2 Chronicles 23

The Explanation

There was a little boy named Joash. He was small. So small.

A bad queen wanted to hurt him. Her name was Athaliah.

But a priest named Jehoiada loved little Joash. Jehoiada hid him. He kept him safe, for a long, long time.

Then one day, Jehoiada said: it is time.

He called strong men to help. Men with shields. Men with spears. Big, shiny spears, that used to belong to King David.

The men stood all around. Around the house of God. Around little Joash.

Jehoiada took a crown. A gold crown. He put it on Joash's head.

And everybody shouted: "Long live the king!"

Trumpets went pfff, pffff, loud and high! Singers sang. People clapped. It was noisy. So happy, and so noisy.

What Does This Mean?

The bad queen heard the noise. She came running to see.

And there was Joash. Standing tall. Wearing his crown.

Athaliah was angry. She shouted, "Treason, treason!"

But nobody listened to her anymore. The soldiers took her away. The bad queen could not hurt Joash. Not anymore. He was safe. Truly safe.

Then everyone did something else. They ran to a statue of a fake god named Baal. They broke it. Smash, smash, smash. Because Baal was not real. Only God is real.

The Common Thread

Long ago, a promise was made. God said a king from David's family would always sit on the throne.

Little Joash was from David's family. That is why he had to be kept safe. That is why Jehoiada hid him so carefully.

God kept His promise, even when it looked scary. Even when a bad queen wanted to stop it.

And one day, far later, another King would come from David's family too. His name was Jesus. Nobody could stop Him either.

For You

Jehoiada took care of little Joash, even when it was hard.

Do you know someone who takes care of you? Someone who keeps you safe when you sleep, or when it is dark?

God does that. He watches over children. Even you.

After the crown, after the noise, the story says something soft. It says the city was quiet. Quiet, and glad.

That is how it feels when you are safe. Quiet inside. Glad inside.

Talk About It

Who kept little Joash safe, even when it was scary?

What do you think it felt like to hear the trumpets and singing?

Praying Together

Dear God,

Thank You for keeping little Joash safe.

Thank You for keeping me safe too.

You always keep Your promises.

Amen.