Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 23:1 (New Living Translation)

1 In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest summoned his courage and made a pact with five army commanders: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri.

This is part of the (hi)story of the kings and rulers of Judah. There are many names here that confuse the story as I try to pronounce them. Let’s set those aside for a moment.

Athaliah is a woman who is ruling Judah. This isn’t legal, but it is quite advantageous for her. Jehoiada is a priest who is just and righteous and loyal to God and God’s promises and prophesies. Jehoiada has been hiding a small boy named Joash. Evil queen Athaliah had killed all the men in line to be the rightful ruler of Judah. She, however, missed one—baby Joash. Joash was now seven years old. Joash was now old enough, in the eyes of Jehoiada, to become king.

If this all sounds like fairy tales and movie scripts, that is because writers of fairy tales and movie scripts stole the idea from this Old Testament history. Yes, the history is true. Those stories and movies were works of fiction whose basis was borrowed from the Bible.

Hollywood aside, note the first step taken by Jehoiada the priest: he summoned his courage. This was a life-and-death situation. Jehoiada is right in what he does. Right, however, does not always work. It often leads to death. Jehoiada had a good life. He was risking everything to be righteous. That was not easy.

Summoning his courage—what does that mean? Well, the courage was there all along. It needed to be summoned, to be pulled up from the depths and be a resource for action. Without courage at hand, Jehoiada would not act. Therefore, he called his courage and used it.

The courage is there. My courage is there. How often do I summon it and act? Please God, help me in my unbelief.