Young king
2 Kings Chapter 11
While the books of Kings always use the term “king” in reference to the collective rulers, Judah was in fact ruled by a woman for several years: Athaliah, mother of Ahaziah.
She attempted to secure her power by killing all of the other potential heirs, but her young grandson, Joash, was rescued and hidden away.
When he was 7 years old, Jehoiada the priest crowned him king and staged a coup, killing Athaliah. The young Joash, under the guidaance of Jehoiada, was a good king.
Ironically this temporarily returns Judah to effective priestly rule.
Saturday meditation
Proverbs 24:17-18
Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.
Prayer focus
Lord, let us not celebrate the defeat of our enemies.
-Rev. Mark Fleming