The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 24:2,
"Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest."
Here is an interesting observation: as long as King Joash had the wonderful priest Jehoiada with him, Joash "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord". Joash listened to Jehoiada and even allowed him to pick wives for him, verse 3. However, when Joash no longer had Jehoiada in his life, Joash went downhill.
Where Joash had the temple repaired and insured the burnt offerings to the Lord took place appropriately, as soon as Jehoida died, he abandoned the temple of the Lord and the Lord himself. He turned to the worship of Asherah poles and idols.
The Lord sent prophets to warn Joash, to no avail. Joash would not listen to the Lord. Even when Jehoiada's son, Zechariah, came with a prophetic message from the Lord saying the Lord had abandoned Joash and his cohorts because they had abandoned the Lord, Joash had him stoned in the temple courtyard.
The influence of the godly priest Jehoiada on King Joash was profound. Without that influence in his life, the depth of depravity Joash slipped to was equally profound. A key comment I find in the account is in verse 17, "After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them." Thus began the devolution of King Joash. Where Joash had the godly influence of Jehoiada early in is reign as king, following Jehoiada's death, Joash chose to align himself with the wicked among the officials of Judah.
It was a choice Joash made, an unfortunate and horrific choice, resulting in the Lord removing Joash, "Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash." Verse 24b.
I am reminded of a proverb that might have helped King Joash, "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20. Had Joash aligned himself with Jehoiada's son Zechariah, following Jehoiada's death, I suspect things may have ended completely differently for Joash.
"Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest."
Here is an interesting observation: as long as King Joash had the wonderful priest Jehoiada with him, Joash "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord". Joash listened to Jehoiada and even allowed him to pick wives for him, verse 3. However, when Joash no longer had Jehoiada in his life, Joash went downhill.
Where Joash had the temple repaired and insured the burnt offerings to the Lord took place appropriately, as soon as Jehoida died, he abandoned the temple of the Lord and the Lord himself. He turned to the worship of Asherah poles and idols.
The Lord sent prophets to warn Joash, to no avail. Joash would not listen to the Lord. Even when Jehoiada's son, Zechariah, came with a prophetic message from the Lord saying the Lord had abandoned Joash and his cohorts because they had abandoned the Lord, Joash had him stoned in the temple courtyard.
The influence of the godly priest Jehoiada on King Joash was profound. Without that influence in his life, the depth of depravity Joash slipped to was equally profound. A key comment I find in the account is in verse 17, "After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them." Thus began the devolution of King Joash. Where Joash had the godly influence of Jehoiada early in is reign as king, following Jehoiada's death, Joash chose to align himself with the wicked among the officials of Judah.
It was a choice Joash made, an unfortunate and horrific choice, resulting in the Lord removing Joash, "Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash." Verse 24b.
I am reminded of a proverb that might have helped King Joash, "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20. Had Joash aligned himself with Jehoiada's son Zechariah, following Jehoiada's death, I suspect things may have ended completely differently for Joash.
Which, of course, brings to mind what we learn from such an account. We all have the freedom to choose who we "hang with". How wise are the choices we make in that regard?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment