Sometimes a presence is all that’s needed to keep good in and bad out.
The name Jehoiada means ‘knowledge of the Lord OR the Lord knows’. 2 Chronicles 24
It was a Prophetic Name, since he was the chief priest and he held true to God as long as he lived.
Jehoiada was the guardian of the boy king, Joash (means God has given) who came to the throne at age seven years.
2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord ALL THE YEARS OF JEHOIADA THE PRIEST. 3 Jehoiada chose two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters. 2 Chronicles 24
You may be a pastor or perhaps a believer in a work setting with people around you every day. It may not seem like much is being accomplished, but your very presence may be holding back something far worse from entering a situation.
As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the Lord. (Essential for believers today, daily worship and communion with our God)
15 Now Jehoiada was old and full of years, and he died AT THE AGE OF A HUNDRED AND THIRTY. 2 Chronicles 24
God obviously blessed Jehoiada with a long life, but also knew the influence his life was having on the young King and the whole nation. Jehoiada at one hundred and thirty years of age would not have had the strength he did when a younger man. However, throughout his life Joash ‘did right in the eyes of the Lord’ and the sacrifices were offered to God in His Temple. HIS PRESENCE EVEN AS AN OLD MAN, ‘held the line’ and God was honoured in the nation.
13 ‘YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 ‘YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5
Jesus called people very early in His Ministry to be ‘Salt and Light’, that others would see and Glorify God. The Holy Spirit in us should cause others to see and know something is different about us. Jesus urged His listeners NOT TO LOSE THEIR SALTINESS, but to stand out for God and bring the presence of God into situations through their lives. God lives in His children and sooner or later His character will be revealed in us as we continue to walk with Him.
When Jehoiada left the scene of time, King Joash and the people fell into great sin. They stopped worshipping the One True God and fell into idol worship, like the nations around them. Man is created to worship something, let it be our loving, kind, God.
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, “This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 ‘“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’”
27 ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6