Athaliah “…that wicked woman”
(Part 2)
The story of Athaliah makes for some interesting reading. It would be an exciting movie for the big screen. Nonetheless, what does this Old Testament story have to do with New Testament Christians serving God today? “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). What current day applications can we make from the reign of Athaliah?
Parents Set the Course of Their Children’s Lives
Parents pass on their system of morality to their children by the examples they set. Knowing the parents and grandfather of Athaliah makes the evil events in the family of Jehoram easy to predict. In a home where prayer is seldom said before eating a meal; a home where the parents never turn to God in prayer when they face a crisis or when they have something for which to be thankful. Children who grow up in homes without godly priorities, love for God’s family, the church, a respect for and knowledge of the Word of God will not turn out to be great spiritual leaders of the next generation. Parents “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).
Choosing a Godly Spouse Should be High on our Checklist
In the history of some godly families there are rare occasions when a strong Christian will marry a non-Christian and eventually lead them to Christ during the course of their marriage. However, this appears to be the exception not the rule. It is especially difficult to pick an immoral spouse from a family that has had a history of godlessness and try to change them into a God-fearing spouse and parent via marriage. When Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac, he did not send him off to the rich, beautiful, or socially elite. He sent him to distant relatives because he knew they were godly people.
Once a grandmother overheard her five-year-old granddaughter “playing wedding.” The wedding vows went like this: “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say may be held against you, you have the right to have an attorney present. You may kiss the bride.” Sadly enough, this is how some marriages end all because someone thought it wise to marry a child of the Devil. Beware! If you do marry a child of the Devil, you are certain to have trouble with your father-in-law.
Selfish Ambition Brings Certain Destruction
Athaliah did not serve God, but Baal. Baal worship like new contemporary worship of today is self-centered. A true leader of God’s people cannot serve selfish ambitions and hope to please God or His people (Js. 3:16).
What is Acceptable is not Always Right
One should never confuse what is socially acceptable with what is right. It may have been acceptable for a new king to kill off all rivals to the throne. However, whatever is legal is not moral. Today abortion, gambling, pornography, etc. is legal and acceptable in parts of society. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 16:25).
God’s Will, Will Prevail
Evil objectives collapse under their own wait, God’s purposes will always come to fruition. Even the most wicked woman in the Bible could not wipe out God’s plan to save man through the seed of David. “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations” (Ps. 33:11).
– Daniel R. Vess