Friday, November 8 – 2 Chronicles 24, 2 Kings 14

1. What happened after the death of the priest Jehoiada when the leaders of Judah came to Joash? (2 Chronicles 24:17, 18)

2. What did God do to try to rescue His people? (2 Chronicles 24:19)

3. How did Amaziah obey God? (2 Kings 14:5, 6)

Commentary and Reflection:

Both the books of Kings and Chronicles indicate that Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord during the tutelage of Jehoiada. He had a long reign of 40 years in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles adds details that 2 Kings omits, such as (24:3, 7, 15-22), “And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.”

Although Jehoiada performed excellently as the young king’s mentor, this does not mean he was without flaws. In this case, he followed the custom of polygamy, which was not following God’s ideal for man.

The famous American writer Mark Twain once said that human beings are like the moon, with bright and dark sides. The same could be said of all the kings of Israel and the priest Jehoiada.

In verses 4-14, we see Joash’s bright side. He showed a strong interest in repairing the Temple of the Lord, which the wicked Athaliah and her sons had destroyed to establish idolatry. Athaliah’s evident purpose was to end the worship of the Lord and replace it with the worship of Baal.

When these events occurred, 23 years had already passed in Joash’s reign. Joash called and challenged the high priest himself because the Levites and priests had been negligent in promptly repairing the house of God. It is striking to see this young king, around 30 years old, reprimanding, so to speak, his old mentor. When God is at work, such things happen. All these religious leaders had shown marked negligence. The priests and Levites were more interested in their affairs than in the work of the Lord.

A positive note is that as long as Jehoiada lived, the burnt offerings continued. Then, the elderly priest passed away at the age of 130. A notable detail is that Jehoiada was buried in the tombs of the kings of Judah. Jehoiada effectively functioned as the co-regent during Joash’s childhood and youth.

From verses 17 to 22, we see the “dark side” in the life that once seemed promising for Joash. The dark side of his “moon” emerged. What a sad end for someone God had blessed so much from his childhood! Due to his apostasy, Joash led the people once again to abandon the temple of God, which he had zealously restored. As Paul says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Flattery corrupts those who receive it. Verses 17 and 18 continue, “Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.”

In His mercy, the Lord sent prophets to the people to turn them back to Him, but they did not heed the warnings.

Commenting on how God’s prophets have been persecuted throughout history for denouncing sin, Ellen White says: “In every age prophets had lifted up their voices against the sins of kings, rulers, and people, speaking the words which God gave them, and obeying His will at the peril of their lives. From generation to generation there had been heaping up a terrible punishment for the rejecters of light and truth… Looking forward, Jesus declared that the impenitence of the Jews and their intolerance of God’s servants would be the same in the future as it had been in the past.” (DA 618).

Meanwhile, in Israel, Jeroboam II began to reign. He was characterized by doing evil in the sight of the Lord, following the wicked legacy of his ancestor Jeroboam I, son of Nebat, who made Israel sin. This behavior became characteristic of the kings of Israel. Jeroboam prospered greatly and expanded his borders. Interestingly, this is the first mention of the prophet Jonah, who ministered in northern Israel (Gath-hepher). He prophesied that God, in His mercy, helped Israel despite their apostasy so they would not disappear as a people.

From the stories of these kings of Judah and Israel, we learn that God is the God of second chances. Although His people repeatedly fell into apostasy, the Lord extended His mercy to give them opportunities to repent and return to Him. Our merciful God offers us, too, a second and even a third chance so that if we fall, we can repent and reconcile with Him. We praise His name for His goodness!

Blessings to all.