A Tale of Two Women...

Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. 12 And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.—2 Chronicles 21:10-12

One evil woman, Athaliah, seeks to destroy God’s kingdom by putting out the lamp of David in Judah and setting up for herself and her posterity a kingdom.  Perhaps intending, as Matthew Henry says, to transmit the crown of Judah after herself to some of her own relations, that though her family was cut off in Israel by Jehu it might be planted in Judah.   One good woman, Jehoshabeath, seeks to preserve God’s kingdom by saving Ahaziah’s youngest son, Joash, from being murdered and hiding him away in the house of God for six years.  God’s word does not return void.  Not a jot or tittle will be left unfulfilled.  Good overcame evil...Joash became king at the ripe old age of seven and Athaliah was executed.   God used one good woman whose heart was for Him to establish His word.  

Father...Give me a courageous and loving heart like Jehoshabeath that desires to do Your will and not my own.  May I be a woman after Your own heart whose hands and heart edify and encourage Your people desiring only their good and Your glory. The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. This precious woman was truly like the one spoken of in Proverbs 31:31. 

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates.

 Even today, her works are still praising her in the gates!  

Through wisdom a house is built,

And by understanding it is established;

By knowledge the rooms are filled

With all precious and pleasant riches.—Proverbs 24:3-4