In the Nick of Time
Today’s Verse:
But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. 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 slew him not. ~2 Chronicles 22:11
Have you ever done something in the nick of time? By this, I am referring to helping to prevent someone else from falling into danger. Someone who was trapped in the wilderness, near drowning, or in a burning building will tell those who came to their aid,“You came in the nick of time.” This morning, let us see how Jehoshabeath came to the help of young baby boy named Joash in the nick of time.
She was royal.
The first thing we see is that she was the daughter of king Jehoram. She was a member of the royal court. She was the recipient of first call treatment. She had wealth and privilege at her disposal. Let us remember that we are children of the greatest King of the universe. We are children of the King of kings and Lord of lords. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. As a child of the King, I am privileged to enter into the presence of a King Qho desires to meet my every need. Let us be careful to not be neglectful of the blessed privilege of being children of the King.
She was righteous.
Jehoshabeath lived in a kingdom where her brother and sister-in-law led the kingdom into wicked idol worship and rebellion against God. Her brother, Ahaziah, was a puppet king. It was his wife, Athaliah, who pulled the strings and dictated the evil that was going on in the kingdom. In spite of the pressures she faced, Jehoshabeath was a righteous woman. She feared God and His Word. She was married to the priest Jehoiada and had a godly home. She and her husband lived for God in a country where God’s name was hated and despised. “The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit” (Proverbs 12:5). She thought right things and as a result, her life was virtuous and godly.
She led a rescue.
“But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber.” After her husband died at the hands of Jehu, Athaliah quickly put to death all of the king’s sons. She wanted the throne for herself and did not want an heir of the king to have it. Jehoshabeath anticipated this treachery and single-handedly “stole” and hid the youngest son, Joash, from Athaliah. She heroically snatched Joash and his nurse, and she hid them in a bedchamber in the house of God. She determined that a madwoman would not kill this baby boy and future heir. She came to the aid of the helpless Joash in the nick of time.
She is a representation.
Jehoshabeath is a picture of the fruit of the righteous. Joash is a picture of a sinner whom the devil wants to destroy. Jehoshabeath is a picture of the faithful soulwinner who boldly comes at the nick of time and saves the sinner with fear, “hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Like Jehoshabeath, we must be sensitive to the urgency of the moment, be soul conscious, and valiantly rescue sinners from going to Hell. We must bring them to Jesus for the salvation of their souls. Her valiant effort allowed Joash to live and be prepared for being the next king. Be ready to act in the nick of time.
Have an inspired God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Proverbs 13-15