2 Chronicles 23:14-21: a reflection

14Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, let him be slain with the sword.” For the priest said, “Don’t kill her in the LORD’s house.” 15So they made way for her. She went to the entrance of the horse gate to the king’s house; and they killed her there. 16Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king, that they should be the LORD’s people. 17All the people went to the house of Baal, broke it down, broke his altars and his images in pieces, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18Jehoiada appointed the officers of the LORD’s house under the hand of the Levitical priests, whom David had distributed in the LORD’s house, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as David had ordered. 19He set the gatekeepers at the gates of the LORD’s house, that no one who was unclean in anything should enter in. 20He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the LORD’s house. They came through the upper gate to the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom. 21So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword.

After years under the usurper Athaliah, who had seized the throne and led the people into the worship of Baal, the priest Jehoiada acts: the usurper is removed, the temple of Baal is torn down, its altars broken, and the rightful king is set on the throne. A covenant is made that they should be the LORD's people, true worship is restored, and the result is joy and peace: All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. When the usurper is gone, the false worship torn down, and rightful rule and true worship restored, joy and peace follow.

Notice what followed the restoration: joy and peace. While the usurper reigned and false worship prevailed, the land was troubled and corrupt; but when Athaliah was removed, the temple of Baal torn down, and the rightful king and true worship restored, the people rejoiced and the city grew quiet. The restoration of right worship and rightful order brought with it joy and peace, replacing the trouble of usurpation and idolatry. When what was wrong was set right, when the false was removed and the true restored, the fruit was gladness and quiet, the peace that follows the return of right order.

That is worth taking to heart, for when right worship and right order are restored in our lives, joy and peace follow. When something false has usurped its place in our hearts, a false worship, a disordered rule, there is trouble; but when the false is torn down and the true God restored to his rightful place, joy and peace follow, as they did when Athaliah was removed and true worship restored. Setting right what has been wrong, restoring God to his rightful place, brings gladness and quiet. Do not leave a false worship or disordered rule in place in your heart, enduring the trouble it brings; tear it down and restore God to his rightful place, and joy and peace will follow. Restore God to his rightful place where anything false has usurped it, tearing down the false and renewing your covenant with him, and joy and peace will follow, as the land rejoiced and grew quiet when the usurper was removed and true worship restored; for the restoration of right worship and rightful order brings gladness and peace, replacing the trouble of what is false.

Lord, after years under the usurper Athaliah, who had seized the throne and led the people into the worship of Baal, the priest Jehoiada acts: the usurper is removed, the temple of Baal is torn down, its altars broken, and the rightful king is set on the throne. A covenant is made that they should be the LORD's people, true worship is restored, and the result is joy and peace: all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. When the usurper is gone, the false worship torn down, and rightful rule and true worship restored, joy and peace follow. Show me what followed the restoration: joy and peace. While the usurper reigned and false worship prevailed, the land was troubled and corrupt; but when Athaliah was removed, the temple of Baal torn down, and true worship restored, the people rejoiced and the city grew quiet. The restoration of right worship and rightful order brought joy and peace. When what was wrong was set right, the fruit was gladness and quiet. Take that to my heart, for when right worship and right order are restored in my life, joy and peace follow. When something false has usurped its place in my heart, a false worship, a disordered rule, there is trouble; but when the false is torn down and you are restored to your rightful place, joy and peace follow. Keep me from leaving a false worship or disordered rule in place in my heart, enduring the trouble it brings; help me tear it down and restore you to your rightful place, Lord, and joy and peace will follow, as the land rejoiced when the usurper was removed and true worship restored.