2 Chronicles 23:16 Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the Lord’s people.

This is one of the more dramatically violent revivals recorded in the Bible, but it was indeed a revival. (Elijah on Mt. Carmel also comes to mind.) Joash, the king mentioned here, was just seven years old at the time, so he actually had very little to do with it. Jehoiada, the high priest in this verse, was the “mover and shaker” in this drama, and the necessity of reform is very clear from what is recorded, with a “house of Baal” right there in Jerusalem. Athaliah, the “villain” in this story, was Joash’s grandmother. It is very tempting to draw all sorts of parallels between this account and the current US political situation, but that would quickly become overblown. What we can do is recognize that government is not totally separated from religion, despite all the protestations of “separation of Church and State,” which take a statement by Thomas Jefferson completely out of context. If those in charge of civil government don’t recognize that God is real and in charge of everything, all sorts of aberrations appear. Going back to the Old Testament record, it is clear that for revival to be lasting, it has to extend throughout society. As it turned out, Joash was very weak, and once Jehoiada died he was quickly turned away from the Lord. As Paul told us, we are certainly to pray for those in government leadership, (1 Timothy 2:1-2) but we should pray for those around us, including our families and even ourselves, to have hearts open and committed to the Lord. America isn’t a monarchy but rather a democratic republic, a form of governance that didn’t exist in Biblical times. If the people are dedicated to God, they will elect representatives who are likewise faithful, and everything will be in right order. There are countless ways that can break down, so prayer and personal faithfulness are essential.

I hadn’t expected to write on this, and many people wouldn’t consider it “spiritual” at all. However, our relationship with God colors every aspect of our life, whether we recognize it or not. Human beings are fallible by definition, and opinions are all over the place. I am not to cut anyone off because of their opinions, but I am to speak the truth in love and pray that I and those I relate to may be increasingly open to God’s truth, not in pride but in humility.

Father, thank You for this reminder. These are tumultuous times, but then, much of history has been this way. Help me keep my eyes on You, and on Christ Jesus my Lord, so that I may be useful to You in Your rule and reign being established as Your will is done, even as it is in heaven, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Hallelujah!