2 Chronicles 22:1-12 (October 10th, 2025)

Ahaziah Reigns in Judah

22 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. 2 Ahaziah was twenty-two[a] years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly. 4 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing. 5 He even followed their counsel and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians wounded Joram, 6 and he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that he had received at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was wounded.

7 But it was ordained by[b] God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there, he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. 8 And when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he met the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers, who attended Ahaziah, and he killed them. 9 He searched for Ahaziah, and he was captured while hiding in Samaria, and he was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom.

Athaliah Reigns in Judah

10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath,[c] the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him[d] from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death. 12 And he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Footnotes

2 Chronicles 22:2 See 2 Kings 8:26; Hebrew forty-two; Septuagint twenty

2 Chronicles 22:7 Hebrew was from

2 Chronicles 22:11 Spelled Jehosheba in 2 Kings 11:2

2 Chronicles 22:11 That is, Joash

When Evil Multiplies: God’s Hidden Providence

(No Audio)

Summary

After Jehoram’s death, “the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place” (22:1). The Philistines and Arabians had killed all his older brothers (21:17), fulfilling Elijah’s judgment. Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, but he was not any better than his father.

Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, had immense influence over him. Through her, Baal worship and moral corruption deepened in Judah. Ahaziah aligned himself with his northern relatives (the house of Ahab) and joined King Joram (Ahab’s son) in battle against Hazael of Aram.

When Joram was wounded, Ahaziah went to visit him in Jezreel, unaware that God was working behind the scenes to bring judgment on Ahab’s dynasty. There, Jehu, the instrument of God’s wrath, rose up to destroy Ahab’s house (v. 7). In the purge that followed, Jehu killed both Joram and Ahaziah.

Even though Ahaziah did not live faithfully, he was remembered kindly:

The Chronicler notes this as a rare mercy. It was more to honor the memory of Jehoshaphat amid his grandson’s rebellion.

Then comes the chilling end:

In one ruthless move, Athaliah attempted to eradicate the Davidic line. But God’s covenant could not be extinguished.

Jehoshabeath, daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, secretly rescued Joash, the infant son of Ahaziah, and hid him in the temple for six years. Thus, God preserved the lamp once more, through one hidden child and one courageous woman.

Who is God?

God is sovereign even when His purposes seem hidden and His promises endangered.

When the covenant line appeared nearly extinguished, God was quietly at work through the faithfulness of a few. His providence often moves behind curtains of chaos. Though kings fall, queens rage, and nations burn, God’s redemptive plan endures.

The Lord is not absent in dark chapters. He is preserving His promise in secret places. The “lamp” of David flickered again, this time hidden in the temple nursery, guarded by His providence until the appointed time.

What is our guilt?

We share Ahaziah’s guilt when we allow ungodly influences to shape our decisions and faith. Like him, we are easily swayed by the counsel of the world. We are easily swayed by voices that flatter but corrupt. Athaliah’s manipulative power is a portrait of sin’s subtle rule over the heart. It begins as influence but ends in domination.

We are guilty when we forsake the faith of our fathers and let worldly alliances dictate our convictions. Like Ahaziah, we may think we are in control. We may feel that we are the "kings" over our "kingdom," rather than seeking to obey God, who is the true king. When we do that, we will find ourselves entangled in rebellion against God’s will.

How does grace shine?

Grace shines through Jehoshabeath’s quiet courage and God’s unseen hand.

In a world drunk with power and violence, one woman’s hidden act preserved the royal line through which Christ would come. God’s covenant promise to David did not depend on palaces or armies—but on His faithfulness.

This hidden child, Joash, foreshadows the greater child who would one day be born in obscurity, preserved from a murderous ruler, and bring salvation to the world.

God’s grace often works quietly, through forgotten people and unseen acts of faith. In the darkest hour, when the lamp seems extinguished, the light of Christ is being prepared to shine again.

Prayer

O Lord,

You are faithful when generations fail.

You preserve Your covenant when kings rebel.

Forgive us for being shaped by worldly voices and ungodly influences.

Keep us from the compromises that destroy faith and family.

Thank You for Your hidden providence that sustains the promise of redemption.

Teach us to trust Your unseen work—

to walk faithfully even when the world seems dark,

and to believe that Your lamp will never go out.

In the name of Jesus Christ, the true Son of David, we pray.

Amen.