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2 Kings 11 – But It’s My Day Off
“Do Nothing Days”. That is what we called family days where everyone was off-duty. No chores, and especially no “mom-do stuff.” Hungry? Feed yourself. Some, and I won’t mention names, stayed in their pajamas all day. Then as a family, we had movie marathons.
For the people of Israel, later called Jews, they had a weekly day off. This particular Sabbath is 6 years after Athaliah usurps the throne, having murdered the heirs – that is if she had other sons plus grandsons. One escaped by a divine hand through a daughter married to a priest. He was hidden for 6 years in the temple. This Sabbath is when he will be revealed. His name is Joash.
But this devotional is not about the treasonous Queen, or even Joash. It’s not even about the priests. In the 7th year the priest Jehoiada will reveal an heir survived. He sends for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards (2 Kings 11:4). He makes a covenant with them: “A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the king’s palace. A third are to be at the Foundation gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace. Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the Lord’s temple” (2 Kings 11:5-6).
Did you notice that little insignificant phrase, “off duty”? It was their day off. This day off they worked. I like day’s off. But one thing we need to remember is this: This scene foreshadows another king who was killed, but not destroyed. King Jesus is revealed through us every day. When it comes to Jesus, we never take a day off.
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