Athaliah and Audacity

And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason. 2 Kings 11:14

Athaliah obviously was not a king of Israel, however, she wielded the power and certainly the bloodthirst of some of those who came before. The Scripture tells us that Athaliah was mother of Ahaziah of Judah. After seeing that he was dead, she worked to kill all of his children (cf. 2 Kings 11:1). This type of evil was not new for a people whose hearts were often in opposition to God, but this is truly audacious that a grandmother would seek to kill all of her grandsons.

Fortunately, Jehosheba, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash and protected him (cf. 2 Kings 11:2). The boy’s aunt protected him from her mother, the child’s grandmother. So there was an heir, and because there was an heir, there was a plan to overthrow. When this plan was hatched, the wicked Athaliah cried “Treason, Treason!” The audacity of such a vile individual. One who would kill her own grandsons for the sake of her own ambition; she was shortly dispatched by the sword (cf. 2 Kings 11:16).

This story is truly remarkable as it is disgusting, but let us recall it is not the worst that we could imagine in the history of Israel. How about the fact that our Savior was betrayed by Judas for a mere 30 shekels of silver (cf. Matthew 26:15)? Moreover, it was the false accusations raised against the Lord before Caiaphas saying, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days (Matt. 26:61). As He lie on the cross, they mocked him, He saved others, himself he cannot say. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him (Matt 27:42). Perhaps it would have been appropriate for Israel to accuse Jesus of treason for all of His audacious claims. Yet, it was Israel who once again was trying to thwart the will of God.

The blindness of Athaliah allowed her to kill her own flesh and blood. That very same blindness allowed Israel to kill the Savior who gave up His flesh and blood so that all might come into the true Israel of God, His church. We, too, all bear the guilt of that bloodshed. Romans 3:23 tells us that we are sinners. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Watch out for your own blind spot, and be mindful of what Christ did to save us.

Grace and Peace,

Ryan

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