Today we will study the life of King Joash pictured above who was proclaimed to be a king at the age of seven. I asked Jesus why was King Joash only seven years old when he was proclaimed to be a king. The reason King Joash became a king at the early age of seven was because a woman named Athaliah (daughter of the witch Jezebel and wife to King Jehoram) made herself a queen of the land for six years by destroying and killing all the royal baby boys. After King Ahaziah was killed by Jehu, Ahaziah's mother Athaliah was so wicked and killed all the royal babies and even her own children to take power and become a queen for six years. But, a woman named Jehosheba, the wife of the high priest Jehoiada stated at 2 Chronicles 22:11, (aunt to King Joash) preserved the royal seed and hid baby Joash (son of King Ahaziah) from wicked Athaliah for six years. Next, when Joash became seven years old, Jehoiada proclaimed Joash to be the king before all the people and had the soldiers kill wicked Athaliah outside the temple in the horse gate.
The reason Joash's life should be studied is because Joash is one of the great grandfathers of our Lord Jesus Christ. The devil tried to use Athaliah (whose name means afflicted of the Lord) to kill all of Jesus' possible great grandfathers, but God did not allow this and preserved the seed of the Lord Jesus by having Jehosheba hide baby Joash for seven years from Athaliah. Athaliah can be compared to King Herod in the new testament who also tried to kill Jesus by ordering all the baby boys in Israel to be slain. But, Mary and Joseph were warned by God of Herod's wicked plot and journeyed to Egypt and hid Jesus from Herod until it was safe to return to Nazareth. Mary and Joseph can be compared to Jehosheba and Jehoiada because in the old and new testaments these stories display parents hiding a blessed baby from death ordered by either Athaliah or Herod.
You might say Brother Bob I do not see Joash listed in the genealogy of Jesus at Matthew 1:6-16 and this is correct. For some reason, the following four kings (Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, and Jehoiakim) were not listed in the genealogy of Matthew. But, if you study the complete genealogy of Jesus listed in the old testament at 1 Chronicles 3:10-16, Joash is listed as one of Jesus' great grandfathers. Jesus told me to list the full complete genealogy of Jesus' grandparents from 1 Chronicles 3:10-16 with the meaning of each king's name in hebrew that relates to Jesus. The completed accurate list is as follows: David (Beloved), Solomon (Peace), Rehoboam (A People Has Enlarged), Abijah (Jehovah Is My Father), Asa (Healer), Jehoshaphat (Jehovah Has Judged), Joram (Jehovah Is Exalted), Ahaziah (Jehovah Holds Or Possesses), Joash (Given By The Lord), Amaziah (Jehovah Is Mighty), Azariah (Jehovah Has Helped), Jotham (Jehovah Is Perfect), Ahaz (He Has Grasped Or Possessor), Hezekiah (Jehovah Is My Strength), Manasseh (Causing To Forget), Amon (Master Or Workman), Josiah (Whom Jehovah Heals), Jehoiakim (Jehovah Raises Up), and Jeconiah (Jehovah Will Establish).
Jesus showed Brother Bob the above anointed painting of Athaliah crying Treason, Treason as the high priest Jehoiada proclaims seven year old Joash as king. Jehoiada and his wife Jehosheba hid king Joash for six years and constantly surrounded Joash with guards holding weapons to protect the child Joash from Athalia. When Jehoiada proclaimed seven year old Joash as king, Jehoiada had the guards take Athaliah to the horse gate to be killed (the old hag or nag was killed at the horse gate) to avoid killing Athaliah in the temple.
The story about Athaliah, Joash, Jehosheba, and Jehoiada can be found at 2 Kings 11 and says And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land. And the seventh year, Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard,and brought them to him into the house of the Lord, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord, and shewed them the king's son.
2 Kings 11:8 further states And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain; and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in. And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple. And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.
2 Kings 11:13 further states And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the Lord. 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. But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges; and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord. And they laid hands on her and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house, and there was she slain.
If Athaliah lived today, she would have supported abortion because Athaliah killed her own children so she could become a ruler instead of a mother. Athaliah wanted to usurp authority, give orders, and be the boss as a queen instead of being a mother to her children. As a result, God had Athaliah killed at the horse gate for failing to be a mother to her kids. Athaliah didn't want to be a mother, she wanted to be a politician, neglecting motherhood and as a result died. I pray in Jesus name all women reading this will make their most important career to be a mother. Our kids today need their moms to guide and bless their little lives. If women make motherhood the highest priority in their lives, it's OK for them to also be leaders and have careers in the modern work world.
I encourage all women to study a blessed woman named Deborah who made motherhood the first priority in her life, and as a result was blessed to be a great leader, judge, and prophetess for the children of God. Deborah boasted in her motherhood (not her power as a judge or prophetess) as a reason that Israel was blessed when Deborah stated at Judges 5:7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. Because Deborah fought for her kids with Barak as a mother, wanting her kids to not have to hide in the dens and caves from the Canaanites but openly inhabit the villages in peace, Jesus blessed Deborah as a mother with a great victory over the Canaanites giving freedom to the people of Israel. The reason Deborah's name means bee is because Deborah was sweet as honey as a mother to her kids but had a stinger when she fought against the Canaanites to protect her kids.
Unfortunately, when King Joash got older, he forgot about God, loving the praise of man more than the praise of God, becoming like Pilate, and in the picture above commanded the prophet Zacharias to be stoned to death by the religious people between the altar and the temple. Joash became so wicked by loving the world's praise as he forgot God, that unlike Jehoiada who killed Athaliah outside the temple in the horse gate, Joash had anointed Zacharias killed in the temple. Zacharias was the son of Jehoida who protected and raised Joash as a little boy. Joash followed the Lord and was blessed while Jehoiada lived. But right after Jehoiada died at 130 years of age, Joash became wicked and served idols and loved man's praise more than the Lord. Joash's love of the world made him so wicked that he killed Zacharias, the son of Jehoiada who protected his life as a child. God punished Joash for killing Zacharias, and when Joash got older, Joash got sick and his own servants killed Joash on his own bed.
The story of the above picture can be found at 2 Chronicles 24:15 that says But Jehoiada waxed old and was full of days when he died, 130 years old was he when he died. 2 Chronicles 24:17 further states Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers and served groves and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
2 Chronicles 24:19 further states Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not give ear. And the spirit of God came upon Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye have forsaken the Lord; He hath also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord.
The picture above of Zacharias and Joash reminds Brother Bob of Jesus and Pilate. Zacharias like Jesus died and gave his life trying to save the people and was killed by his own countrymen. John 1:11 tells us He came unto His own, and His own received him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. Zacharias like Jesus, was a just man preaching the truth to the unjust and dying because the people wanted to hear smooth words and not hear repent of your sins. This reminds me of religious people today who want to hear preachers with flowery smooth words and won't listen to preachers who mention sin. Zacharias' sacrifice can be seen at 1 Peter 3:18 that says For Christ also hath once suffered for siins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.
Joash in the picture above reminds Brother Bob of Pilate as Joash conspired against Zacharias giving the commandment or order for the religious people to kill and stone Zacharias in the temple. Pilate like Joash also conspired against Jesus and gave the commandment or order for the Jews to crucify Jesus. Take time to read what Pilate did at Matthew 27:24 that says When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person; See ye to it. Joash and Pilate could have prevented the deaths of Zacharias and Jesus but loved the praise of man more than God and chose to kill innocent men instead of serving God.
Also, notice how the words of Zacharias at his death are like the words of Jesus at the cross when Jesus said Father forgive them for they know not what they do. The words of Zacharias at his death are recorded at 2 Chronicles 24:22 that says Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died he (Zacharius) said, The Lord look upon it, and require it (defined as investigate it). Stephen also at his death was like Zacharius and Jesus because Acts 7:59 says And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
To end up this bible study, we see that Zacharias is in the background now resting in peace with Jesus with a white robe waiting for Jesus to avenge his blood on the devil and his demons. Also, the children in the above picture represent the millions of babies that are aborted who now also are resting in peace with Jesus with white robes waiting for Jesus to avenge their blood on the devil and his demons. This is proven by Revelation 6:9 that says and when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held; And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (this reminds Brother Bob of Abel's blood crying out for Jesus to avenge his shed blood) And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Jesus truly did what Zacharias' name means and Zacharias was remembered of God when Jesus as God stated at Luke 11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay, and persecute; That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world may be requried of this generation. From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple; Verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. Jesus stated that he will remember the blood of the first prophet Abel to the last prophet mentioned in the old testament Zacharias and avenge their blood on the devil and his demons. Praise you Lord Jesus for comforting Abel, Zacharias and the millions of slain aborted innocent babies with rest, peace and white robes in your glorious kingdom.
As a reference note for your study, Matthew 23:34 restates Luke 11:49 but the translated versions of the bible say that Zacharias' father was Barachias and not Jehoiada. According to history, the original hebrew translation of the bible did not list Barachias as the father of Zacharias because the true father of Zacharias was Jehoiada the high priest and Jesus was mentioning the prophet Zacharias the son of Jehoiada who was slain by King Joash between the altar and temple in the above listed scriptures.
As always it has been a blessing writing these bible studies which I pray in Jesus name will give great peace to all my friends in the many nations. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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