We look around us and wonder. “Has there ever been such a time as this?” Evil invades everything around us. Our life overwhelmed with trials. Yet, is it really that different than before. Oh certainly with all the modern technology, we know so much in seconds of time. News speeds so quickly we cannot assimilate it before the next cycle begins. Yes, we know that evil will wax worse, and sorrows abound before the rapture. Immediately followed by the worst days of all in the end times. However, it has been pretty awful before like in Noah’s day or Sodom and Gomorrah. What about the years of the Kings in Israel? Is it that different? We must learn from the faithful in those days. Only then we really make the right choices in life to Honor God. This in spite of living in a world such as this.
The books of Kings and Chronicles there is outlined the history of the Kings of Israel and the Kings of Judah. Now what a messed-up bunch of humanity grabbling for power, prestige, money, and position. There are stories of how they get so involved in idol worship, false doctrines, wars, and even family disputes. All the way through, God sends his prophets to warn them. But no one seems to listen for long. Yet, in His grace, God holds fast with His promise to these His chosen people. One day the Messiah returns. He comes from the line of David. And all the world are blessed with His offer of salvation. From the promise given to Adam and Eve of a Savior through to today, God remains faithful. He completes every promise. That in spite of so few people making the right choices in Life to Honor God.
A Tale of Kings
Even before Kings were designated, God had warned the people that Kings are not the best of rulers. At times they abuse their power. They use the money and the labor of the people. At times, people will follow after the King, believing he is the solution they need. Only to find the one they trusted lead them farther away from the only true help. God alone is the one whom they could trust. If only they would believe, trust Him, and make the right choices in life to Honor God. Then their lives could be filled with hope, peace, and joy. But alas, such as we people are, we wander far from Him. Yet we cannot understand why life has gotten so hard. Never do we believe the truth. It is our fault.
Afterall, it is such a broken world we live in. As the Kingdom divided following Solomon’s reign, these trials and sorrows even worsened. No nation can stand for long once divided.
During the years, there were a few good Kings that would bring revival. We will this week look at one who is named Joash.
Did the Kings make the Right Choices to Honor God?
Of the Kings, you may see by the chart that the majority of the Kings were evil leading the people further and further into idolatry. This was worse in the Northern Kingdom of Israel; however, also leaked over into the Southern Tribes of Judah.
In particular, King Jehoram (also called Joram) of Judah married the daughter of Jezebel and King Ahab of Israel. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were the evilest of all. They promoted the worship of Baal and made life miserable for the true worshippers of God. Well Queen Athaliah followed closely in the footsteps of her mother. After her husband died, her son Ahaziah became King. This was good for the queen mother who ruled through him.
10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah. 11 But [h]Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. 12 And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land. 2 Chronicles 22 NKJV
IN OTHER WORDS
So, in other words, she tried to kill all her grandchildren so she could remain in power. The underlying Satanic plot was to destroy the line from which the Messiah was foretold. As though Satan thought all along, he might succeed one day in destroying God’s plan.
We cannot outdo the palace intrigue of old. Note, the wife of the priest Jehoiada who raised Joash was actually her daughter. Probably because he was only one year old, she may not have ever even noticed him being born.
Queen Athaliah ruled the kingdom of Judah for 6 years.
#1 Courage to make the Right Choices in life to Honor God
23 In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds…they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David.
4 This is what you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall be keeping watch over the doors; 5 one-third shall be at the king’s house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. 6 But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. 7 And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.” 2 chronicles 23:
True Courage
It took courage to stand; but that courage as you note came from knowing the Lord has said. He is the courage needed. We must know His word and that is our sword to stand courageously. And so, with great courage they crowned the new King Joash surrounded by sword bearing Levites and priests to keep him safe.
And the Queen?
Well, she heard the commotion and came to declare, “Treason, treason” It was an insurrection of sorts in her mind. But she fled to the stables, where she was pursued and killed.
#2 Must Cleanse from Evil to Make the Right Choices to Honor God
16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people. 17 And all the people went to the [b]temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David. 19 And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter. 2 Chronicles 23
It is absolutely necessary to cleanse away the sin. For us it is to lay it at the feet of the cross, to leave it there with sincerity of heart. Oh, a day when we are drawn aside, we may wander again. How often does God forgive? More than I can count; but He looks upon the heart. We may come with a broken and contrite heart to Him as often as needed.
#3 Right Counsel is Needed to Make the Right Choices to Honor God
Jehoash (Joash) [a] became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 But the [b]high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4 And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the Lord—each man’s census[c] money, each man’s assessment money—and all the money that [d]a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the Lord, 5 let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the [e]damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.” 2 Kings 12
Adult Choices to Honor God
He did learn well, because at the age of 30 he realized the temple was still in shambles and nothing had been repaired. Jehoiada was quite old by then and perhaps had been more complacent. The task needed to be done; but somehow the money never got directed to the temple repairs. So, King Joash devised a more secure plan and set up a giving box at the door of the Temple which was secured and brought to the treasurer each day. Then the King hired the carpenters, contractors and all who were needed to finish the task.
Unfortunately, after Jehoiada died, the King had some very poor counselors to follow. This led to the breaking of the peace within the Kingdom of Judah.
2 Chronicles 24:
15 But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. 18 Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. 19 Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.
20 Then the Spirit of God [a]came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’ ” 21 So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his [b]father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, “The Lord look on it, and repay!”
#4: One Must Always Remember God is a Just God to make the Right Choices in life to Honor God
23 So it happened in the spring of the year that the army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their [c]spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the Lord delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.
So they executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the [d]sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died. And they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 2 Chronicles 24
Conclusions
We cannot become complacent in our own lives either, listening to the wrong crowds and ignoring, “Thus says the Lord.”
Nevertheless, God will accomplish all that He has planned. The Question is are we willing to have the courage, the faith, and the fortitude to make the right choices in life to honor God.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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