SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 23
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone shouted, “Long live the king!” [2 Chronicles 23:11]
In this chapter we see an anticipation of what God will do when Jesus comes.
One day, while evil reigns, God’s Messiah will appear to restore His kingdom, in the company of those who remained loyal to Him against the tide of sin and immorality.
This will be a day of great celebration for those who have been oppressed under cruel, immoral authorities, a day when they finally celebrate the coming the king, the promised Messiah!
Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” [Matthew 21:8-9]

When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, “Treason! Treason!” [2 Chronicles 23:13]
It will not be a day of celebration for those that reject God and resist His will.
It will be the beginning of the end for them; they will be afraid and angry, but they cannot stop it.
God’s kingdom of peace and morality is coming, and one day those who longed for it will finally see it coming while those that resisted and opposed it will tear their clothes in indignation and despair!
The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.” But the leaders were indignant. [Matthew 21:15]

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. And all the people went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. [2 Chronicles 23:16-17]
Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” [Matthew 21:12-13]
The first act of the restored kingdom under Joash was the cleansing of the land.
When Jesus came, revealed in the temple on several occasions, He also began the purification process.
This act in the temple on that day was symbolic of a much greater cleansing; He is cleansing the temples of our hearts, making us worthy “homes” for God to live in.
It is sin within us that ruins God’s world, and our experience of it.
God has to clean house in order to restore His kingdom.

This is seen in the ascent of Joash to the throne of David; this is seen in the ascent of Jesus to the throne of heaven.
God is still restoring His kingdom, removing His enemies, and cleaning His house!
Am I cooperating or resisting the Son of David?

PRAYER:
Lord, this needs to be very practical for me. You want to be Lord in my heart and life; You want to clean out my heart from the remnants of sin and immorality. Help me not to resist You but to surrender and support You!