Year One, December 11

It Is Good for the Heart to Be Strengthened by Grace1

2 Chronicles 24:2; 15-25

2And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

But Joash was not motivated by love to God. He did things to please Jehoiada, the man who had helped him to the throne. The religious party had put the crown on his head and so as long as they were in power he followed their wishes. But when the idolaters became strong he went over to their side. The person who goes whichever way the wind blows will change direction when it does. It is very important to be guided by clearly established truth.

15But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died. He was 130 years old at his death. 16And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

17Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them.

No doubt the princes congratulated Joash on no longer needing to follow the wishes of an old priest. “Now,” they said, “let us leave the dull and harsh religion of Jehovah for the fun and pleasurable worship of idols. We have had enough of this strict religion. Let us follow the ways of other nations. Let us enjoy the happy and more liberal ways of Baal and Ashtaroth.” This king was very willing to listen to this kind of advice.

18And 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. 19Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.

20Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’” 21But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD.

Their act of murder was done in the temple court and polluted the sanctuary of the Lord. They could not bear to be scolded for their faults. Some children show the same spirit and become very angry if a parent tries to correct them. Such bad anger and rage can lead to murder if it is not controlled. The person who is angry with someone for telling them about their faults will be judged (as a murderer).2

22Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the LORD see and avenge!”

An ungrateful man is capable of any crime. After the father had done so much for the king it was disgraceful to kill the son for doing his duty. Such a crime could not go unpunished.

23At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.

The dying martyr’s blood brought speedy vengeance on the land. The princes had been first in the sin and therefore they were prominent in the punishment. And the city where the murder took place was made to feel the full force of the war.

24Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

25When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son 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.

First, Joash was attacked by his enemies, then his land was looted and finally he was severely injured. Since all this did not bring him to repentance, the Lord put an end to his wicked reign by a well deserved punishment. He killed the sons of his greatest supporter and soon his own servants assassinated him in his bed. “Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.”3

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¹ Hebrews 13:9

² Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”

³ Psalm 34:21