Today's Reading: 2 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 24; Psalm 50
Joash became king at 7 years old, and reigned for 40 years. Most of that time, he reigned very well, including a repair project in the temple. But very early on we get a hint at what is to come when the scriptures tell us, "And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest" (24:2).
Jehoiada had been so good to Joash, adopting and raising him in the temple so that he wouldn't be murdered by Athaliah. And when Joash became king, Jehoiada advised him, so that he enacted reforms in Judah to turn the people back to God.
But it did not continue. Jehoiada finally died, and he was celebrated as one who had done good in Israel. "Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs" (24:17-18).
It is disturbing that Joash could forget God so easily once Jehoiada was gone, but his departure is so great that when Jehoiada's son prophesies that this is wrong, Joash has him stoned to death. Soon after, the Syrians attack the city and wound Joash. As he is recovering, his own servants conspire against him and kill him.
The legacy of Joash is that as long as he had the good man to help him serve God, he was a good king. When Jehoiada died, Joash departed from God, and his end is another miserable chapter in the history of God's people.
Joash became king at 7 years old, and reigned for 40 years. Most of that time, he reigned very well, including a repair project in the temple. But very early on we get a hint at what is to come when the scriptures tell us, "And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest" (24:2).
Jehoiada had been so good to Joash, adopting and raising him in the temple so that he wouldn't be murdered by Athaliah. And when Joash became king, Jehoiada advised him, so that he enacted reforms in Judah to turn the people back to God.
But it did not continue. Jehoiada finally died, and he was celebrated as one who had done good in Israel. "Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs" (24:17-18).
It is disturbing that Joash could forget God so easily once Jehoiada was gone, but his departure is so great that when Jehoiada's son prophesies that this is wrong, Joash has him stoned to death. Soon after, the Syrians attack the city and wound Joash. As he is recovering, his own servants conspire against him and kill him.
The legacy of Joash is that as long as he had the good man to help him serve God, he was a good king. When Jehoiada died, Joash departed from God, and his end is another miserable chapter in the history of God's people.