September 4, 2022

Now when Athaliah heard the noise (joyful shouts and clapping) of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD. 2 Kings 11:13     

Athaliah, in her position of usurped authority, came directly to the people in the temple of the LORD. She had been occupying her position for six years. Satan has been occupying his position of usurped authority for six thousand years. And, yes, he works directly with people of God in his campaign against God.

When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!” (v.14)

It is Satan’s intension to make true worship and obedience to the word of the Lord look evil, wrong, legalistic, and/or treasonous. Notice that Athaliah tore her clothes. This gesture by religious people was exercised when something truly tragic had occurred. This is a clue that Satan’s work in the world is garbed with religiosity and piety; a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Satan has so deeply implanted his array of errors among God’s people that to stand against any one of them is perceived by the majority as treason against God’s kingdom. This phenomenon is steadily intensifying in these last days as his short time grows ever shorter.

And Jehoiada the priest commanded . . . “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” (v.15)

Each of us still has opportunity to identify and slay every false doctrine and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Our weapon for slaying is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Everyone has unwittingly followed the evil one and the time is now to rid ourselves of every vestige of his influence in our lives. The Lord is merciful and gracious to extend our opportunity for repentance of every false way. And He is the One who is able to sanctify and cleanse us thoroughly. Won’t you yield to His loving invitation?

And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly broke in pieces its altars and images . . . So all the people of the land rejoiced. (v.18a, 20a)

For everyone who allows the cleansing of their temple by King Jesus, a never-ending day of rejoicing in His city is coming! The apostle John was shown:

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). Revelation 21:23-25