"And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16 ESV
God's word is being fulfilled even when it looks like it has failed.
Athaliah was the mother of a king. She was also a dangerous and conniving woman. When Ahaziah--her son and the King of Judah--was killed, Athaliah wasted no time in in eliminating any competitors from the throne. Why? She wanted to rule.
Athaliah proceeds to destroy all the royal family. The line of David seems to come to an end . . . or does it? Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram takes Joash the son of Ahaziah, and hides him -- for six years. Here is the biblical account:
1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family.2 But Jehosheba, 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 put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death.3 And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land. 2 Kings 11:1-3 ESV
Were you or I standing on the sidelines at that moment of history there is little doubt that our confidence in God would be at an all-time low. Six years is more than 2,100 days. Imagine hearing for 2,100 days that God's word had failed, that it wasn't true after all, that he reneged on his promise to David, and that the Davidic Kingdom had ended. You might begin to doubt God and to doubt his word.
Then in the distance you hear a tremendous commotion and the sound of loud cheers. The rumor mill starts churning. First one friend reports the unbelievable, then another runs past you and in wide-eyed excitement shouts, "It is true! There is still a son of David on the throne!" You think, "That's impossible! They were all killed. We all saw it with our own eyes." But it is not impossible for there he is, just seven years old, surrounded by the guards of the king's house. Joash is anointed as king.
Then you see a second commotion. Athaliah is dragged through the streets--kicking and screaming--as she is hauled away to her own execution.
You stand there mouth agape in awe of God and his word. As you are taking it all in the words told and retold from Joshua's day come to mind:
Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. Joshua 21:45 ESV
God's promises always come true because God's Word is true -- no matter how many people proclaim the contrary, no matter how many days pass with the promise in doubt.
When it comes to God there are no broken promises. Rest in that.