Usurp

 

    Usurp is a strange word to me.  It just doesn't role off the tongue.  It doesn't seem to fit well into any sentence, yet it has a purpose.  Usurp means to seize or take hold by force without the right.  It is a word with a powerful purpose, but it is not a good word.  It goes along with rebellion, but makes everything uglier.

    King Ahaziah was the only surviving son of Jehoram.  He would have never become king under normal circumstances.  He was not prepared to lead and have power.  It was never supposed to be his role.  The only reason he had it is because the Arabs killed all his other brothers.  

    Ahaziah was 22 when he became king.  He was barely a man yet and only reigned for one year.  He did evil under the influence of his mother, Athaliah.  His advisors led him down an evil path of destruction.  They advised him to join Joram, Ahab's son, to fight against Aram.  Joram was wounded and became ill.   

    When Ahaziah went to visit Joram in his illness, it led to his downfall.  Joram and Ahaziah went to visit Jehu whom was appointed by God to kill Ahab's family.  They were both killed as Jehu executed God's judgment.     

    There was now no one to sit on the throne in Judah.  Ahaziah's mother was a deadly terror in her vengeance.  She was the usurp that took the throne because women were not allowed to rule, but she declared she was the ruler.  She killed all the male heirs and only Joash survived her wrath.  He was a baby and he survived because his aunt hid him away for six years in God's temple.  This is one place the queen mother never went.  

2 Chronicles 22