The Child Who Was King: The Story of Joash - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

THE CHILD WHO WAS A KING
The Story of Joash
by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards

Matthew climbed to the top of the highest slide on the
playground. "I'm the KING," he squealed with glee. As he sat on
the top laughing, Rachel gave him a gentle shove, sending him
flying down the slide. "Now I'm the QUEEN!"

Then it was Billy's turn. He climbed the steps one by one,
looking down occasionally to see how far he had come. Slowly he
reached the top and proudly proclaimed, "I'M the king!"

"YOU can't be the king," Matthew taunted. "You're too
SCARED, and, besides that, you're too SMALL. You have to be BIG
to be the king." Matthew gave Billy a mean push and sent him
swooshing down the slide before he was ready. Billy landed with a
thump in the dirt at the bottom of the slide.

Rachel saw a tear in his eye and went to help him up.

"It's just not fair. I'm too little to be the king. I'm too
little to do anything," Billy whimpered.

"Well, I don't think you are too little!" Rachel exclaimed.
"Sometimes it's GOOD to be small. You are the only one that can
crawl under the porch to get the ball when it goes under there.
Matthew and I are both too big. I am glad that you are still
small enough to help us when we need you."

* * *

"HELP ME! PLEASE help me! I need to see Jehoida the priest
right away! King Ahaziah has died and his mother is trying to
kill everyone in the family so that she will be made the queen. I
was able to grab the baby and escape, but they are following me.
You MUST help me save Joash! You MUST help me save the King!"

The priests and Levites working in the temple were
astonished to hear the horrible news and summoned Jehoida to come
listen to what the distressed woman was saying. Jehoida quickly
had a room prepared in the temple for baby Joash and his nurse,
Jehosheba. For six years they had to stay hidden in order to be
safe from the wicked Queen Athaliah.

After Joash's seventh birthday, Jehoida decided it was time
for Joash to come out of hiding.

"Bring the rulers!" he shouted. "Call for the captains and
the guard!"

When all the rulers, the captains, and the guard stood
before him in the temple, he introduced Joash as the King of
Judah.

THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THEIR EARS! They were puzzled and all
began asking questions at the same time.

"WHAT? How can THIS be the King of Judah? He is just a boy!"

"He CAN'T be the King of Judah! Athaliah made sure that the
whole family was destroyed so that SHE could be Queen."

"This is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE!"

Jehoida listened to their questions and comments, told them
the story about how Joash was saved, and assured them that he
really was the true King of Judah. Then...[pause]...he told them
his plan.

"One third of you will guard the King's house. One third of
you will guard the gate. Some of you will stand watch at the
temple, and some of you will surround the King," he ordered. "On
the Sabbath day when all the people come to worship, I will bring
out Joash, anoint him, put a crown on his head, and declare that
he is the King."

The rulers, the captains, the guards, the priests, and the
Levites waited in anticipation for the Sabbath. Finally the day
arrived. People went to the temple to worship, unaware of the
great event which was going to take place right before their
eyes.

Jehoida waited for just the right moment. Then he stood
before the people and waited for silence. "I have a very
important announcement to make," he said. At that very moment the
captains and the guard escorted Joash to the front of the group.
The people were eagerly waiting to see what was going to happen
next. They watched as Jehoida anointed him and placed the crown
on his head. "THIS IS JOASH! THIS IS YOUR NEW KING!" they heard
him exclaim triumphantly.

Immediately there was a rumble of excitement among the
crowd. The noise grew louder and louder. The people were thrilled
to see the real King crowned. "YAHWEH SAVE THE KING! YAHWEH SAVE THE
KING!" they cried at the top of their voices. They clapped their
hands and shouted for joy. The air was filled with exuberance as
they sang in celebration.

When Athaliah heard the noise of the people she went to the
temple to investigate. She was angry to see the people rejoicing.
She was angry to hear the trumpeters. And she was even FURIOUS
when she saw the boy who had been crowned King.

"TREASON! TREASON!" she shouted in rage. But Jehoida
commanded the captains and officers to capture the wicked queen
so she could be punished.

* * *

King Joash loved and respected Jehoida the priest. He wanted
to do what was right in the eyes of Yahweh and allowed Jehoida to
help him make wise decisions.

One day he noticed that the temple was in very bad shape.
The walls and the gates were crumbling and were in need of
repair.

"This is not right," he thought. "The temple of Yahweh
should be a place of beauty. It should not be falling apart.
SOMETHING must be done about this."

King Joash commanded that the money the people brought for
an offering be used for repairing the temple. Jehoida took a
chest and drilled a hole in the top. He placed the chest in the
temple near the altar so the people could place their offering in
it when they came to worship. The people, glad to give their
offerings to Yahweh, gave generously and soon the chest was
full.

Jehoida was instructed to open the chest. He took out the
money and hired many workmen to begin the repairs. The
woodcutters, carpenters, stonecutters, and masons worked together
diligently day after day to make the temple a beautiful place for
people to worship Yahweh.

* * *

THINK!

How old was Joash when he became King?
What was the most important thing King Joash did?

REMEMBER: You are never too young to serve Elohim.

A VERSE TO LEARN

"Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to the
believers" (1 Timothy 4:12a).

LET'S PRAY

****************************************************
Dear Yahweh, thank You for giving us the Bible and the
lessons we can learn from it. Help me to remember
that You have a purpose for my life, and even though
I am young, I can still love You and serve You.
In Yah'shua' Name. Amen.
****************************************************

CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
2 Kings 11 - 12 and 2 Chronicles 24

You can view this Bible story in full color with pictures and
resources to go along with the story at
http://www.childrenschapel.org/biblestories/joash.html

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