Second Chronicles 24 Commentary
Joash’s reign can be divided into two parts. In the first part, he is under the tutorage of the godly priest Jehoiada. He is described as a good king during these years. Without Jehoiada, Joash is a wicked king. It is in the second part that the LORD pronounces judgment on Joash.
In the first part, good King Joash repairs the temple. In the second part, the now wicked King Joash desecrates the same temple. He kills the prophet of the LORD right in the courtyard of the house of the LORD.
It should be a simple lesson: with good guidance, Joash is a good person; and with bad guidance, Joash is a bad person. This is the simple message of the gospel. The man Jesus Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, now calls out to the saint to come and learn from the good master.
Jehoiada was never going to be a permanent presence in Joash’s life. But the man Jesus lives eternally to always help and guide the saint. In the man Jesus Christ, we see the original and intended shape of our lives. We have perfect guidance.
Joash’s transformation is very interesting.
Could it be the case of a pastor’s son who is raised never to look at option B? He had grown up under the watchful eye of pastor Jehoiada, at the parsonage. No. Each man must define his own destiny by the decisions he makes, regardless of the circumstances.
A man has abused his chances when he becomes wicked, having grown up from a godly family. This is Joash’s case. A man has abused his chances when he becomes wicked, having seen all the evils from the wicked environment he has grown up in. None of us has an excuse good enough to warrant wickedness within.
And the prophet Zechariah, son of the High Priest Jehoiada? Well, he paid with his life for delivering the message of the LORD to the wicked king. Saints are mistaken when they always expect a red carpet for carrying and delivering the word of the LORD.
Many have experienced a sense of shame, isolation, discrimination, rejection, ridicule, missing out, or even economic loss because they have held on to the word of the LORD. This is part of the decision to follow Jesus.
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