temple and put to death. Jehoiada makes a covenant that the people will be the LORD's people, and they break down the house of Baal. Joash sits on the throne, and the city is quiet.

As you read 2 Kings 11, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

A son of David was kept alive and crowned, and the LORD's promise to David stood.

When King Ahaziah died, his mother Athaliah destroyed the royal offspring (verse 1). Jehosheba, Ahaziah's sister, hid the baby Joash and his nurse in the LORD's house for six years (verses 2 and 3). In the seventh year the priest Jehoiada made a covenant with the captains and showed them the king's son (verse 4). Jehoiada crowned and anointed him, and the people cried, “Long live the king” (verse 12). Athaliah cried out, and she was put to death (verses 14 to 16). Jehoiada made a covenant that the king and the people would be the LORD's people (verse 17). The chapter does not say that the LORD acted here. Yet He had promised David a lamp for his children always (2 Kings 8 verse 19). A son of David on the throne shows that this promise had not failed.

How does 2 Kings 11 show us that a son of David was kept alive and crowned, and that the LORD's promise to David stood?

Jehosheba hides the child in the LORD's house.

Athaliah destroyed the royal family, but Jehosheba hid the baby Joash (verses 1 and 2). Joash stayed hidden with his nurse in the LORD's house for six years (verse 3). The LORD's house was where the king's son was kept safe.

The priest made a covenant that the people would be the LORD's.

In the seventh year, Jehoiada brought out the captains and the guard, and made a covenant with them (verse 4). He gave the king's son the crown and the covenant (verse 12). The people made a covenant to be the LORD's people (verse 17). They broke down the house of Baal (verse 18).

A son of David is crowned and the people rejoice.

Joash, a son of David, was crowned, and the people clapped and cried, “Long live the king” (verse 12). All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet (verse 20). Jesus is the Son of David, and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1 verses 32 and 33).

Memorise

He was with her hidden in Yahweh’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

2 Kings 11:3

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I trust the LORD to keep me safe, and will I come to Jesus?

A little boy was hidden in the LORD's house while a queen who destroyed the royal family ruled the land. Then the priest brought out the king's son, and the people cried, “Long live the king.” Jesus, the Son of David, is the King whom no enemy can keep from His throne.

Sin rules every heart until Jesus sets it free. Jesus died on the cross in His people's place and fully paid the debt of their sin. God raised Him from the dead, and He reigns as King.

So come to the King, turn from your sin, and trust Him. He is able to save those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7 verse 25). He forgives every sinner who trusts Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that a son of David was kept alive and crowned, and that Jesus is the King who reigns forever. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Parents, you may want to explain verses 1 to 3 and 15 to 18 in your own words. 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 that He keeps His promise to David, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “Yahweh has done great things for them.”

Psalm 126:2

Father, thank You that a son of David was kept alive in Your house and made king. Thank You for Jesus, the Son of David, who reigns forever and died for sinners. Grant each child grace to turn away from sin and trust Jesus. Help us to rest in Your care this week. Amen.