2 Chronicles 23:8-13: a reflection

8So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. They each took his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest didn’t dismiss the shift. 9Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds the spears, bucklers, and shields that had been king David’s, which were in God’s house. 10He set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, near the altar and the house, around the king. 11Then they brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the covenant, and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, “Long live the king!” 12When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the LORD’s house. 13Then she looked, and behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, with the captains and the trumpeters by the king. All the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. The singers also played musical instruments, and led the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, “Treason! treason!”

This is the moment the usurper Athaliah is overthrown and the rightful king restored. The boy Joash, the true heir who had been hidden, is brought out, crowned, given the covenant, and proclaimed king; and the people erupt in joy, running, praising, blowing trumpets, singing. But Athaliah, who had seized the throne illegitimately, hears the noise, comes to see, and, realizing her false hold is lost, tears her clothes and cries out, Treason! Treason! The joy of the people at the rightful king contrasts with the usurper's dismay.

Notice the two responses to the true king's enthronement: the people's joy, and the usurper's cry of treason. For the people, the crowning of the rightful king was cause for rejoicing; what had wrongly reigned was displaced, and the true heir took his place, and they were glad. But for Athaliah, who had held the throne illegitimately, the same event was a disaster, the loss of a place that was never rightly hers, and she cried treason at being displaced.

That contrast holds a spiritual picture. There is joy when the rightful King, Christ, is enthroned where he belongs; and there is protest from whatever has wrongly reigned in his place. In our own lives, things can usurp the throne that belongs to Christ, our own self-rule, our idols, our sins, holding a place that is not rightly theirs. When Christ is given his rightful place, these are displaced, and, like Athaliah, they cry out against being dethroned. Enthrone Christ, the rightful King, in your life, and do not be surprised when what has wrongly reigned protests its dethroning. The joy of the rightful King restored is worth the displacing of every usurper; give Christ his place, and rejoice, as the people rejoiced, that the true King reigns.

Lord, when the usurper Athaliah was overthrown and the rightful king Joash crowned, the people rejoiced with trumpets and song, while Athaliah, losing her illegitimate hold, cried treason. Show me the picture in that contrast. There is joy when the rightful King, Christ, is enthroned where he belongs; and there is protest from whatever has wrongly reigned in his place. In my own life, things can usurp the throne that belongs to Christ, my own self-rule, my idols, my sins, holding a place that is not rightly theirs. When Christ is given his rightful place, these are displaced, and, like Athaliah, they cry out against being dethroned. Help me enthrone Christ, the rightful King, in my life, and not be surprised when what has wrongly reigned protests its dethroning. The joy of the rightful King restored is worth the displacing of every usurper; help me give Christ his place, and rejoice, as the people rejoiced, that the true King reigns. Reign in me, Lord.