There are people throughout history who want power so badly that they will kill in order to get it. Today, we will discuss one of those characters. Athaliah, queen of Judah, reigned from 841-835 BC. She was one of many evil people who reigned over Israel and Judah throughout history. She is unique because she is the only woman to reign on David’s throne. Athalia’s parents were King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. She was married to Jehoram who was the oldest son of King Jehoshophat from Judah. 

Jehoram was an evil king and died in 841 BC. Their son, Ahaziah, then became king. Athaliah advised him on his evil plans. He was assassinated within his first year on the throne. What happened next should send chills down your spine. Athalia had the entire royal family killed. Her story begins in 2 Kings 11:1,  “Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family.” She killed Ahaziah’s sons—her very own grandchildren. Let that sink in for a moment.  As a grandma myself, that is an entirely different kind of evil. She had her eyes on the throne and removed all the men in her way. 

However, her plan was not without flaws. We pick up her story in 2 Kings 11:2-3, “But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. 3 And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the LORD, while Athaliah reigned over the land.” 

Much like the story of Moses, one heir was saved and hidden for seven years. (More about that next week.)

Athaliah used her influence to further her wicked practices of Baal worship. Www.Gotquestions puts it like this: As queen, Athaliah used her influence to further establish Baal worship in Judah, installing priests and building altars for her idol in the very temple of the Lord (2 Kings 11:18; 2 Chronicles 24:7). In this way Athaliah followed the footsteps of her mother, Jezebel. Interestingly, the name Athaliah means either “God is exalted” or “dealt violently with by God.” Queen Athaliah did not exalt God with her life; instead, God dealt violently with her.” 

Sew

We pick up the story in 2 Kings 11:12-16,  “Then he brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!” 13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the LORD to the people. 14 And when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” 16 So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses’ entrance to the king’s house, and there she was put to death.”

We can learn from Athaliah’s example. She is a textbook case of what happens when someone is blinded by power. Unfortunately we still see people today who do many evil things because of power and influence. It matters what you allow to have space in your brain. 

Matthew 6:24 is a great reminder.  “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

It’s pretty simple. You cannot serve God and anything else. Do you seek the Lord’s way or your own way?