2 Chronicles 22:10–24:27

Jehoshaphat's prosperity became a snare to him. He had riches and honour in abundance. No doubt his heart was lifted up and he felt secure. Perhaps he said, "I am rich and I need nothing." Then one day he joined himself to Ahab by marriage. Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram married Ahab's wicked daughter Athaliah (21:6). This was a fatal step for Jehoshaphat and the house of Judah.

Association with the world can bring very disastrous results for the families of the saints of God, as is seen here and elsewhere in Scripture.

Athaliah, full of resentment, now sets out on a most cruel plan — the destruction of the royal seed. She was an idolatress, and she hated the word and the purpose of God. Who but she could have done it so well? She seemed to have all power, and she had no conscience. What is more, hatred and bitterness filled her heart against the true God and the house of David, though she was herself a mother of that house. But what will hatred of God not do in reversing every natural affection?

Ahaziah was of the royal line, being the son of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat. But his mother, Athaliah, was not. She was a usurper with no royal rights whatever.

It was an awful deed, inspired by him who is the murderer from the beginning. And Satan aimed through her at something of which his instrument was ignorant. This deed was one of Satan's many efforts to wipe out the male offspring. His aim was to make the coming One — the promised Saviour, the seed of the woman — impossible. If he had succeeded through Athaliah and destroyed the royal seed of David, the promise made to David would have become impossible.

Look at the case of Abel, in Genesis 4. What was that but the serpent watching God's vessel and seeking to put it out of the way by death? Look at the case of "the seed royal," in 2 Chronicles 22, the act of Herod in Matthew 2, the death of Christ in Matthew 27. In all these cases you find the enemy seeking, by death, to interrupt the current of divine action.

What a picture! Where is David's son? What now of the promise that David should never lack a man to sit upon his throne? Has Satan in fact almost caused that line of kings to be cut off? Has he made the word of God null? How the great enemy would have boasted if he had proved able to bring an everlasting curse where God was controlling all things for better blessing! "He who sits in the heavens laughs." The line from David to Messiah is now thinned to a mere feeble thread. Yet God's promise is as sure and His counsels as firm while the infant Joash is in hiding.

It was God's mercy to the house of David. The same had been declared in the reign of Athaliah's husband Jehoram: "Yet the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and as He promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever" (2 Chronicles 21:7).

"And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years," just as the Lord Jesus is now taken away from among the wicked people who killed Him. With Joash it was only a murderous intent. But the Lord, as we know, was crucified by the hands of lawless men. Now He is hidden in the house of God. And He will come out from that hiding place as surely as Joash did.

Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab. She was the granddaughter of Omri, a wicked king of Israel, and of a heathen king, Ethbaal king of the Sidonians. She was the wife of Jehoram, and the idolatrous mother and wicked adviser of her son Ahaziah. When she saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family and seized the throne — all but one infant, whom his aunt Jehoshabeath hid from the murderous policy of his grandmother. What a picture! Where is David's son? What now of the promise that David should never lack a man to sit on his throne? Has Satan really almost caused that line of kings to be cut off? Has he made the word of God worthless? How the great enemy would have boasted, if he had proved himself able to bring a lasting curse where God was controlling everything for greater blessing! "He who sits in the heavens laughs."

Jehosheba (Jehovah's oath, that is, devoted to Him), the child's aunt and wife of the high priest Jehoiada (Jehovah known), hid him, with his nurse, first in one of the palace bedrooms, and later in the temple, where she lived, among her own children, and perhaps as one of them. "And he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land." This was God's mercy to the house of David. God had already said in Jehoram's reign that He would not destroy David's house, because of the covenant He had made with David and His promise to give him and his sons a lamp for ever (2 Chronicles 21:7).

Death is the last act of his power; but God is the God of resurrection. Where Satan ends, God begins. He gives life to the dead. At this very moment the hopes of the house of Judah seemed lost. Yet in His faithful love He was watching over the true heir of the throne of David… He was like one raised up from among the dead. It was a resurrection from among the slain ones. All the enemy's malignant efforts, and the cruelty of his instruments, only prove one thing more fully. God's purpose never changes, and His word stands for ever.

Like Joash, He was doomed to death — yes, He died. But He was raised from the dead and is now hidden in the house of God above, since the heavens have received Him. Joash, the heir of the throne of David, was hidden until the seventh year. In the same way, the true heir to the throne of David is now hidden in the presence of God until the six years are past. (Six is the number of man's day, the present age.) When the seventh year comes — the beginning of the coming age — He will be brought out as Joash was, and be crowned king.

Was the Lord Jesus Christ not kept safe in the same way, while He was still a baby, from the ruthless sword of Herod, the usurper who sat on the throne of David? And is it not wonderful that God does not step in with His great power to protect the royal seed? Instead, in His wisdom, He works secretly to preserve him. The time for the display of His great power surely comes. But God can wait patiently, working in secret, while making His counsels known to His saints.

Six years of obscurity, and no doubt of some danger, marked the service of that devoted unnamed nurse. She is not heard of again, but the results of her service were immense… So we can take heart: acts of loyalty and devotion in our day, however obscure, may, under the Lord's hand, promote His rights beyond anything we imagine.

What a picture! Where is David's son? What about the promise that David would never lack a man to sit on his throne? Has Satan really almost cut off that line of kings? Has he cancelled the word of God? How the great enemy would have boasted, if he had proved himself able to bring an everlasting curse where God was controlling everything for greater blessing! "He who sits in the heavens laughs." The line from David to Messiah is now thinned to one weak thread... yet the promise of God is as sure and His counsels as firm while the infant Joash is in hiding.

Look at Abel, in Genesis 4. What was that but the serpent watching the vessel God would use, and seeking to put it out of the way by death? Look at Joseph, in Genesis 37... Look at the royal line, in 2 Chronicles 22, Herod's act in Matthew 2, the death of Christ in Matthew 27. In every case you find the enemy using death to try to stop God's work.

And is it not wonderful that God does not step in with His great power to protect the royal child? Instead, in His wisdom, He works in secret to keep him safe. The time to display His great power will come, but God can wait patiently, working in secret, while He makes His counsels known to His people.

"And he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God," just as the Lord Jesus is now taken away from among the wicked people who killed Him. It was not only a plan to murder Joash. The Lord, as we know, was crucified by the hands of lawless men, and now He is hidden in the house of God. But He will come out of that hiding place as surely as Joash did.

But a favoured few did know that the king's son was hidden in the house of God. It was as the Lord said to the disciples: "the world sees me no more, but you see me."... Has the Gospel not come to us so that we may know the joy and power of this secret: Christ is risen from among the dead and hidden in the Father's house?

When the seventh year came — the full time according to God's ways — "in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself"... He was the priest. The priest stands out while the king is hidden. How true that is now of our Lord. In His own Person He is both the high priest who is acting now and the King He will be later.

They had waited patiently through a full cycle of years for the Lord's time to show His anointed. They never grew discouraged, and impatience never pushed them into using human means to make the king's cause win. All those long years they lived in secret with the precious object of their hope... Our Joash is still in the secret place of the sanctuary. Let us learn there, day by day and year by year, to know Him better.

Six years out of sight, and no doubt of some danger, marked the service of that devoted unnamed nurse. We never hear of her again, but the results of her service were immense... for sixty-nine years a king who did what was right in the sight of the Lord sat on the throne... We may take heart that acts of loyalty and devotion in our day, however unnoticed, may, under the Lord's hand, promote His rights far beyond our thought or understanding.

When the seventh year came — the complete time according to the ways of God — "in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage." He was the priest. The priest stands in front while the king is hidden. How true this is now in our Lord's case. In His own Person He combines both the high priest who is acting now and the King He will be later on.

Nothing could prove more vividly how completely we may trust Him. Nothing ever looked more helpless than this young king Joash in front of Athaliah. The fortunes of a king of Judah were never at a lower point. But people have said, and said truly, that "man's extremity is God's opportunity." This only gives the occasion to show the supremacy of God. Nothing can hinder His purpose.

In Jehoshabeath we see a heart for Joash. In Jehoiada, her husband, we see faith at work for him. Her affection gathered around the person of the prince. His faith was full of energy, making every arrangement needed for the glory and stability of his throne. He was a man of faith, energy, and devotion.

They waited patiently through a full cycle of years for the Lord's time to reveal His anointed. They did not let themselves grow discouraged. They did not let impatience push them into human methods to make the king's cause win. Through those long years they lived in secret with the precious object of their hope. At last they were receiving the glorious result of their faith.

Here again we see that empty ritual cannot stand against what is moral. It cannot stand against what concerns the word of God being carried out for the man God had set over His people Israel… The king's son was only a little boy, but he was the lawful king of Israel.

There were, however, those favoured few who knew that the king's son was hidden in the house of God… A little later others came into the secret, and the mighty men too. They in turn went through Judah, gathering the Levites and the heads of the families, and they came to God's centre on earth, Jerusalem. Do we not find in the Acts that the disciples went everywhere with the testimony that Christ, Who was crucified, is risen and seated in heaven?… The result of that testimony about the king's son was this: those who were faithful to the Lord gathered around the king at the divine centre.

By leading so many to make a covenant with Joash while he was still unseen, Jehoiada pictures the present energy of the Holy Spirit working with the preaching of the gospel. The Spirit leads souls to trust an unseen Jesus, and to rejoice in the hope of His coming kingdom and glory.

If Christ is hidden at the present time, we know for certain that God will give Him the throne of His father David… But we are to fill the waiting time with the service of Him Who is hidden in the house of God… And are we not greatly favoured in being called to serve the Hidden One?

The people put up with Athaliah's tyranny for six years. Then Jehoiada the priest took the lead and won the support of the military leaders in Judah, to plan the crowning of the young boy Joash. Messengers went throughout Judah to gather the Levites from the many cities, and the chief elders of the people to Jerusalem (v. 2). Athaliah knew nothing of it.

Chronicles tells the story from the priestly and Levitical point of view, as said before. That is why it gives more detail about Jehoiada the priest. Study the two chapters carefully and compare them, and you will find no contradictions.

In Jehoshabeath we see heart for Joash; in Jehoiada, her husband, we see faith at work for him. Her affections gathered around the person of the prince. His faith was energetic, and it made every arrangement needed for the glory and stability of Joash's throne. He was a man of faith, energy, and devotion. He led many to make a covenant with Joash while the boy was still unseen. In this he pictures the present energy of the Holy Spirit, who works with the preaching of the gospel to lead souls to trust an unseen Jesus and to rejoice in hope of His coming kingdom and glory.

They then made arrangements for the most unusual coronation ever known. They ordered everything with great care and secrecy, so that no one would grow suspicious. They placed trusted men, mainly Levites, at important points around the king's house and temple. They may have chosen the sabbath day, and the time when the priests and Levites changed shifts, so that the large crowd around the temple would not make Athaliah and her Baal-worshipping followers suspicious.

There were those favoured few who knew that the king's son was hidden in the house of God... Soon others were brought into the secret, along with the mighty men. They in turn went throughout Judah, gathering the Levites and the heads of the fathers' houses, and they came to God's earthly centre, Jerusalem. In Acts, do we not find the disciples going everywhere with the testimony that Christ, Who was crucified, is risen and seated in heaven? ... The result of that testimony about the king's son was that those who were faithful to the Lord gathered around the king at the divine centre.

When the time was right, Jehoiada prepared a remnant in Judah to side with Joash. He made a covenant with them in the house of the Lord, and he showed them "the king's son." Then, having prepared them, he used them. He gave them weapons of war and armour for the day of battle from David's armoury, and he set them all in order, to throw the bold usurper down from the throne.

Jehoiada and his wife had gone into this dangerous business in faith. His own words show it: "Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David." "The Lord has said" is quite enough for faith to move forward and act. The dangers, the difficulties, and the hard work make no difference. And in that path all the wheels of providence are made to turn so as to bring about a successful end.

This future Son had to be "the offspring of David." So David's line had to survive until He appeared. This is why God had promised David "to give to him always a lamp, and to his sons" (2 Chron. 21:7). Now, how was this lamp going to shine in the royal house until the promised Son appeared? How could it pass through man's poisoned air and moral darkness without going out? If it went out, David's true Heir could never appear. Satan understood this. If he could manage to put out the lamp, all of God's purposes about the "Just Ruler over men" would come to nothing.

Here again we see that mere ritualism cannot stand against what is moral. It cannot stand against the word of God and its fulfilment for the one whom God had set over His people Israel. The king's son was only a little boy, but he was the lawful king of Israel.

He led so many to make a covenant with Joash while Joash was still unseen. In this he shows the present energy of the Holy Spirit, working with the preaching of the gospel. The Spirit leads souls to trust an unseen Jesus, and to rejoice in hope of His coming kingdom and glory.

The priest is in the secret of God, and this secret is made known to those who fear God. Christ is hidden at the present time. Even so, we know for sure that God will give Him the throne of His father David. Indeed, all the kingdoms of the world shall be His. But we are to spend the waiting time serving Him who is hidden in the House of God.

This was a day of great joy and gladness of heart to Joash, to Jerusalem, and to all who waited for his appearing. Faith was now answered, patience rewarded, and the promise fulfilled. It was a day of light and joy and rejoicing to Joash, and to all who had sided with him during his rejection. But it was a day of darkness and gloom and terrible despair to Athaliah, and to all who had sided with her during her reign.

As stated before, Chronicles is written from the point of view of the priests and Levites. That explains the greater detail Chronicles gives about Jehoiada the priest. A careful study and comparison of the two chapters will show that there are no discrepancies.

The length of service was a week, beginning from the Sabbath.

They then made arrangements for the most unusual coronation ever known. They ordered everything with great care and secrecy, so that no one would grow suspicious. They posted trusted men, mainly Levites, at important points around the king's house and the temple. They may have chosen the Sabbath day, the day when the priests and Levites changed shifts, for one reason. On that day an unusually large crowd around the temple would not make Athaliah and her Baal-worshipping servants suspicious.

One third of the priests and Levites were to keep watch over the doors. One third were to be at the king's house, and one third at the Gate of the Fountain. The people were to stay in the courts of the temple. Only the priests and Levites who served there could go inside (v. 6). But all the people were to keep watch. This pictures the concern of the saints of God that the Lord Jesus should be honoured in full, with nothing allowed that would compromise that honour in any way.

In 2 Chronicles 23 we find the porters are the royal guards of the hidden king. Here they are divided into thirds. What a trust this is during these days of the hidden King, whom heaven must receive until the time when God restores all things! To guard the true rest of the saints in Christ. To guard the person of the hidden King of glory. To guard foundation-truth.

The house of the LORD was guarded against everything unclean. How different from the corruption that Christendom tolerates in what it calls "the house," the professing Church!

If Christ is hidden at the present time, we certainly know that God will give Him the throne of His father David. But the waiting time is to be filled with the service of Him Who is hidden in the house of God... How very favoured were those who served the king in this way! And are we not very highly favoured in being called to the service of the Hidden One?... Keeping the doors, in the way of priests and Levites, might suggest this. Nothing inconsistent with the presence and character of the king is to be allowed when we surround Him. All evil was to be shut out. But we are not to be so taken up with shutting out evil that we forget the normal work of the priests and the Levites.

The plans for the crowning covered every detail. One third of the priests and Levites were to keep watch over the doors. One third were to be at the king's house, and one third at the Gate of the Fountain. The people were to be in the courts of the temple. Only the priests and Levites who served there could go inside (v. 6). But all the people were to keep watch. This pictures the concern of the saints of God that the Lord Jesus should be fully honored. Nothing at all was to be allowed that would compromise that honor.

Gate of the temple, or the king's house. 2 Kings 11:6. Apparently the same that is called 'gate of the foundation' in 2 Chr. 23:5.

Jehoiada tells the congregation that the king is going to reign, and the people make a covenant with the king in the house of God. The priest is in the secret of God, and this secret is made known to those who fear God. If Christ is hidden at the present time, we still know for certain that God will give Him the throne of His father David. All the kingdoms of the world shall be His. But we are to fill the waiting time with the service of Him Who is hidden in the House of God. The faithful were divided into three companies… How very favoured were those who served the king in this way!

The second company were at the king's house. What a privilege to be where the king dwells! Does not this remind us of John 1? There the disciples asked Jesus, "Teacher, where are you staying?" They came and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with Him. Blessed privilege! … Here is surely the thought of nearness to the king: the place of true favour, where he is known as he truly is. And nothing less than this will satisfy the heart that has been attracted to Christ.

At the gate of the foundation, the last company had their station. If the enemy had been let into the foundations, think what harm he would have done. … We are to watch over the foundations. Nothing is to be allowed, in teaching or in behaviour, that will weaken or attack what has been laid in the hearts of the saints — the truth of God. Is it not failure on this line that has brought in all the weakness and the ruin of the present day in the house of God? Yet failure never frees us from the solemn responsibility of guarding the gate of the foundation.

Such work may not be appreciated by many, but we must not ignore it on this account. We always need discernment as to what should be allowed in and what must be refused entry. For if the enemy once gains admittance, even in a small way, he will take advantage of this to gain further ground, causing corruption in the Christian testimony.

All the people had their part in the court of the house of Jehovah. They were to keep the watch of Jehovah. … What one word tells best what should mark the saints of God in all their ways? Surely the word "Watch!" … A life of watchfulness suits us. We live among foes. They seek our harm, and they seek the dishonour of Him Who is hidden in the house of God. The king will soon be revealed in His glory. Keeping that always in mind would help us stay watchful, in a place where we are never out of danger.

Everything was in a very low state, and it looked as if the house of David was finished. But the faithfulness of God did not fail. The throne had lost all its power, and David's family was set aside. Even so, God raises up a man of faith — the high priest — to restore everything. God's discipline was complete. His judgment overturned the whole order of the throne. Only the faithfulness of God was left.

The people were to stay in the courts of the temple. Only the priests and Levites who served there could go inside (v. 6). But all the people were to keep watch. This pictures the concern of the saints of God that the Lord Jesus should be fully honored, and that nothing be allowed which would take away from that honor in any way.

Keeping the doors, as priests and Levites did, might suggest something. When we gather around Him, nothing is to be allowed that does not fit the presence and character of the king. Only the priests and the Levites on duty could enter the house of the Lord. Though they were busy keeping the doors, the priests and Levites still had their own part in the worship and service of the Lord. All evil was to be shut out. But we are not to be so taken up with shutting out evil that we forget the normal work of the priests and the Levites.

No blood is to stain the temple. On this day of righteous judgment the wicked are to be cut off without mercy, and "the king's son" is to be brought out from the house of the Lord. Notice these three things carefully on this great occasion. The king is to be enthroned, the wicked killed, but the temple kept undefiled. All this had to be done according to God.

In 2 Chronicles 23 we find the doorkeepers are the royal guards of the hidden king... What a trust this is again in these days of the hidden King! The heavens must receive Him until the times of restoration. To guard the true rest of the saints in Christ; to guard the person of the hidden King of glory; to guard foundation truth. He set the doorkeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one unclean would enter. This is a great trust, and many question it. In fact, many deny it in practice, by holding that contact with those who teach false doctrine does not defile.

All the people had their part in the court of the house of the Lord; they were to keep the watch of the Lord... A life of watchfulness suits us. We are in the presence of foes who seek not only our harm but the dishonour of Him who is hidden in the house of God. The king will soon appear in His glory. Keeping that in mind would help us hold a spirit and attitude of watchfulness, in a scene where we are never out of danger.

As stated before, the book of Chronicles takes the priestly and Levitical point of view. This explains the greater detail about Jehoiada the priest given in Chronicles. A careful study and comparison of the two chapters will show that there are no discrepancies.

How varied were the services of the Levites. They served the priests in the house. They were doorkeepers there. They played the musical instruments and took part in the service of song. Now they carry the weapons of war as men attached to the person of the king. And are we not called to put on the whole armour of God, as strong in the Lord and in the power of His might? Truly we are in conflict all the days that our Master is hidden in God's house! But the weapons of our warfare are not physical but spiritual... The men who surrounded the king used King David's spears and shields, both large and small, which were kept in the house of the Lord. So too, if we draw our weapons from the place where the Lord Jesus is, we shall be well armed. We will be ready for the conflict to which He has called us.

The people were to stay in the courts of the temple. Only the priests and Levites who served there could go inside (v. 6). But all the people were to keep watch. This pictures the concern of the saints of God that the Lord Jesus should be fully honoured. They allow nothing that would in any way compromise that honour. The Levites were to surround the king, having weapons also for his protection. If anyone attempted to come into the house without authorization, he was to be put to death (v. 7).

Keeping the doors, in a priestly and Levitical way, might carry a lesson. When we surround Him, we allow nothing that clashes with the presence and character of the king. Only the priests and the Levites doing the service could enter the house of the Lord.

The priest then told these officers that their privileges were great, and their responsibilities just as deep. They were to guard their young king night and day. They were to watch him when he went out and came in, and never to let a single enemy come near him. Does this not tell the believer his own responsibility? He is to walk with the Lord, and to stay always in subjection to Him and in communion with Him.

Is it not wonderful that God does not step in with His great power to protect the royal seed? In His wisdom He works in secret instead, and so keeps him safe. The day to display His great power does come. But God can wait in patience, working in secret, while He makes His counsels known to His saints.

The book of Chronicles tells this history from the viewpoint of the priests and Levites. This explains the greater detail about Jehoiada, the priest, given in Chronicles. A careful study and comparison of the two chapters will show that there are no discrepancies.

Ezra restored the courses of the priests and Levites on the return from captivity, Ezra 6:18, and we find them still in operation in the New Testament. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, belonged to the course of Abijah, the eighth name listed in 1 Chronicles 24:10. At the end of his service he returned to his house. Luke 1:5, 23. The length of service was a week, beginning from the Sabbath.

They then made arrangements for the most unique coronation ever known. They ordered everything with great care and secrecy, so that no one would grow suspicious. They stationed trusted men, mostly Levites, at important points around the king's house and temple. They may have chosen the Sabbath day, the day when the courses of the priests and Levites changed over. Then the very large crowd around the temple would not make Athaliah and her followers of Baal suspicious.

It is very refreshing to notice the obedience of the company which gathered around the king. This is the way to divine blessing, and what the Lord Jesus wanted from His own. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." The devotion of that trusted band was truly shown in simple obedience to the commands of Jehoiada... What must it be to the heart of the Lord to have a company which values His word and seeks to obey it. His commendation of the church of Philadelphia is, "You have kept my word."

After preparing them, Jehoiada uses them. He arms them for the day of battle from David's armoury, and sets them all in order, to throw the bold usurper off the throne. He does this with the same perfect and holy understanding of God's mind as when he hid the child in the sanctuary. No blood is to stain the Temple. The wicked are to be cut off in this day of righteous judgment without mercy. And they are to bring "the king's son" out from the house of the LORD... Then the king comes out from his hiding place. He is accompanied in all due solemnity by the power of his kingdom, the righteous men he could trust. And it is on the Sabbath day, the day prepared for showing him to Judah.

So Jehoiada had everything organised, and the Levites and all Judah cooperated fully... Of course this is a picture of the recognition of Christ as King when He will displace every usurper at His coming in glory. The power for reigning was not in Joash, however, as it will be in the One who is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jehoiada, to defend the kingship, went back to David's weapons. In this way he returned to the origin of the divine institution of the kingship. These weapons were good, and they were kept in the house of God. So we too must defend "that which was from the beginning." We do not look for this Word in human arsenals, but in the temple of God. It is hidden there in the most holy place, where the Spirit of God alone is able to reveal it to us and make us take hold of it.

Jehoiada handed out king David's spears and shields to all the faithful warriors. Those weapons had already been through many hard battles, and each one was long tried and proved. This shows how every Christian ought to put on the whole armour of God. King David's psalms still hold the divine store of supply, because they give the soul the experiences of a most varied and eventful life. Whatever the state of your soul, you can always find a psalm that pictures those same experiences.

A wicked woman named Athaliah had tried to wipe out the royal family of Judah. She almost succeeded. One little baby boy was saved. ... The baby boy and his nurse stayed hidden in the house of God for six years. ... They were no ordinary arms that were in the house of God. They were king David's spears, shields and targets — large and small shields. It is remarkable that these weapons had once brought David to the throne of Judah and Israel. Now they protected the helpless descendant of his house and made it possible for him to reign.

How varied were the services of the Levites. They served the priests in the house. They were doorkeepers there. They played the musical instruments and took part in the service of song. Now they carry the weapons of war as men attached to the person of the king. And are we not called to put on the whole armour of God, as strong in the Lord and in the power of His might? Truly we are in conflict all the days that our Master is hidden in God's house!

We do not wage war in the same way that we find in the Old Testament. ... Without doubt the most powerful weapon the Christian has is the Word of God. The Lord Jesus used it to defeat Satan, the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians. Paul used it continually in his preaching. All the brave servants of God who have done great things for Him have wielded the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to powerful effect.

Jehoiada gave the captains spears and large and small shields which David had provided to be put in the temple. When everything was in order, they brought out Joash and crowned him. They gave him the Testimony, a copy of the law of God, and proclaimed him King of Judah, saying, "Long live the king!" This is of course a picture of Christ being recognised as King. He will displace every usurper at His coming in glory. The power for reigning was not in Joash, however, as it will be in the One who is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Chronicles takes the viewpoint of the priests and Levites. That is why it gives more detail about Jehoiada the priest. Study the two chapters carefully and compare them, and you will see that there are no contradictions.

In the seventh year, the true year of jubilee and of deliverance, Jehoiada presents the king's son to the officers of the army. With the most careful precautions, he puts them in charge of guarding this sacred person. The boy is a precious jewel; without him the house of David would die out. No unauthorised person could come near him without paying with his life. His bodyguards go with him when he comes in and when he goes out. You feel that Jehoiada's heart is on fire for the son of David, his only hope and the hope of the kingdom. To lose him would be to lose everything, and he would not give him up at any cost.

When they made the covenant to defend the boy king's right to the throne, Jehoiada armed the men. They were no ordinary arms that were in the house of God. They were King David's own spears and shields, large and small. It is remarkable that these weapons had once won David the throne of Judah and Israel. Now they protected the helpless descendant of his house, so that he could reign.

The king is about to come out, so each man has his right place in the house, facing the altar. Surely this is their recognition that the king comes out because of all that was done there. Before He entered the presence of God, He completed the great work of redemption. He "will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him" (Hebrews 9:28).

Here then is one of those Scriptures. It gives a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ: taken from death, hidden in heaven from the eyes of men, and soon to be displayed in royal glory. The picture opens with the hatred, malice and power of the enemy on full show. Athaliah had married into the royal line of David, and she tried to seize the throne by destroying the royal children. But God watched over the young child, to fulfil His purpose and promise, and kept him hidden in the house of God. Was it not the same when God protected the Lord Jesus Christ, still a baby, from the cruel sword of Herod, the usurper who sat on the throne of David?

Is not Jehoiada an example for us? Our own time is difficult. Despite appearances, it is more dangerous than the days of Athaliah. Will we allow anyone to touch the person of the Son of God? Let us surround Him, every one with his weapon in his hand. Our weapons are not worldly; they are the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Let us press together around Him, even if we are only a few. God will be with us, as He was with the faithful group that surrounded Joash. Then the enemy will fail in his efforts to destroy the name of the holy Son of God and to ruin His testimony.

If we draw our weapons from the place where the Lord Jesus is, we will be rightly armed for the conflict He has called us to.

Joash, the heir of the throne of David, stayed hidden until the seventh year. In the same way, the true heir to the throne of David is now hidden in the presence of God until the six years have passed. Six is the number of man's day, the present age. And when the seventh year comes, the beginning of the coming age, He will come out as Joash came out of his hiding place, and be crowned king.

So they bring the king out from the temple. Just outside it, at the pillar, they proclaim him while the people cheer. They give him the testimony as well as the crown. The testimony signifies his subjection to the LORD, the crown his sovereignty over Israel.

The king's son has on him the anointing oil that consecrates him. He has the crown, sign of his royal dignity. And he has "the testimony," the law. Seated on his throne, the king was to copy out this law for himself. From it he was to learn to fear the LORD and to keep His statutes (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).

Joash was crowned as a boy king two hundred and fifty years before the time of Josiah. As part of the coronation ceremony they "gave him the testimony" (2 Kings 11:12). These Scriptures are enough to refute the claim of some in our time. They say the book Hilkiah found in the temple was put together not long before, with the name of Moses attached to it to give it authority in the eyes of the king and his people. The claim is as absurd as it is wicked.

Of course this is a picture of the recognition of Christ as King when He will displace every usurper at His coming in glory. The power for reigning was not in Joash, however, as it will be in the One who is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Poverty was all around, and apostasy had invaded. So what was actually missing for this restoration? The temple of God, His dwelling among His own, was there. The high priest, the mediator between the Lord and the people, was there. The son of David was there, recognised no doubt by only a few, but soon all the people would acclaim him. The anointing, the Holy Spirit, was there. And a small remnant acclaimed the anointed of the Lord and surrounded him.

They had waited in patience through a full cycle of years for the Lord's time to reveal His anointed. They did not let themselves grow discouraged. Impatience never pushed them into using human means to bring about the triumph of the king's cause. Through these long years they had lived in secret with the precious object of their hope. At last they were receiving the glorious result of their faith. Let us imitate their patience. Our Joash is still in the secret place of the sanctuary.

When the seventh year came — the complete time according to the ways of God — "in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage" (older translations read "strengthened himself"). He was the priest. The priest is prominent while the king is hidden. How true this is now in our Lord's case. In His own Person He combines both the high priest who is acting now and the King He will be later.

Athaliah had been kept unaware of what was taking place until she heard the noise of people running and praising the king. This great celebration brought her to the temple. There she saw Joash standing, crowned, by the pillar, with leaders and trumpeters beside him.

So she comes to the people and to the temple of Jehovah. A strange place for her, the hater of Jehovah and the patron of idolatry in its worst form! She comes, and looks, and behold, the king stood by a pillar. The king! And this was all that her murderous policy had led to and ended in.

This was a day of great joy and gladness of heart to Joash, to Jerusalem, and to all who waited for his appearing. Faith was now answered, patience rewarded, and the promise fulfilled… It was a day of light and joy and rejoicing for Joash, and for all who had sided with him while he was rejected. It was a day of darkness, gloom, and terrible despair for Athaliah, and for all who had sided with her during her reign.

There cannot be a more vivid proof of how completely we may trust Him. No one ever seemed more helpless than this young king Joash before Athaliah. The fortunes of a king of Judah were never at a lower ebb. But people have said, not untruly, that "man's extremity is God's opportunity." This only gives the occasion to show the supremacy of God. Nothing can hinder His purpose.

What a day of confusion will that be for the enemies of the king! The wicked Athaliah hears the people running and praising the king. And what a sight meets her gaze! The one she thought she had destroyed and stripped of his throne now stands exalted on his platform. The princes and the people acclaim and praise him. But evil must be dealt with before peace and quiet can remain with God's people; the usurper must be brought low… So it will be in the day of Christ's coming.

They had waited through a full cycle of years for the Lord's time to reveal His anointed. They did not let themselves grow discouraged. Impatience never pushed them into using human means to bring the king's cause to victory. Through these long years they had lived in secret with the precious object of their hope. At last they were receiving the glorious result of their faith. Let us imitate their patience. Our Joash is still in the secret place of the sanctuary. Let us there learn from day to day and from year to year to know Him better.

Athaliah did not know what was going on until she heard the noise of people running and praising the king. This great celebration brought her to the temple. There she saw Joash standing, crowned, by the pillar, with leaders and trumpeters beside him. Trumpets and other instruments went with the singing of the many who were rejoicing at the crowning of the King (v. 13).

The book of Chronicles is written from the point of view of the priests and Levites. That is why it gives more detail about Jehoiada the priest. Compare the two chapters carefully and you will find no contradictions.

Athaliah soon heard the uproar. So she comes out to the people and to the temple of the LORD. What a strange place for her, the hater of the LORD and the supporter of idolatry in its worst form! She comes, and looks, and there stands the king by a pillar. The king! And this was all that her murderous policy had led to and ended in.

"And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, 'Treason! Treason!'" It is the old voice — the voice of her mother before her, the voice of her son after her, and now her own. But the truth was that she was the traitor. She was the one who had tried to wipe the king off the throne, so she gets the just reward of a traitor.

But Joash was the true king. Athaliah was guilty of far worse than treason — she was a mass murderer and a usurper who had no right to the throne.

This was a day of great joy and gladness of heart to Joash, to Jerusalem, and to all who waited for his appearing. Faith was now answered, patience rewarded, and the promise fulfilled… It was a day of light and joy to Joash, and to all who had sided with him while he was rejected. But it was a day of darkness, gloom and terrible despair to Athaliah, and to all who had sided with her during her reign… The king stood at his pillar. The pillar of immovable promise. This was enough; the first glimpse of Joash filled her whole soul with the terrors of judgment.

The one Athaliah thought she had destroyed and stripped of his throne is exalted on his platform. The princes and the people cheer and praise him. But evil must be dealt with before God's people can have peace and quiet. The usurper must be brought low.

The day is approaching when the true Joash will be brought out of the Sanctuary where now He is hidden. He will assert His kingly rights, for He is the "Prince of the kings of the earth." But what is the answer on man's part? The seventh trumpet will sound, and that trumpet brings Him in. In heaven there is worship and His title is acknowledged. On earth there is fury.

The truth was, it was she who was the traitor. It was she who had tried to wipe the king off the throne; and so she meets with the just reward of a traitor... There was no one to follow. She was alone — not alone in her evil, but now her evil had not one sympathizer.

She required no trial. Everyone knew her wickedness that demanded her death.

Jehoiada the priest gave the orders, not a government official. He told the captains of the army to take Athaliah outside under guard and kill her there. The work of a priest is to have compassion on the ignorant who go astray (Hebrews 5:2), but in this case a priest was to proclaim sentence against an evildoer. In the same way, when the Lord Jesus is shown ready to judge the world, He wears priestly garments (Revelation 1:13). This shows that His judgment will not be only an act of righteous anger. It will be a judgment that fits His character of goodness and compassion. It is goodness that abhors what is evil and judges faithfully for God.

He sets a line of bodyguards from the house of the Lord to the house of the king, from the sanctuary to the palace. Their job was to guard the king along the whole way from the one house to the other... Athaliah the usurper is then slain — but outside the precincts of the temple. Not even for the restoration of the king and the peace of the kingdom will the priest give up the holiness of the temple. A beautiful witness of the Lord maintaining all His glories in all His ways, never clouding one while another is shining.

They lead Athaliah into the king's house by way of the horse gate, to put her to death there. Joash enters by another gate, that of the couriers, so that he might sit peacefully on the throne of David. The path to this throne must not be defiled by blood. It was not so for Jehu with Jezebel. Her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses, and Jehu, trampling her underfoot, went into the house to eat and drink (2 Kings 9:33-34). All this scene, though decreed by God, breathes "the fury" of the man who carried it out. In Judah, everything happens in solemn calm, in the awareness of God's presence that the high priest kept alive.

But evil must be dealt with before peace and quiet can remain with God's people; the usurper must come down, and all who are linked with the evil one must fall. So the wicked Athaliah was killed. She had tried to set aside God's purpose and promise by destroying the royal line and the king's son, who had been hidden in the house of God. So shall it be in the day of Christ's coming.

When she comes out, she comes crying "Treason." But in truth she was the one guilty of both treason and murder, and guilty of them to the full. Still, we see the purpose of God. There could be no clearer proof of how fully we may trust Him. No one ever looked more helpless than this young king Joash before Athaliah. No king of Judah was ever at a lower point. But people have said, and truly, that "man's extremity is God's opportunity." This only gave the occasion to show God's supremacy. Nothing can hinder His purpose.

She required no trial. Everyone knew her wickedness, and it demanded her death. A solemn end for this wicked daughter of a wicked couple!

No blood must stain the Temple. The wicked must be cut off in this day of righteous judgment, without mercy. And "the king's son" must be brought out of the house of the Lord. These three things must be watched with care on this great occasion. The king must take the throne, the wicked must be killed, but the Temple must be kept undefiled. All of it must be done according to God.

They lead Athaliah into the king's house by way of the horse gate, and there they put her to death. Joash enters by another gate, the gate of the couriers, so that he may sit in peace on the throne of David. Blood must not defile the path to this throne. It was not so for Jehu with Jezebel. Her blood splashed the wall and the horses, and Jehu trampled her underfoot and went into the house to eat and drink. That whole scene, though God had decreed it, breathes "the fury" of the man behind it. In Judah, everything happens in solemn calm and in the sense of God's presence, which the high priest keeps alive.

Jehoiada the priest gave the orders, not a government official. He told the captains of the army to take Athaliah outside under guard and kill her there. A priest's work is to have compassion on the ignorant who go astray. Here a priest had to pronounce sentence on an evildoer. In the same way, when the Lord Jesus is shown ready to judge the world, He wears priestly garments. This shows that His judgment will not come from righteous anger alone. It will be a judgment that fits His character of goodness and compassion. It is goodness that hates what is evil and judges faithfully for God. Athaliah's judgment came far more suddenly than she expected, but it proves the truth of Proverbs 29:1: "He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing."

But evil must be dealt with before peace and quiet can remain with God's people; the usurper must be brought low, and all who are joined with the evil one must bite the dust. So the wicked Athaliah was slain, who had tried to set aside the counsel and promise of God by destroying the royal seed and the king's son, who had been hidden in the house of God. So shall it be in the day of Christ's coming. The false king, the antichrist, will meet his doom, as prophecy records: "the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to nothing by the appearance of His coming."

Jehoiada took the lead in making a covenant between himself, the people and the king. The king was a ward of Jehoiada, because he was so young (v. 16). The covenant stood against Athaliah's idolatry, and it agreed with the law of Moses. It stressed that Judah should be the Lord's people, not a people who worship idols.

"And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, that they should be the LORD's people, and also between the king and the people" (v. 17). A covenant assumes two parties. Here, under the law, each side binds itself to the other: the Lord on one side, the king and the people on the other. It is as if the king answered for the people, and the people for the king. Before the Lord they form one whole. The covenant between the king and the people makes this promise even more solemn. Each side binds itself to walk the same path.

And a larger covenant is now made. This is not just the priest taking an oath from a few men on behalf of the hidden Joash, and showing him only to them. Now the priest brings all the people, the king, and the LORD into holy, gracious covenant again, that they should be the Lord's people. Then he shows the rightful heir of all the glory, not to some, but to all the congregation of Israel.

Jehoiada acted as a priest of God should act. He began by making a covenant between the Lord, the king and the people. This fitted the order of God's law, under which Israel lived at the time. Under grace today, vows and covenants are forbidden (Matthew 5:33-37). But Jehoiada sought to bring Israel back to the obedience of law, which was right at the time.

The beginning was in a solemn covenant. This covenant bound the young ruler and the people together to be true to the LORD, as the LORD requires of His people. There was also a covenant between the king and the people (2 Kings 11:17). Under the priest's direction, the revival began with the destruction of the idols and false worship, and with a return to the LORD and the true worship of His Name. Every true revival must begin the same way. Measured by this standard, most revivals today fall short.

This work of tearing down was necessary, just as the execution of Athaliah was. It had to come before the true worship of God was set up, as verses 18-20 show.

When the Lord Jesus comes out, He will be both priest and king. The offices of Jehoiada and Joash are both His. Zechariah 6 shows this: "He shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on His throne. And there shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." A new covenant will be made with Israel when the king comes out. One of its terms is "They shall be my people." Everything connected with idolatry will be set aside and removed for ever.

Such a covenant required the destruction of the temple of Baal. The people did it at once, breaking its altars and images in pieces and killing the priest of Baal (v. 17). This negative work was necessary, just as the execution of Athaliah was. It had to come before the positive work of setting up the true worship of God, which follows in verses 18-20.

It is a community of zeal for God. There is no need for the subtlety and artifices of Jehu to wipe out Baal from Judah. Here you see the powerful action of the Spirit of God in a people. In the end that is much more blessed than the action of a single individual, even when he is in fact doing the will of God. Jehu had thought out his plan alone and handed its execution to guards and captains. Here the whole people wipe out Baal, his house and his worship. They claim their title as the people of the LORD, and they are closely bound to the king God had given them. For about 180 years, until the reign of ungodly Manasseh, this detestable idolatry disappears from the house of Judah.

Jehu's zeal destroyed Baal, but it had not re-established the covenant, and it goes no further than that. He rooted out the new idolatry, yet the old idolatry, Jeroboam's calves, still stands for him. It is always like this when the flesh has a part in reform. It cannot cure the abandoning of God that has marked it from the start. If it could, it would no longer be the flesh. The natural man may well root out an idol, whether it be wine or any other vice. But he only replaces it with the idolatry of self, his own self-righteousness, and his lack of conscience towards God. He throws these into sharper relief. All the while he pretends, like Jehu, to serve God with zeal.

Everything that offends and works wickedness is taken out of the way — the house, the altars, the images, and the priests of Baal. And at last the king passes through the line of bodyguards, all of them glad to attend him. Like a second Solomon, in peace and dignity, full of honour and of the people's gladness, he sits on the throne of the kingdom, the throne of the house of David.

Everything connected with idolatry will be set aside and removed for ever. Once all that belonged to Baal was gone, Jehoiada sets everything in order for the worship of the LORD, "according to the directions of David." So it will be at the coming of Christ. God will perfectly express His original thoughts, which man had set aside.

The people quickly destroyed the temple of Baal, breaking its altars and images in pieces and killing the priest of Baal (v. 17). This negative work was necessary, just as the execution of Athaliah was, before the true worship of God could be positively set up, as verses 18-20 show. Jehoiada the priest was a faithful man. He gave the oversight of the house of the LORD back into the hands of the priests and Levites, in line with David's assignment, and with his insistence that the offering of burnt sacrifices to the LORD should follow the law of Moses.

Everything was in a very low state. To all appearances the house of David was finished, but the faithfulness of God did not fail. The throne has lost all its power, and the family of David is set aside; yet God raises up a man of faith, in the person of the high priest, to restore the whole. God's chastisement was complete. His judgment had overturned the whole order of the throne. Nothing was left but the faithfulness of God. Man was judged. He had no means of recovery left.

It was a day of great joy and gladness. For directions about the altar, the sacrifices and the feasts, they had gone back to the word, "as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God." In the same way they turned to "the directions of David king of Israel" for guidance in their service of praise.

That Moses was the writer of these five inspired records is evident from the testimony of the books themselves (Deut. 31:9, 24), by Joshua (Joshua 1:7), by Samuel (1 Sam. 12:6-8), by David (1 Kings 2:3)… by Jehoiada (2 Chron. 23:16-18), by Hezekiah (2 Chron. 30:16), by Ezra (Ezra 7:6)…

Where people in our own day have departed from the truth of the Word of God, how vital it is that we should return. Not merely to what our fathers may have practiced, but to the truth the New Testament lays down about the character and practice of the Church of God. Israel was to return and recognize the beginning of their history under law. The Church should return and take in the character of its beginning under grace.

Once everything belonging to Baal was gone, Jehoiada set everything in order for the worship of Jehovah, "according to the order of David." So it will be at the coming of Christ. God's original thoughts, which man set aside, will then find perfect expression.

The revival during Joash's early reign had already lost its hold. It could not have been very deep, if they could turn aside to idols so soon after Jehoiada was gone.

The revival under the priest's direction began with the destruction of the idols and false worship. It began with a return to the LORD and the true worship of His Name. Every true revival must begin the same way. Test the revivals of our day by this standard, and most fall short. "He stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean." The guard kept everything unclean out of the house of the LORD. How different from the corruption that Christendom tolerates in what it calls "the house," the professing Church.

It is good to see that when Jehoiada re-established order in the house of the Lord, this was accompanied by rejoicing and singing (v. 18). But also gatekeepers were set at the gates of the house of the Lord, to keep outside that which was unclean (v. 19). This godly care is important in the Church of God today also. Many may not appreciate such work, but we must not ignore it for that reason. We always need discernment about what should be let in and what must be refused. If the enemy once gets in, even in a small way, he will use that to gain more ground and corrupt the Christian testimony.

The doorkeepers had charge of all the gates of the temple. They had to be able to drive back any attack on the house of God. They had to watch without letting up, so that no defiled person entered the courts of the Lord. But they also had to keep the doors open. No priest who had the right to enter the temple was to be shut out.

In 2 Chronicles 23 we find the gatekeepers are the royal guards of the hidden king… What a trust this is again in these days of the hidden King, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration! To guard the true rest of the saints in Christ; to guard the person of the hidden King of glory; to guard foundation-truth. This is a great trust, and many question it. In fact many deny it in practice, by holding that contact with those who teach what is false does not defile.

If the enemy had been allowed into the foundations, what damage he would have done. Does this not have a voice for us in these days?… we are to watch over the foundations. We must let nothing in, in doctrine or in conduct, that will weaken or attack what has been laid in the hearts of the saints — the truth of God. Is it not failure along this line that has brought in all the weakness and the ruin of the present day in the house of God? Yet no amount of failure relieves us of the solemn responsibility of keeping guard on the gate of the foundation.

We always need discernment as to what should be allowed in and what must be refused entry. For if the enemy once gains admittance, even in a small way, he will take advantage of this to gain further ground, causing corruption in the Christian testimony.

Chronicles tells its history from the point of view of the priests and the Levites. That is why it gives more detail about Jehoiada the priest. Careful study and comparison of the two chapters will show that there are no contradictions.

The Lord had now been given His true place in Judah. So the nobles and the governors of the people brought the king from the house of the Lord to the king's house, and set him on the throne of the kingdom (v. 20). These things were all done in good order, and that was a great credit to the faith of Jehoiada.

He lines up a row of bodyguards from the house of the Lord to the house of the king, from the sanctuary to the palace. Their job was to watch the king from his exit to his entrance, and all along the way from the one house to the other.

They lead Athaliah into the king's house through the horse gate, and there they put her to death. Joash enters by another gate, the gate of the couriers, so that he may sit peacefully on the throne of David. The path to this throne must not be defiled by blood.

Athaliah the usurper was then killed — but outside the temple area. Even to restore the king and bring peace to the kingdom, the priest will not sacrifice the sanctity of the temple. It is a beautiful witness: the Lord keeps all His glories in all His ways, and never dims one while another shines.

The scene closes beautifully. The captains, the nobles, the governors, and all the people set the king "upon the throne of His kingdom" — Christ has His rightful place from all.

At last the king passes through the line of bodyguards, and they are all joyful as they attend him. Like another Solomon, in peace and dignity, full of honour and of the gladness of the people, he sits on the throne of the kingdom, the throne of the house of David.

The day is approaching when the true Joash will be brought out of the sanctuary where now He is hidden (2 Kings 11). He will assert His kingly rights, for He is the "Prince of the kings of the earth" (Rev. 1:5).

They had waited patiently through a full cycle of years for the Lord's time to reveal His anointed one. They did not let themselves become discouraged. They did not let impatience push them into using human means to bring about the triumph of the king's cause… Our Joash is still in the secret place of the sanctuary. Let us learn there, day by day and year by year, to know Him better.

What a solemn lesson we learn from these closing words! "All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet." When? AFTER they had killed Athaliah with the sword. When, oh when, will this groaning creation rejoice? When will the city of the whole earth be quiet? AFTER the judgment already pronounced has been carried out. AFTER the bowls of God's wrath have been poured out. But not until then. Could Joash have reigned in fellowship with Athaliah? Impossible! The scene must be cleared of the king's enemies before he sits on his throne.

The Lord was now given His true place in Judah. So the nobles and governors of the people brought the king from the house of the Lord to the king's house, and set him on the throne of the kingdom (v. 20). The orderly way in which all these things were done was a great credit to the faith of Jehoiada. The people of the land responded with great joy, and the city was quiet. That was the opposite of the trouble Athaliah had caused. How instructive that when a wicked ruler dies the people rejoice!

Athaliah is led into the king's house by way of the horse gate, to be put to death there. Joash enters by another gate, that of the couriers, so that he might sit peacefully on the throne of David. The path to this throne must not be stained with blood. It was not so for Jehu with Jezebel… In Judah everything takes place in solemn calm, and in the awareness of God's presence. The high priest kept that awareness alive. Souls have to do with the Lord. They act for Him. They seek His honour. Without these motives there could never be purification or complete restoration… "All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet." Joy and peace are the portion of souls who have separated themselves from what dishonours Him, so that they may please God and serve Him.

And the land is now full of David again. The king's guard had been armed with the spears and shields of David. Those weapons had been kept apart and left, as it were, to rust from lack of use while the heir was hidden in the sanctuary. And now there is more: the ordinances of David and the music of David are kept and heard (2 Chr. 23:18). The priest is careful to fill the scene with memories of David. Baal and his servants are put away, and the God of Israel is in His place again… And so the city was quiet. The people of the land rejoice, the king sits on the throne, and he and the priest restore the service and worship of the God of Israel.

A great revival followed. Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, "that they should be the LORD's people." Baal's altars and images are broken. The king sits on his throne. All these blessed results are faint foreshadowings of what is yet to be when the usurper is cast out, when the true King is crowned. Then Israel will truly be the LORD's people, idolatry will cease, the land and the people will rejoice, and the city will be quiet.

Christ's "hand will take hold on judgment" before He takes hold of the sceptre of righteousness… The whole scene must be cleared of His enemies. Satan must be bound. Then "the prince of the kings of the earth" will ascend His throne of righteousness, and rule with His sceptre of peace over a restored and delivered creation. "Behold, a king will reign in righteousness… and the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." Isaiah 32.

The royal house of Israel is destroyed without leaving a single man... But it is not so with the house of Judah. The faithful God keeps His word, for He had said that He would give David "a lamp to him and to his sons forever" (2 Kings 8:19). In the person of Joash He keeps for Himself a feeble candle stub which He does not put out, and through him a time of blessing and of the fear of the Lord would begin for the kingdom of Judah.

There cannot be a clearer proof of how completely we may trust Him, for no one ever seemed more helpless than this young king Joash before Athaliah. The fortunes of a king of Judah had never been lower, but men have said, and said truly, that "man's extremity is God's opportunity." This only gives the occasion to show the supremacy of God. Nothing can hinder His purpose... He has a purpose for us, and He Himself has love for our souls. Why should we not always trust Him?

So when Athaliah saw that her son was dead, she "arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah." But God watched her, and led Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, to take the child Joash from among the king's sons who were killed, and bring him up secretly. "And he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God," just as the Lord Jesus is now taken away from the wicked people who killed Him... and now He is hidden in the house of God; but He will just as surely come out from that hiding place as Joash did.

"His mother's name was Zibiah (doe, or gazelle) of Beersheba." ... His uncle appears to have had a good influence over him.

The mother of Joash of Judah was Zibiah of Beersheba. The mother of Amaziah the son of Joash was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. On the other hand, the influence of idolatrous mothers or wives was destructive for the kings... This should make Christian mothers aware of their responsibility, and should stir them up to bring up their children in the fear of the Lord.

"And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest" (2 Chronicles 24:2). Yes, but it was more the influence of Jehoiada than faith in the living God. An influence, sooner or later, must fail. The influence of man is not the faith of God's elect.

Their parents' faith guides their first steps, and that is right and approved by God... Knowledge and real godliness do not make up for the lack of a direct relationship of the soul with the Lord. The Christian must seek this above everything else. Thousands of godly souls stay in a state of childhood. They lean first on their parents, and later on their spiritual leaders, instead of leaning on God and the Word. Let the leader disappear, and their godliness disappears with him.

Being only seven years old at his coronation, Joash reigned 40 years, so he was only 47 when his own servants killed him (v. 25).

Yes, but it was more the influence of Jehoiada than faith in the living God. An influence, sooner or later, must fail. The influence of man is not the faith of God's elect.

But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bent bow. It springs back to its normal shape the moment the pressure stops. How often this solemn fact is seen in Christian families! How often a son leaves the godly restraints of his father's house, and then plunges with greater eagerness into the sinful pleasures of the world!

There is no mention of any spiritual helper for Josiah as there was for Joash more than a century earlier. Joash was favoured to have his devoted uncle Jehoiada about him for many years. With Josiah there were probably more direct dealings with God. This would explain his sturdy faith and his amazing energy in service for God. But whether it be Joash or Josiah, or the present writer and his readers, all is grace. Every scrap of good that has ever been seen in any of us is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Second-hand faith will never do. There must be a living link connecting the soul with God. We must have to do with God for ourselves, individually, or else we shall give way when the testing time comes. Human example and human influence may be all very good in their place... But if this is all; if there is not the deep spring of personal faith and personal knowledge... then, when the human props are removed, when the tide of human influence ebbs, when general decline sets in, we shall be like Israel. They followed the Lord all the days of Joshua and the elders, and then gave up the confession of His name.

Joash was brought up in the law of the Lord from his most tender years. Jehoiada and Jehosheba guarded him with careful devotion from all outward temptation. He had a flexible character, marked more by his submission than by his energy. He submitted to good influences as long as they prevailed. But through lack of "virtue" he was in danger of yielding to evil influences. From childhood Joash was used to enjoying a relationship with God through a go-between. He did not feel the need for direct communion with the Lord.

Thousands of godly souls remain in a condition of childhood. They depend first on their parents and later on their spiritual leaders, instead of depending on God and the Word. Let the leader disappear, and their godliness disappears with him; let him turn aside, and their soul turns aside after him.

He leaned too heavily on the godly priest and did not learn to depend truly on the Lord... Why did he not simply instruct Joash to be careful to choose the wife that God wanted him to have? Of course the leader is to blame if he encourages such dependence.

Flesh may be even more zealous than faith, but there is this difference: faith continues; the effort of the flesh is short-lived. It may begin well, but the question is whether it continues. Its continuance is always the great proof of what is divine.

The faithful God keeps His word, for He had promised David "a lamp to him and to his sons forever" (2 Kings 8:19). In the person of Joash He sustains for Himself a feeble candle stub which He does not put out. Through Joash an era of blessing and of the fear of the Lord would begin for the kingdom of Judah. God's patience still delayed the moment when He would reject His guilty people.

His uncle appears to have exercised a wholesome influence over him. The mention of his taking two wives for him is surely meant to show his godly concern for the succession.

He had much for which to thank God under the care of Jehoiada and Joshabeath, who had saved him from death and made it possible for him to become king. But he leaned too heavily upon the godly priest and did not learn to depend truly on the Lord. In fact, the record tells us that Jehoiada took two wives for Joash (v. 3). Why did he not simply instruct Joash to be careful to choose the wife that God desired him to have? But how often it is true that people so depend on a godly leader that they never learn to stand on their own feet! Of course the leader is to blame if he encourages this.

Joash was brought up in the law of the Lord from his earliest years. Jehoiada and Jehosheba guarded him with careful devotion from every outward temptation. He had a pliable character, marked more by his submission than by his energy. He submitted to good influences as long as they prevailed, but for lack of moral strength he was in danger of yielding to evil ones. From childhood he was used to enjoying a relationship with God through a go-between, and he never felt the need for direct communion with the Lord.

Yes, but it was more the influence of Jehoiada than faith in the living God. An influence, sooner or later, must fail. The influence of man is not the faith of God's elect.

But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. Like a bow that has been bent and let go, the heart springs back to its natural bent the moment the pressure stops. How often we see this solemn fact in Christian families! How often a son leaving the godly restraints of his father's house plunges with greater eagerness into the sinful pleasures of the world!

Leaders may change or fail; Christ alone does not change: He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is "the great shepherd of the sheep." It is to Him that we must cling. This is one of the solemn instructions that the character and career of Joash offers us.

Joash's first concern was the temple of the Lord, the place of God's presence among His people. When there is a revival of godliness, this neglected object calls for a completely new value. God's children feel the need to gather where the Lord has been pleased to make His name dwell. They feel the need to honour His presence among His own by their activity, their devotion, and all their conduct.

The main work of Jehoash's reign was the repairing of the temple. This had become necessary because the family of Athaliah had broken it up and used the dedicated things in the worship of Baal (2 Chron. 24:7). The king took the initiative, but the neglect of the priests made the work almost impossible.

He was true to what he had learned in the word of God. He did not hesitate to correct even the high priest if he was negligent in carrying it out, for that Word is above all. He owed his uncle a lasting debt of gratitude for saving his life as an infant. Even so, when the occasion required, he could ask him to do his duty as God's high priest and see to the necessary repairs of that house. God had set him over it. Would to God he had kept that mind to the end of his reign.

How often the energy of faith may, so to speak, establish a kingdom! Yet at the same time it may fail to keep up the ordinary duty of those who have to do with the service of God. Joash was faithful at the start of his reign. Still, he walks more by Jehoiada's faith than by his own. After the death of the high priest he leans on the princes of Judah, and serves idols.

It is commendable, however, that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the Lord (v. 4). He gathered the priests and Levites. He ordered them to go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from the people to cover the cost of the repairs. He told them to do this quickly (v. 5). However, this was not done quickly. It may be that they had no heart for demanding money from the people, because people generally resist such demands. It is the principle of law-keeping, which always stirs up resistance in people's minds.

To Joash the important thing was to go back to "the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness" (2 Chr. 24:9), and not to turn aside from the word of the law when it was a matter of honouring the house of God and everything connected with it. It is the same in our day. For us, as for Joash, it is not a question of beginning to build the house, or of setting up a new Church. It is only a matter of repairing the breaches. And for that God does not leave us to our own initiative, which would only add new breaches to the old evils.

Outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. Like a bow bent by force, the heart springs back to its normal bent the moment the pressure stops. How often this solemn fact is seen in Christian families! How often a son leaving the godly restraints of his father's house plunges with greater appetite into the sinful pleasures of the world!

The energy of faith may even set up a kingdom, and yet fail at the same time to keep up the ordinary duty of those who serve God. How often this happens! Joash was faithful at the start of his reign, but he still walks more by Jehoiada's faith than by his own.

The main work of Jehoash's reign was repairing the temple. This had become necessary because the family of Athaliah had broken it up and used the dedicated things in the worship of Baal (2 Chron. 24:7). The king took the initiative, but the neglect of the priests made the work practically impossible.

Nothing was done at the time. The spiritual state of the people made it hard to do anything. They were still sacrificing and burning incense at the high places. So they would feel little responsibility toward the temple at Jerusalem.

The priests were using for themselves the gifts they received from their acquaintances. They did have the right to live from the things offered at the altar. But in their hearts their own interests came before those of the Lord and of His house. Their conduct showed it. They lived from their gifts, and the house of God kept its breaches. Jehoiada himself let them do so without protesting. Further on (v. 15) we see people with no official standing at all, from those set over the work down to the carpenters and masons. They dealt faithfully, much more so than the priests themselves.

It is commendable, however, that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the Lord (v. 4). He gathered the priests and Levites and ordered them to collect money from the people for the cost of the repairs. He told them to do this quickly (v. 5). However, this was not done quickly. It may be that they had no heart for demanding money from the people, because people generally resist such demands. It is the principle of law-keeping, which always awakens resistance in people's minds.

This method proved effective. People came and gave freely, with no one pressuring them. This is the principle of grace shown us in the New Testament. Believers are not required to give. They are told of definite needs, and then told, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). A demand is not made, but encouragement is given.

To Joash the important thing was to go back to the tribute Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. He would not turn aside from the word of the law when it was a matter of honouring the house of God. It is the same in our day. For us, as for Joash, the question is not about starting to build the house, or putting up a new Church. It is only a matter of repairing the breaches. And for that God does not leave us to our own ideas, which would only add new breaches to the old evils.

It is commendable that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the Lord (v. 4). He gathered the priests and Levites and ordered them to go out to the cities of Judah. They were to gather money from the people to pay for the repairs, and to do it quickly (v. 5). However, this was not done quickly. It may have been that they did not have a heart for demanding money from the people, because people generally resist such demands. It is the principle of law-keeping, which always awakens resistance in people's minds.

This neglect continued until the twenty-third year of Joash. It seems he had not neglected to read the "testimony" given to him at his coronation. True to what he had learned in the word of God, he did not hesitate to correct even the high priest if he was negligent in carrying it out, for that Word is above all. He owed his uncle a lasting debt of gratitude, since Jehoiada had saved his life as an infant. Even so, when the occasion required, he could ask him, as God's high priest, to do his duty and repair that house God had set him over. I wish he had kept this mind to the end of his reign.

They did have the right to live from the things offered at the altar. But in their hearts their own interests came before those of the Lord and of His house, and their conduct showed it. They lived from their gifts, and the house of God kept its breaches. Jehoiada himself let them do so without protesting. Further down (v. 15) we see people with no official standing, from those set over the work down to the carpenters and masons. They "dealt faithfully," much more so than the priests themselves.

To Joash the important thing was to go back to "the tribute of Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness" (2 Chr. 24:9). He would not turn aside from the word of the law when it came to honouring the house of God and all that belonged to it. It is the same in our day. Like Joash, we are not asked to begin building the house, or to set up a new Church. It is only a matter of repairing the breaches. And for that God does not leave us to our own ideas, which would only add new breaches to the old evils.

All the days of Jehoiada the priest, Joash did right in the sight of the Lord. He even seems to take the lead, giving the command to repair the damage Athaliah had done (2 Chron. 24:6-11). But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bow held bent: it springs back to its normal shape the moment the pressure stops.

The energy of faith may, so to speak, establish a kingdom. Yet at the same time it may fail to keep up the ordinary duty of those who serve God. How often this happens! Joash was faithful at the start of his reign, but he still walks more by Jehoiada's faith than by his own. After the high priest died, he leaned on the princes of Judah, served idols, and even put to death the son of Jehoiada, through whom the Holy Spirit had testified against him.

Joash confronted Jehoiada: the priests and Levites had not done as they were told, and the need was plain. Athaliah and her sons had stolen the dedicated things of the temple to use them in the worship of Baal (v. 7), and restoring the temple was bound to be expensive.

"That wicked woman" is the character given to this Athaliah by the Holy Spirit in 2 Chronicles 24:7. She was just such a daughter as her infamous mother, "that woman Jezebel," was likely to produce. Her father was himself a murderer, and she carried the family character in full. She heartlessly slaughtered her own grandchildren in her lust for power. She would be ruler of the kingdom herself, even at the cost of the lives of helpless and innocent children.

Daughter of Jezebel and Ahab, and granddaughter of Omri, wife of Jehoram king of Judah. You could say she brought the worship of Baal into Judah, and she raised her son to follow her evil ways. Jehu killed that son while executing judgment on the house of Ahab. Athaliah then seized the throne and tried to destroy the whole royal line. One child, Joash, was hidden in the temple. After Athaliah had reigned six years, they crowned him king... The history is a solemn instance of the danger of an unholy alliance.

Is it any wonder that God allowed Jehu to wipe them out?... God's judgment passed like a violent wind, sweeping everything away in Israel and Judah. The instruments of this judgment were the fleshly zeal of Jehu and the wickedness of Athaliah's idolatrous heart. Both produced the same result — massacre and murder. These instruments, especially Athaliah, imagined that they were carrying out their own plans. In the end they were only the sword of the Lord, vindicating the holiness of His character by this destruction. And God will break the sword when it has finished its work. In breaking it He shows that He is a righteous God who does not leave crime unpunished.

It seems that what little was given was misused for the support of the priests and Levites. This neglect went on until the twenty-third year of Joash... Joash was true to what he had learned in the word of God. He did not hesitate to correct even the high priest if the priest was careless in carrying it out. That Word is above all. He owed his uncle a lasting debt of gratitude for saving his life as an infant. Even so, when the occasion required, he could ask him, as God's high priest, to do his duty about the needed repairs of that house over which God had set him. Would God that he had continued in that mind to the end of his reign.

The leading work of Jehoash's reign was the repairing of the temple. This had become necessary because the family of Athaliah had broken it up and used the dedicated things in the worship of Baal (2 Chron. 24:7). The king made the first move, but the priests' neglect made the work almost impossible. Then Jehoiada took up the work in earnest, and the people gave freely. They collected a large sum and used it only to repair the temple. When the repairs were finished, they used what was left to buy the sacred vessels (2 Chron. 24:14).

He gathered the priests and Levites. He ordered them to go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from the people to pay for the repairs. He told them to do this quickly. However, this was not done quickly. Perhaps they had no heart for demanding money from the people, because people generally resist such demands. It is the principle of law-keeping, which always awakens resistance in people's minds.

What little was given seems to have been misused to support the priests and Levites. This neglect continued until the twenty-third year of Joash.

He stayed true to what he had learned in the word of God. So he did not hesitate to correct even the high priest, if the high priest was slow to carry it out. That Word is above all. He owed his uncle a lasting debt of gratitude for saving his life as a baby. Yet when the occasion required it, he could ask him to do his duty as God's high priest. That meant making the needed repairs to the house God had set him over. If only he had stayed in that frame of mind to the end of his reign.

This method proved effective. People came and gave freely, with no pressure on them. This is the principle of grace shown us in the New Testament. Believers are not required to give. They hear of definite needs, and they are told, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). There is no demand, only encouragement.

To Joash the important thing was to go back to "the tribute of Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness" (2 Chr. 24:9). He would not turn aside from the word of the law when it came to honouring the house of God and everything connected with it. It is the same in our day. For us, as for Joash, it is not a question of beginning to build the house, or of putting up a new Church. It is only a matter of repairing the breaches. For that work God does not leave us to our own ideas, which would only add new breaches to the old evils.

It commended itself to the people's conscience, as what is of God usually does. They gave as the Lord loves to see His people give — cheerfully… No one kept strict accounts. There was no suspicion of dishonesty or misuse. The most beautiful confidence prevailed, showing the work of God. When it is the work of God, the heart is engaged. Selfish ends are absent. There is one common object, and all this produces confidence.

All the days of Jehoiada the priest, Joash did right in the sight of the Lord. He even seems to take the lead, giving the command to repair the damage Athaliah had done (2 Chron. 24:6-11). But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. Like a bow held bent by force, the heart springs back to its natural bent the moment the pressure stops.

When the children of Israel were numbered in a census, each individual was required to pay to the Lord half a shekel as a ransom for himself. It is called "atonement money." We may wonder about this. Atonement was made by the blood of the sacrifice offered, and yet this atonement money was required too. This individual requirement was to press home on every person that atonement costs something. Of course half a shekel is nothing compared with the price the Lord Jesus paid in giving Himself. But the rich were not to give more, nor the poor less, than half a shekel. All stand on exactly the same basis in the matter of atonement.

To Joash the important thing was to go back to "the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness." He would not turn aside from the word of the law when it came to honouring the house of God and everything connected with it. It is the same in our day. For us, as for Joash, it is not a question of beginning to build the house, of putting up a new Church. It is only a matter of repairing the breaches. And for that God does not leave us to our own ideas, which would only add new breaches to the old evils. In the Word of God we too have our tribute of Moses, showing what God expects of us.

It may have been that they did not have a heart for demanding money from the people, because people generally resist such demands. It is the principle of law-keeping, which always awakens resistance in people's minds.

This method proved effective, for people came to give voluntarily without pressure being put on them. This is the principle of grace shown us in the New Testament. There believers are not required to give. They learn of definite needs, and then they are told, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). A demand is not made, but encouragement is given.

It commended itself to the people's conscience, as what is of God usually does, and they gave as the Lord loves to see His people give — cheerfully. … No one demanded strict accounts. No one suspected dishonesty or misuse of the money. The most beautiful trust prevailed, and it showed the work of God. When it is the work of God, the heart is engaged; selfish ends are absent.

The priests were using for their own benefit the gifts they received from their acquaintances. They did have the right to live from the things offered at the altar. But in their hearts their own interests came before those of the Lord and of His house. Their conduct showed this. They lived from their gifts, and the house of God kept its breaches.

External influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bow held bent: it springs back to its normal shape the moment the pressure stops. How often this solemn fact is seen in Christian families! How often a son leaving the godly restraints of his father's house plunges with greater eagerness into the sinful pleasures of the world!

It is commendable that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the Lord. He gathered the priests and Levites and ordered them to go out to the cities of Judah and gather money from the people to pay for the repairs. He told them to do this quickly. However, this was not done quickly. Perhaps they had no heart for demanding money from the people. People generally resist such demands. It is the principle of law-keeping, which always awakens resistance in people's minds.

This method worked, for people came and gave freely, with no one pressuring them. This is the principle of grace shown us in the New Testament. There believers are not required to give. They are told about definite needs, and then told, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). A demand is not made, but encouragement is given. The leaders rejoiced in this, and so did all the people. They gladly brought their gifts and put them into the chest.

It commended itself to the people's conscience, as what is of God usually does, and they gave as the Lord loves to see His people give — cheerfully.

For Joash the important thing was to go back to the tax Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. He would not turn aside from the word of the law when it came to honouring the house of God and all that was connected with it. It is the same in our day. For us, as for Joash, the question is not about beginning to build the house, or putting up a new Church. It is only a matter of repairing the breaches. For that God does not leave us to our own ideas, which would only add new breaches to the old evils. In the Word of God we too have our tribute of Moses — the sign of what God expects of us. If our hearts are willing, they will seek only one thing: the interests of Christ and of the house of God on earth.

The willing-hearted people gave more than enough. "And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made utensils for the house of the LORD, both for the service and for the burnt offerings."

No strict accounts were kept. There was no suspicion of dishonesty or misuse. The most beautiful confidence prevailed, showing the work of God. When it is the work of God, the heart is engaged. Selfish ends are absent. There is one common object. All this produces confidence.

All the days of Jehoiada the priest, Joash did right in the sight of the Lord. He even seems to take the lead, giving orders to repair the damage that Athaliah had done. But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. Like a bow released, the heart springs back to its normal bent the moment the pressure stops.

The priests were using for their own benefit the gifts they received from their acquaintances. They did have the right to live from the things offered at the altar. But in their hearts their own interests came before those of the Lord and of His house, and their conduct showed it. They lived off their gifts, and the house of God kept its broken walls. Jehoiada himself let them do it without protesting.

This method proved effective. People came to give voluntarily, and no one put pressure on them. This is the principle of grace shown us in the New Testament. Believers are not required to give. They learn of definite needs, and Scripture tells them, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). There is no demand, only encouragement.

It commended itself to the people's conscience, as what is of God usually does, and they gave as the Lord loves to see His people give — cheerfully.

It filled up more than once. The king's scribe and the high priest put the money into bags and counted it. They were a necessary witness to the amount gathered.

They kept no exacting accounts. No one suspected dishonesty or misuse of the money. The most beautiful confidence prevailed, and it showed the work of God. When it is the work of God, the work engages the heart. Selfish ends are absent. There is one common object. All this produces confidence: "And they did not ask for an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen, for they dealt honestly."

Those who held the money to hand out to the workers did not distrust them. Their whole conduct had brought their unselfishness to light. So a happy fellowship reigned among them all, and nothing came in to hinder the steady progress of the work. That result always follows when people put the interests of the house of God first instead of pushing them into the background.

As long as Jehoiada the priest lived, Joash did right in the sight of the Lord. He even seems to take the lead, and he gives the command to repair the damage Athaliah had done (2 Chron. 24:6-11). But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bow held under strain: it springs back to its normal bent the moment the pressure stops. How often this solemn fact is seen in Christian families!

Joash told Jehoiada plainly that the priests and Levites had not done what they were told, for the need was obvious. Athaliah and her sons had stolen the dedicated things of the temple to use in the worship of Baal (v. 7). So repairing the temple was bound to be expensive.

Checking the chest each day, the king's officers found plenty of money. Where there was a mind to do the work, the restoration of the temple was soon finished (v. 13).

Some of these stones are still in place. They are finely shaped and squared, and they fit so closely that you cannot slide a pen-knife between them, though there is no mortar. This is the work of the "stone-squarers," and in stones so large it shows great skill in the masons.

The priests were using for themselves the gifts they received from their acquaintances (vv. 7-8). They did have the right to live from the things offered at the altar. But in their hearts their own interests came before those of the Lord and of His house, and their conduct showed it. They lived on their gifts, and the house of God kept its breaches. Jehoiada himself let them do so without protesting. Further on (v. 15) we see people with no official position — from those set over the work down to the carpenters and masons — who "dealt faithfully," much more so than the priests themselves.

On the other hand, those who had the money in hand to distribute to the workers did not distrust them, for they recognised the unselfishness brought to light by their whole conduct. So a happy fellowship reigned among all, and nothing came in to hinder the orderly progress of the work. This is always the result when the interests of the house of God come first instead of being pushed into the background.

The question will arise: "Should the example of these people of long ago be the pattern for us to follow today?" The answer is "No." The times of Joash and of Josiah were exceptional. In each reign a great spiritual revival was going on. The people — or at least a remnant of them — were turning back to their God after many years of grave wrongdoing. Hearts and consciences were awake to His holy will. Since this was so, precautions against fraud were hardly needed.

In this project it must have been Jehoiada's influence that moved Joash, since Jehoiada was in charge of the service of the temple.

Joash was faithful at the beginning of his reign. Still, he walks more by Jehoiada's faith than by his own. After the high priest's death he leans on the princes of Judah, serves idols, and even puts to death the son of Jehoiada, through whom the Holy Spirit had testified against him.

For us, just as for Joash, it is not a question of beginning to build the house, of setting up a new Church. It is only a matter of repairing the breaches. And for that God does not abandon us to our own initiative, which would only add new breaches to the old evils.

This method proved effective. People came and gave willingly, and no one pressured them. This is the principle of grace shown us in the New Testament. There believers are not required to give. They are told of definite needs, and the word to them is, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). That is not a demand but an encouragement. The leaders rejoiced in this, and so did all the people. They gladly brought their gifts and put them into the chest.

The priests were using for themselves the gifts they received from their acquaintances. They did have the right to live from the things offered at the altar. But in their hearts their own interests came before those of the Lord and of His house, and their conduct showed it. They lived from their gifts, and the house of God kept its breaches. Jehoiada himself let them do so without protesting. Later we see that people with no official position, from those set over the work down to the carpenters and masons, "dealt faithfully," much more so than the priests themselves.

They kept no strict accounts. No one suspected dishonesty, or money going astray. The most beautiful confidence prevailed, and that showed the work of God. When it is the work of God, the heart is engaged. Selfish ends are absent. There is one common object, and all this produces confidence.

It is the same in our day. Our task, like Joash's, is not to begin building the house or to put up a new Church. It is only a matter of repairing the breaches. For that God does not leave us to our own ideas, which would only add new breaches to the old evils.

The king and Jehoiada gave the money to those in charge of the service of the house of the Lord, and they hired masons, carpenters and iron and brass workers. When there was a mind to do the work, the restoration of the temple was soon accomplished.

Flesh may be even more zealous than faith. But there is this difference: faith continues, while the effort of flesh is short-lived. It may begin well, but the question is whether it continues. Its continuance is always the great proof of what is divine. Joash did not continue as he began. We are told that after his good effort on the neglected repairs of the house of Jehovah, he relaxed.

The willing-hearted people gave more than enough. And the priests were not left without provision: "The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests" (2 Kings 12:16).

They kept no exacting accounts. No one suspected dishonesty or misuse of money. The most beautiful confidence prevailed, and that showed the work of God. When it is the work of God, the heart is engaged; selfish ends are absent.

Articles of gold speak of that which is strictly for God's glory, and articles of silver speak of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. These ought to be most prominent in worship.

When the repair work was done, money still remained. With it they added articles of gold and silver for serving in the temple. The temple now had its true place, and so burnt offerings went up there continually all the days of Jehoiada.

For Joash the important thing was to go back to "the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness." He would not turn aside from the word of the law when it came to honouring the house of God and everything connected with it. It is the same in our day. Like Joash, we are not asked to start building the house, or to set up a new Church. It is only a matter of repairing the breaches. For that God does not leave us to our own ideas, which would only add new breaches to the old evils.

Flesh may be even more zealous than faith, but then there is this difference: faith continues; the effort of flesh is short-lived. It may begin well, but the question is whether it continues. Its continuance is always the great proof of what is divine.

Knowledge and real piety do not make up for the lack of a direct relationship of the soul with the Lord. The Christian must seek this before all else. Thousands of godly souls stay in a childlike state. They lean first on their parents, and later on their spiritual leaders, instead of leaning on God and the Word. If the leader disappears, their godliness disappears with him. If he turns aside, their soul turns aside after him.

"And they buried him in the city of David among the kings (as well they might), because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward His house" — He had remembered the claims of the Holy One of Israel, and he attended to them with energy and faithfulness. Only the energy of faith could explain a man nearly a hundred years old setting himself to overthrow such an enemy of God as Athaliah.

At his death he was buried among the kings, because he had truly acted as a good king (v. 16). He never took the place of king himself. He gave that place to the rightful heir to the throne, while guiding him well all the days of his life.

What a contrast between him and those other two high priests, Annas and Caiaphas! He worked to keep the royal line alive; they worked to destroy the final Heir — "great David's greater Son." And when the time of rewards comes, what will be the unspeakable differences!

We should expect that Joash would keenly feel the loss of the man through whom he had been so greatly blessed. In mourning his death, he would surely mean to go on following his example.

Joash was faithful at the start of his reign. Still, he walks more by Jehoiada's faith than by his own. After the death of the high priest, he leans on the princes of Judah, and he serves idols. He even puts to death the son of Jehoiada, through whom the Holy Spirit had testified against him.

But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bent bow: it springs back to its normal shape the moment the pressure stops. How often we see this solemn fact in Christian families! How often a son leaves the godly restraints of his father's house! He then plunges into the sinful pleasures of the world with all the more enthusiasm!

Second-hand faith will never do. There must be a living link connecting the soul with God. Each of us must deal with God for ourselves, or we shall give way when the testing time comes. Human example and human influence may be all very good in their place… But suppose that is all. Suppose there is no deep spring of personal faith and personal knowledge. Suppose there is no link of personal relationship and communion, formed and sustained by God. Then, when the human props go, when the tide of human influence ebbs, when general decline sets in, we shall give up the confession of His name.

Jehoiada, the protector of Joash, had been buried with the kings (v. 16). Joash was king, yet he was not buried with the kings. The people saw that he did not deserve the burial Jehoiada had — even though they themselves had followed Joash into idolatry. How sad was the end of the man who wanted to please the people rather than to please God!

He had remembered the claims of the Holy One of Israel, and attended to them with vigour and faithfulness. It could be nothing other than the energy of faith for a man nearly a hundred years old to set himself to overthrow such an enemy of God as Athaliah.

At his death they buried him among the kings, because he had really acted as a good king (v. 16). He did not take the place of king himself. He gave that place to the rightful heir to the throne, yet he influenced him for good all the days of his life.

He re-established the kingdom, and the cause of the Lord revived during his last days on earth. He was a true king in heart and mind. It was fitting that the old priest's head, with its priestly turban, should rest among those who had worn the crown.

He was connected by marriage with the royal house. They also valued the great work he had done, "because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and His house." So they buried him among the kings. After his death it became clear that the revival had rested on the good priest. Joash's convictions and faithfulness to the Lord were only skin-deep.

Yes, but it was more the influence of Jehoiada than faith in the living God. An influence, sooner or later, must fail. The influence of man is not the faith of God's elect.

But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bent bow. It springs back to its normal shape the moment the pressure stops. How often we see this solemn fact in Christian families! How often a son leaves the godly restraints of his father's house and plunges with greater eagerness into the sinful pleasures of the world!

Thousands of godly souls stay in a state of childhood. They depend first on their parents, and later on their spiritual leaders, instead of depending on God and the Word. If the leader disappears, their godliness disappears with him. If he turns aside, their soul turns aside after him.

Leaders may change or fail; Christ alone does not change: He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is "the great shepherd of the sheep." He is the one we must hold on to.

The people had buried Jehoiada, the protector of Joash, with the kings (v. 16). But Joash was king, and they did not bury him with the kings. They saw that he did not deserve the burial Jehoiada had, even though they had followed Joash in his idolatry.

Joash was faithful at the start of his reign. Even so, he walks more by Jehoiada's faith than by his own. After the death of the high priest, he leans on the princes of Judah, and serves idols. He even puts to death the son of Jehoiada, through whom the Holy Spirit had testified against him.

While Jehoiada, his uncle, lived, Joash did what was right. But Jehoiada dies. After that, "the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king" — that is, they flattered him — "then the king listened to them." Their evil influence led Joash to his ruin, as princes had before led Rehoboam. Joash gave in to their flattery, and no doubt to their requests as well. So "they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols." How short the step from what looks like outward godliness to open evil!

But external influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bent bow: it springs back to its normal shape the moment the pressure stops. How often we see this solemn fact in Christian families! How often a son leaves the godly restraints of his father's house, and plunges with greater eagerness into the sinful pleasures of the world!

The flesh may be even more zealous than faith, but there is this difference: faith continues; the effort of the flesh is short-lived. It may begin well, but the question is whether it continues. Its continuance is always the great proof of what is divine. Joash did not continue as he began… But here, even, we find the influences, the destructive influences, of the princes of Judah. "The king listened to them," it says, after the death of Jehoiada. They turned from the house of the LORD to idols, and "wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs."

From childhood on, Joash was used to a relationship with God through someone in between. He never felt the need for direct communion with the Lord… Children of Christians often show this same picture. Their parents' faith guides their first steps, which is right and approved by God. Later they show a genuine faith, but it still carries its early habits. They look to people rather than to God Himself… Knowledge and real godliness are no substitute for a direct relationship between the soul and the Lord. The Christian must seek this above everything else. Thousands of godly souls stay in a condition of childhood. They depend first on their parents and later on their spiritual leaders, instead of depending on God and the Word. Let the leader disappear, and their godliness disappears with him; let him turn aside, and their soul turns aside after him… Joash obeyed leaders without discernment, whether Jehoiada or the princes — and that was his ruin.

Leaders may change or fail; Christ alone does not change: He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is "the great shepherd of the sheep." It is to Him that we must cling.

This is what man is like in his corrupt nature! But the gracious Lord did not give them up. His righteousness demanded judgment, yet in infinite mercy He sent prophets to bring them back. These unnamed prophets testified against them, but they would not pay attention. They hardened their hearts against the Lord and His prophets.

The nation follows the king. But God is still patient with Joash and with his people. He sends prophets to them. The judgment is very near, and as certain as their sin, yet He remembers His covenant with them.

As long as Jehoiada the priest lived, Joash did what was right in the Lord's sight. But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bow held bent: it springs back to its own shape the moment the pressure stops. How often we see this solemn fact in Christian families! How often a son leaves the godly restraints of his father's house and plunges into the sinful pleasures of the world with even greater eagerness!

Sadly, Joash had only formally accepted Jehoiada's leadership. He did not follow the faith and example of Jehoiada. Instead of standing firm for God, he listened to the leaders of Judah. They came and bowed down to him, meaning to draw him back into the worship of idols. How many since him have been more swayed by a desire to please men and therefore forget to please God!

His mercy and patience are clearest toward Joash. God sends him a special messenger. This man has a strong natural claim on him, and Joash would listen to him more closely than to anyone else. The All-wise God knows how to use natural feelings for His purposes of mercy. When those feelings are trampled on, it shows all the more how much power Satan has over man. Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada and a cousin of the king, carries God's message and rebuke.

We must catch the least warning. We must listen to the smallest whisper of God's voice and obey it quickly. There are always warnings that we have neglected before chastisement comes.

The Lord Jesus spoke of this solemn event to the scribes and Pharisees. He spoke of "the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar" (Matt. 23:35). Barachiah may have been Zechariah's grandfather, but we have no record of Jehoiada's father. Why did the Lord Jesus accuse the scribes and Pharisees of murdering Zechariah, when this had happened years before? Because they were showing the same cruel, unbelieving attitude toward God. They opposed Christ, an infinitely greater Messenger than Zechariah was. By their attitude they were identifying themselves with those who hated God.

There were others like Gideon, Amasai, and Zechariah. The Spirit clothed Himself with them for the time being, so that He might witness through them… But in all these cases the Spirit acted on men from the outside. He used them for His purpose without regard to their inner moral character.

Both sides had to keep this covenant. The LORD always keeps His side, for He is faithful. But if Israel were unfaithful, they would certainly fall under the judgment of God, who must forsake them.

Since this was spoken by a priest of God who was Jehoiada's son, we should expect Joash at least to pay serious attention, but instead Joash issued the command to stone Zechariah to death in the court of the house of the LORD!

God is still patient with Joash and with his people. He sends prophets to them, for though the judgment is so near, and as certain as their sin, He remembers His covenant with them. He sends a special messenger to Joash — one who has a strong natural claim on him, and who would be listened to more closely than anyone else. The All-wise God knows how to use natural feelings for His purposes of mercy. When those feelings are trampled, that is even greater evidence of Satan's power over man. Zechariah, son of Jehoiada and a cousin of the king, carries God's message and rebuke. Humanly speaking, the king owes his life to Jehoshabeath, and he will listen to her son, if only out of gratitude, even though he pays no attention to the One who sent the words.

A priest of God, Jehoiada's own son, spoke these words. We should expect Joash at least to pay serious attention. Instead he gave the command to stone Zechariah to death in the court of the house of the LORD! So Joash was guilty of despising the blessing he had received through Jehoiada, and of coldly rejecting the God of Israel.

Yes, but it was more the influence of Jehoiada than faith in the living God. An influence, sooner or later, must fail. The influence of man is not the faith of God's elect.

The case of King Joash shows this. A faith based only on training vanishes once the influences holding it up are gone.

This probably refers to Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, whom the king ordered killed. In one of the places "son" may mean "grandson." Chronicles closes the Hebrew Bible, so this murder of a righteous man may well count as the last, just as Abel's was the first.

It seems clear that this refers to Zechariah the prophet, son of Berechiah. Another Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, died as a martyr in the court of the temple. But the son of Berechiah prophesied much later, to the remnant that had returned.

Flesh may be even more zealous than faith. But there is this difference: faith continues, while the effort of flesh is short-lived. It may begin well, but the question is whether it continues. Its continuance is always the great proof of what is divine. Joash did not continue as he had begun.

His mercy and patience are clearest toward Joash, for He sends him a special messenger. This man has a strong natural claim on the king, who would hear him and listen to him closely beyond all others. The all-wise God knows how to use natural feelings for His purposes of mercy. When those feelings are trampled on, that is so much greater evidence of Satan's power over man.

A priest of God spoke this, and he was Jehoiada's son. So we would expect Joash at least to pay serious attention. Instead Joash issued the command to stone Zechariah to death in the court of the house of the Lord! So Joash was guilty of despising the blessing he had received through Jehoiada and coldly rejecting the God of Israel.

What ingratitude! What treachery toward the son of his own close relative, the man who had guarded his life! The Spirit of God records it in words that touch the heart: "Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son."

And He did, and quickly too — for He does not ignore the dying prayers of men like Zechariah.

There is a difference between the last words of this martyr-prophet and the last words of the first martyr of the church. Stephen prayed, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Zechariah said, "May the Lord see and avenge!"

Zechariah died in a time ruled by law, where "every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution." Grace reigned in Stephen's day, as it still does in ours. That is why the two dying prayers differ. Both prayers, unlike as they are, exactly fitted the time in which each man bore witness.

It may be that Barachiah was the grandfather of Zechariah, but we have no record of Jehoiada's father. Why did the Lord Jesus accuse the scribes and Pharisees of murdering Zechariah? It had happened years before. Because in opposing Christ they showed the same cruel, unbelieving attitude toward God. And Christ is an infinitely greater Messenger than Zechariah was. By their attitude they were identifying themselves with those who hated God.

"At the commandment of the king"! How sad — Joash was unfaithful to God, and shamefully ungrateful to the man who had done so much for him! Zechariah was his cousin, and his foster-brother too!

God is still patient with Joash and with his people. He sends prophets to them, for He remembers His covenant with them — even though the judgment is so near, and as certain as their wickedness. His mercy and patience show most clearly toward Joash. He sends him a special messenger: a man with a strong natural claim on him, a man Joash would hear and take seriously beyond all others… The all-wise God knows how to use natural feelings for His purposes of mercy. To trample on those feelings is so much greater evidence of Satan's power over man.

But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. Like a bow held under strain, the heart springs back to its normal bent the moment the pressure stops. How often we see this solemn fact in Christian families! How often a son leaves the godly restraints of his father's house! He then dives all the harder into the sinful pleasures of the world.

As Zechariah died, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge!" (v. 22). This was consistent with his being under law. How different were the words of the Lord Jesus at His death: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). How different, too, were the words of Stephen as they stoned him: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60). But God answered Zechariah's prayer, and serious consequences fell on Joash and his kingdom.

Zechariah said, "May the LORD see and avenge!" In type he stands for the tribulation martyrs of the Jewish remnant. They will bear the testimony about righteousness and the coming King at the end of the present age, and their blood will cry to heaven for vengeance (Rev. 6:9-11).

"May the LORD see and avenge!" And He did, and very quickly too. He does not ignore the dying prayers of men like Zechariah. "… For the army of the Syrians came with few men, and the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash… his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest."

The Lord Jesus referred to this when He spoke to the scribes and Pharisees: "the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar" (Matthew 23:35). Barachiah may have been Zechariah's grandfather, but we have no record of Jehoiada's father. Why did the Lord Jesus accuse the scribes and Pharisees of murdering Zechariah, when this had happened years before? They were showing the same cruel, unbelieving attitude toward God. They opposed Christ, a messenger infinitely greater than Zechariah. By their attitude they were identifying themselves with those who hated God.

Retribution is an essential part of God's government, and we can see it in 2 Chronicles 24:25. But something matters even more than repayment. The line of kings, the sons of David, was wicked at the time, and their position only increased their guilt. Yet that line had to be kept until He comes — the great Son who will reign in righteousness.

The Lord gave Joash at least a short time to rethink the folly of his evil course. But there was no change in the unhappy king. In the spring of the year the army of Syria came against him. So Joash had a little time to consider that God's judgment was upon him because of his idolatry and his cruelty to the son of Jehoiada.

"The Lord require it." And He did, and that very quickly — for He does not ignore the dying prayers of men like Zechariah.

All the princes of the people had pushed the king into evil and had plotted against Zechariah. Now they are put to death. So the word that dying prophet spoke came true: "The Lord see and require it."

As long as Jehoiada the priest lived, Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord. He even seems to take the lead, giving orders to repair the damage done to the house of the Lord. But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bow forced into a bend. It springs back to its natural position the moment the pressure stops. How often we see this solemn fact in Christian families!

2 Kings 12:17-18 records an earlier invasion by the Syrians under Hazael. Joash bought him off with gold and other treasures taken from the temple and the king's palace. That was when they found out how weak Joash's army really was, despite its being "a very great host." So they sent only "a small company of men" on the second expedition against him.

To pay his ransom to Hazael, Joash sent him all the holy things of the house of God. What had become of his wonderful zeal for everything that belonged to the Lord? Even this did not stop Hazael from showing up at Jerusalem with a small number of men, to the shame and disgrace of Joash's great army. That army now had no strength, because Joash had forsaken the Lord, the God of his fathers.

In this whole history we must notice one thing. A God of judgment is governing here directly, because those He judges stood in close connection with Himself.

"Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." The sin of sowing weeds may be forgiven, but the reaping must match the sowing. The first is grace, the second is government. Each acts in its own sphere, and neither interferes with the other.

So it was not might or power; it was God... What was a host against the Lord guiding His people? But now even a small company overwhelms the great host of Judah.

God told Israel that one of them would chase a thousand (Josh. 23:10). This came through faith in the living God, who fought their battles. But by turning away from God they would find themselves much weaker than their enemies. One enemy would chase a thousand of them, and two would put ten thousand to flight (Deut. 32:30).

Hazael, the king of Syria, was God's rod. He came up against Jerusalem after seizing Gath... To pay his ransom to Hazael, Joash sent him all the holy things of the house of God. What had become of his wonderful zeal for all that belonged to the Lord? According to 2 Chronicles 24:23-27, this did not stop Hazael from coming to Jerusalem with a small number of men. It was the shame and disgrace of Joash's great army, now without strength because he had forsaken the Lord, the God of his fathers.

"May the LORD see and avenge!" And He did, and quickly — He does not ignore the dying prayers of men like Zechariah... The Syrians "came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people." God judged them first, because they were mainly guilty of persuading the king to forsake the Lord... "The king is not saved by his great army," wrote the king (Ps. 33:16) whose throne Joash was so unworthy to fill.

Joash was faithful at the beginning of his reign. Still, he walked more by Jehoiada's faith than by his own. After the death of the high priest, he leaned on the princes of Judah and served idols. He even put to death the son of Jehoiada, through whom the Holy Spirit had testified against him. God forsook Joash, and the Syrians defeated him.

Flesh may be even more zealous than faith, but then there is this difference: faith continues; the effort of flesh is short-lived. It may begin well, but the question is whether it continues. Its continuance is always the great proof of what is divine.

In this whole history we must notice that a God of judgment is governing directly. He does so because those He judges were in close connection with Himself.

All the princes of the people who had urged the king into evil and had conspired against Zechariah are put to death. So the word of that dying prophet came true: "May the LORD see and avenge!" The enemy leaves Joash severely wounded, and his own servants kill him — an Ammonite and a Moabite, unknowing instruments of divine justice. This too avenges the blood of the son of Jehoiada upon the king, just as the prophet had said.

It is little wonder that the death of Jehoash was so tragic. When he rebelled against serving the Lord, his own servants rebelled against him, and as a result of a conspiracy, two of them killed Jehoash. So a reign that began well ended in disgrace and shame.

They did not kill him, for God had decided that the poor king's own servants would kill him. They took advantage of his wounds and killed him in bed. So Joash had a little time to consider that God's judgment was upon him because of his idolatry and his cruelty to the son of Jehoiada.

Was there no conscience in Joash? No feeling of gratitude toward Jehoiada or his family? He did not remember the kindness of the father, but killed the son.

If God gives the names of the conspirators, it was not that He took any pleasure in them, though their act may still have carried righteous judgment. He lets us know that they were men who had no feeling for Israel. They had the heart of an enemy under an Israelite name. Zabad was the son of Shimeath, an Ammonitess, and Jozabad the son of Shimrith, a Moabitess. On the mother's side the stock was evil, and a mother has enormous influence for good or evil.

Note that Joash's own servants killed him. One was the son of an Ammonitess, the other the son of a Moabitess. Scripture makes a solemn, silent comment here. The same disobedience that could allow such marriages, which the Scriptures strictly forbid, could even bring their children to serve at court.

In this whole history we must notice something. A God of judgment is governing directly here, and that is because those whom He judges were in close connection with Himself.

Retribution is an essential part of God's government, and it stands in plain sight in 2 Chronicles 24:25. But there is something more important still than any such repayment. The line of kings, the sons of David, was wicked at the time, and their position made their guilt greater. Yet that line had to survive until the great Son comes, who will reign in righteousness.

If God gives the names of the conspirators, it was not that He took any pleasure in them, though their act might not be without righteous judgment. He lets us know that they were men who had none of the feeling of Israel. They had the heart of an enemy under an Israelite name. Zabad was the son of Shimeath, an Ammonite woman, and Jozabad was the son of Shimrith, a Moabite woman. On the mother's side the stock was evil, and a mother has enormous influence for good or evil.

Notice that Joash's own servants killed him. One was the son of an Ammonite woman, and the other the son of a Moabite woman. This is a solemn, silent comment of Scripture on the disobedience behind it. That disobedience could allow such marriages, which Scripture strictly forbids. It could even bring their children into service at the king's court.

The Ammonite and the Moabite were forbidden ever to come into the congregation of Jehovah, and there were a few other restrictions. Deut. 23:1-4.

Notice through these chapters how often Scripture records the name of the mother. Dear mothers, what a weight of responsibility rests on your shoulders. You may not hand it over to anyone else — not even if you were a queen. It is still your own special task to train those precious children, while their hearts are young and tender, in the way the Lord wants them to go.

All the princes of the people who had urged the king into evil and conspired against Zechariah were put to death. So the word of that dying prophet came true: "Jehovah see and require it." The enemy left Joash himself "in great diseases," and his own servants killed him — an Ammonite and a Moabite. They were unwitting instruments of divine justice. In this way too, God avenged the blood of the son of Jehoiada on the king, just as the prophet had said.

The Lord rightly repaid Joash for the killing of Zechariah; He required it of him. So each man is responsible for himself and is judged justly. At the same time, every event, even the smallest, is in His hand to control and direct as He pleases. How can man dare to pass judgment on such wisdom as this? Rather let us bow our heads and adore.

Son of Shimeath, an Ammonite woman: he assisted in slaying Joash, king of Judah. 2 Chr. 24:26. He is called JOZACHAR in 2 Kings 12:21.

While retribution is an essential element in the government of God, and plainly appears in 2 Chron. 24:25, there is something more important still than any such repayment. The line of kings, the sons of David, had to continue. They were wicked at that time, and their position made their guilt greater. Yet that line had to stand until He comes — the great Son Who will reign in righteousness.

The reign of Joash is a sad example, given to us by the Word. It begins happily, in the power of the Spirit of God, and it ends with everything the beginning had promised gone. Chronicles is the exception: it sets out for us the details of Joash's final unfaithfulness. Kings speaks to us only of the happy and blessed beginning of this reign — no doubt to draw the contrast between the worship of the true God restored in Judah and the idolatrous religion of Israel.

These books mention many historical accounts that the writer could use as the basis of his writing (1 Chron. 5:17; 9:1; 29:29; 2 Chron. 13:22; 24:27; 35:25 and others). For the reader who accepts the Bible as God's inspired Word, these details are not that important. What matters more is that God Himself had the books written to warn us (1 Cor. 10:6, 11).

Clearly he had read the "testimony" handed to him at his coronation. He held to what he had learned in the word of God. So he did not hesitate to correct even the high priest if the priest was slow to carry it out, for that Word is above all. He owed his uncle a lasting debt of gratitude for saving his life as a baby. Even so, when the occasion required it, he could ask him to do his duty as God's high priest and see to the needed repairs of that house over which God had set him. If only he had kept that mind to the end of his reign!

After Jehoiada's death it became clear that the revival rested on the good priest. Joash's convictions and faithfulness to the LORD were only skin-deep. A reaction set in, as has so often happened in the history of the Church. He listened to the evil advice of the princes of Judah. Then they left the house of the LORD God and became idolaters. The result was wrath from God on Judah and Jerusalem for this offence. Such is man in his corrupt nature! But the gracious Lord did not give them up. His righteousness demanded judgment, yet in infinite mercy He sent prophets to bring them back.

Flesh may be even more zealous than faith, but there is this difference: faith continues, while the effort of the flesh is short-lived. It may begin well, but the question is whether it keeps going. Continuance is always the great proof of what is divine.

But outside influence, however holy, can never change the heart. The heart is like a bent bow: it springs back to its natural shape the moment the pressure stops. How often we see this solemn fact in Christian families! How often a son leaves the godly restraints of his father's house and plunges with greater appetite into the sinful pleasures of the world!

Retribution is an essential part of the government of God, and it shows plainly in 2 Chron. 24:25. But there is something still more important than any such repayment. The line of kings, the sons of David, had to be preserved until He, the great Son, comes who will reign in righteousness. Those kings were wicked at the time, and their position increased their guilt.

Joash was rightly repaid for killing Zechariah, and the Lord required it of him. So man is responsible as an individual, and God judges him justly. Yet every event, even the smallest, is in His hand to control and direct as He pleases. How can man dare to judge such wisdom? Instead, let us bow our heads and adore.