2 Kings 11:1 When Athaliah (Afflicted of the Lord) the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs. 2 But Jehosheba (Jehovah has sworn) the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. 3 So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Joash, the soon-to-be king was hidden by Our Heavenly Father for six years while “affliction” reigned over the land. As Kemper mentioned in our weekly Bible study, success is preceded by many failures. Why? So we can see and compare the right way to do things once we have seen how we shouldn’t operate or proceed. Thus a life of failures often prepares you for success in your calling. Being afflicted of the LORD is not necessarily just a judgment, but can be a time of training to prepare you to walk upright before THE LORD.
The land of Judah was being afflicted. I am sure the people were growing weary of being ruled by someone who caused turmoil, strife, and confusion. Even while the affliction was taking place, Our Heavenly Father’s plan was being implemented. Joash had to be prepared to become king. He was hidden in the house of THE LORD for six years. In this case, “six” represents the number of man’s defiance and disorder. Why was he hidden in the house of THE LORD? It was the perfect place for no one would look there. The temple of Baal was where all the worship was taking place. Joash was “raised from among the dead” to be used by Our Heavenly Father.
4 In the seventh year Jehoiada ("Jehovah knows") sent and brought the captains of hundreds—of the bodyguards and the escorts—and brought them into the house of the LORD to him. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son. 5 Then he commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall do: One-third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king’s house, 6 one-third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down
Joash was now to become king in the seventh year, the year of rest. Jehoiada split those who were called to be a part of plan into three groups, similar to Gideon’s army when they defeated the Midianites.
12 And he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”
After six years of preparation, Joash was crowned, given The Law, proclaimed king, then anointed. It was time for the end of affliction. The ones who are called have been prepared to come forth and end the affliction that is all around us. The callings of those being hidden, only until the time of being raised up, are to be anointed with power and authority for they are “given by the Lord”. Those who enslave and afflict are only allowed to rule until the righteous ones are fully prepared to rule. Until then the righteous ones are hidden away in the House of THE LORD.
13 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD. 14 When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.
Just as Gideon had the army blow the trumpets, Joash was announced by trumpets. The pillar was the Stone of Jacob, Jacob’s Pillar, the Stone of Destiny. In Genesis 28, Jacob had a dream about the Gate of Heaven while laying his head on this very stone. The called the place of the dream Bethel- House of THE LORD.
17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people, and also between the king and the people.18 And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
In order for the affliction to be completely removed, the temple of Baal and its contents had to be thoroughly removed. Our idols as well must be thoroughly removed in order for our affliction to end. There will be suffering in our flesh as our idols are removed but afterwards we will experience our Sabbath rest. The trumpets will blow.