0731. Slaughter of the Seed Royal

Slaughter of the Seed Royal

"Jehoram * * slew all his brethren with the sword" (2Ch_21:4).

There were occasions when it looked like satan had accomplished his purposes in making it impossible for the Seed of the woman to be born.

After David was gathered to his fathers, the line of the Seed followed down to Mary. To be sure Mary was not the seed of David through Solomon, of the kingly line; she was of the seed of David through his son Nathan.

However, satan’s attacks seemed to have been centered upon the kingly lineage. Doubtless the devil thought the Seed would come by that line. And while Mary was of the Nathan-David lineage, Joseph was of the Solomon-David lineage, and that seed must be protected as well as the other, to insure Jesus Christ the legal right to the Davidic throne through his legal, although not actual father.

We will have space for but three of these narrow passes that marked the kingly line.

1. Jehoram became king of Israel when he was thirty-two years of age. "Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword" (2Ch_21:4). Thus only one man through whom the Seed could come was alive, and that man was corrupt, doing "that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord" (2Ch_21:6). "Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David" (2Ch_21:7).

2. In the same chapter is recorded God’s curse upon Jehoram, and how the Lord brake Judah. For the Philistines and the Arabians came upon them and carried away all of Jehoram’s substance and his sons also; "so that there was never a son left him, (Jehoram) save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons" (2Ch_21:17). This Jehoahaz, or Ahaziah as he was known, reigned in his father’s stead. His reign too, was evil and he died like his father.

Thus Jehoram and Ahaziah were each in turn the only men on earth through whom the kingly line could proceed.

3. When Ahaziah was dead, then Athaliah in her anger arose and "destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah" (2Ch_22:10). Yet not all: but all save one. Satan doubtless thought the promise was made void, even as Athaliah thought all the seed royal were dead–but the next verse says: "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 * * hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years" (2Ch_22:11-12). During these six years the kingly line hung on the thread of one little life; and yet that life was safe, for God protected it with omnipotency.

Thus, thrice, satan seemed to have conquered, and yet, thrice, God kept one "seed" alive and made sure His eternal decrees.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR