14 AS LONG AS JEHOIADA LIVED, BURNT OFFERINGS WERE PRESENTED CONTINUALLY IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD. 2 Chronicles 24
Jehoiada the priest, whose name means, ‘Knowledge of the Lord’, was a barrier against evil and wickedness in the life of King Joash and also the people of Judah. In modern jargon we might say, ‘HE HELD THE FORT’; a military metaphor borrowing the imagery of siege warfare (a small force holds the fort against a besieging enemy awaiting relief from a field army). So long as the Offerings were being made in the Temple, wickedness couldn’t get in. How important it is to keep our hearts alive and warm towards the Lord, while all around us opposes our loving God.
The Lord allowed Jehoiada to live one hundred and thirty years and Judah had peace, but change inevitably came when he died.
17 After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, (No doubt for their own evil purposes) AND HE LISTENED TO THEM. 18 They abandoned the temple of the Lord, (First thing to Go was Worship!) the God of their ancestors, and worshipped Asherah poles and idols. (False worship soon followed) Because of their guilt, God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 24
Times of transition or change can be difficult and dangerous times. We need to be watchful and cover them in prayer!
19 Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.
GOD WILL WARN US IF WE’RE HEADING DOWN WRONG PATHS. He warned Judah but they wouldn’t listen and things eventually came to a head.
20 Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, ‘This is what God says: “Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.”’
Zechariah, son of Jehoiada challenged the people, but they wouldn’t listen and Joash had him stoned to death, silenced him.
22 King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, ‘May the Lord see this and call you to account.’
The Lord sent enemies against Judah and Joash himself was soon dead.
So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. (No royal honour for him, may happen again in our day, after the passing of Queen Elisabeth) 2 Chronicles 24:25
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked. Proverbs 25:26
26 When a good person gives in
to the wicked,
it’s LIKE DUMPING GARBAGE
IN A STREAM OF CLEAR WATER. Proverbs 25, Contemporary English Version.
Believers are called to be Salt and Light in this world, to resist compromise and corruption. God depends upon us to honour Him and uphold His Name in our lives.
May we be blessed and strengthened to Stand Strong for Him today. Immanuel