Bible Studies
Jehoash Unfaithful In the End (2 Kings 12; 2 Chron. 24)
Series: Studies in Second KingsIntroduction:
1. Review the chart on the Kings. 2. In the previous study Jehoida the priest was leading Jehoash (Joash) the young king of Judah to be loyal to the Lord. 3. In Israel Jehu was king. 4. This study continues to follow Jehoash of Judah. 5. Reading of 2 Kings 12:1-3.a. Thus Jehoash’s life is summarized that “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.”
b. We are left wondering what happened when Jehoiada died? Will Jehoash continue his loyalty to God or will he become unfaithful?
c. There is a caveat or cautionary detail in the summary of Jehoash’s reign and that is that “the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” Evidently they were worshiping the Lord at these high places. These were probably worship places formerly associated with Canaanite idolatry (cf. 2 Kings 17:11). Israel was supposed to be worshiping God in Jerusalem.
Discussion:
I. Jehoash instituted a policy for repairing the temple (2 Kings 12:4ff).A. The influence of Baal worship may have contributed to the temple being in a state of disrepair.
B. Evidently, Jehoash instituted his policy in the earlier part of his reign, but in the 23rd year of his reign the priests had not repaired the temple.
C. When Jehoash followed up on his project he found that the priests had been collecting funds for the project, but had not done the work. Why did Jehoida and the priests allow such a delay?
1. Did they just not want to spend good money on a mere building?
2. Were they taking the money for themselves?
3. Did they have a “more noble” objective for its use? Ex. care for widows?
4. Were they just lax in their responsibility?
5. Had they just been through a “depression” and were now afraid to spend the money? Previously Baal worship had been prominent and contributions to the temple might have been diminished. Now that they were coming in they might have been “saving up for a rainy day.”
6. Whatever the circumstances, Jehoash took the reins and more tightly supervised the project.
D. The money was collected by the king’s scribe and the high priest and weighed out into the hands of those who did the work (2 Kings 12:10-12).
1. These were more faithful than the priests had been.
2. Those who had the oversight of the house of the Lord paid the construction workers.
3. The money was used to pay workers, but not for silver cups, vessels of gold and silver (13). (Was this where the priests had stalled earlier? Was there disagreement among them on how the money should be spent?)
4. Those who paid the workers acted faithfully.
E. Our King has given us specific instruction regarding the construction of His house.
1. He has called for a collection on the first day of every week (1 Cor. 16:1-2).
2. Such collections are to be given purposefully. He has defined what the funds are to be used for—teaching and caring for needy saints (Phil. 4:15; Gal. 6:6-8).
3. He has defined how we are to give (2 Cor. 9:7: “Each must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”)
4. We need to fulfill the work God has given us to do, not just collect the funds.
5. We need to act faithfully using the funds for the purpose defined by the King.
II. Jehoash listened to other counselors after Jehoida died and abandoned the house of the Lord and served the Asherim and the idols (2 Chron. 24:17-19).A. It makes such a difference who your counselor is!
1. Are those you are listening to counseling you in the way of the Lord?
2. Or are they encouraging you to abandon the house of the Lord?
B. God sent prophets (plural) to bring them back, but they would not listen to them.
1. God’s graciousness is evident. He did not immediately annihilate them.
2. He sent prophets! Not one but more.
3. Zechariah, the son of Jehoida the priest, asked, “Why do you transgress the commandment of God?”
4. He was stoned to death at Jehoash’s command.
5. Jehoash stoned the son of Jehoida!? They had grown up together. Jehoash forgot all the kindness that Jehoida had shown to him.
6. Zechariah said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”
C. Jehoash has made a radical turn!
III. The Lord responded by using the Arameans to invade and destroy Judah (2 Chron. 24:23-27).A. You may recall that when Elisha had appointed Hazael king of the Arameans that he wept. He said, “I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel: their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword, and their little ones you will dash in pieces, and their women with child you will rip up” (2 Kings 8:12).
B. Evidently, Hazael was bought off for a time (2 Kings 12:17ff).
C. Yet ultimately, because Judah had forsaken the Lord judgment was executed against Jehoash.
1. He was murdered on his bed.
2. He was not buried in the tombs of the kings.
3. The author of Chronicles mentions that there were many oracles against him.
Conclusion:
1. The message of Jehoash’s life should be plain to us. We need to follow the counsel of the Lord all the way to the end of our life. 2. Ezekiel said, “When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to the abominations that a wicked man does will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed; for them he will die” (18:24). 3. Ezekiel continued, “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions. Cast away all your transgressions and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord. Therefore repent and live” (18:30-32). 4. Have you turned away from the Lord? Repent and live!
