The Land Had Rest

So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword. II Chronicles 23:21 (English Standard Version, ESV)

This speaks of the death of Athaliah and the rejoicing that occurred as a result. Who was Athaliah and why did the people rejoice at her death? Let’s go back to the previous chapter to see.

And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly…. Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death. And he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land. II Chronicles 22:1-3, 10-12 (English Standard Version, ESV) emphasis mine

Athaliah was daughter of Omri, who was an evil king of Israel, the son of the wicked king Ahab and his evil wife Jezebel. That means Athaliah was the granddaughter of Ahab and Jezebel. She descended from very wicked people, and she herself was very wicked. When her son, the king, died, she stole the throne. She was not appointed or elected. Instead, she was a usurper who secured the throne for herself by killing the royal family. She ruled for six years. While this was going on, Joash, the rightful king, was hidden away in the house of God for protection. Then he was brought out, and Jehoiada, the priest, had Athaliah executed.

Consider the parallel to this day and time. As our rightful president is hidden in God, evil seems to be ruling. However, he will be brought out in the open and evil doers are being taken out. Everyone will see the true leader, just as they did in the time of Joash. There will be shouting and celebration, for evil will be brought down. What once terrorized our land will be no more. Evil is being dethroned and done away with. We will rejoice as our rightful leaders, those who have a heart for righteous rule, take their place.

So all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was at rest. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword. II Chronicles, 23:21 (New American Standard Bible, NASB)

The people will rejoice. Our cities will have peace after evildoers are eradicated. We will rebuild and be stronger, better, and wiser to protect what we have regained. Thus, we will see the land have rest.