“Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years of Jehoiada the priest . . . After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. They abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.”(2 Chron 24:2-3, 17-19)
I find it such a sad story. Joash, the boy king, rescued from his murderous grandmother, Athaliah, daughter of King Ahab of Israel, while all of his brothers were slaughtered; raised in hiding by Jehoiada the priest and his wife, Joash’s aunt, Jehosheba; appointed king of Judah at age 7; rebuilt the temple that had been destroyed by his wicked grandmother; and restored all of the articles of gold and silver taken by her. SUCH potential and he was SO blessed by God! But in the 40 years he reigned in Judah, the Bible can only record that he “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord ALL THE YEARS OF JEHOIADA THE PRIEST!”
How can a king who put so much time and effort into repairing and rebuilding the temple of the Lord, “abandon the temple of the LORD . . .” and worship “Asherah poles and idols”? And why would the turning point in Joash’s life be marked by the death of his uncle? Was Joash only a worshipper of God because of his uncle’s influence? Maybe he felt like he “had” to worship God becase of Jehoiada? Perhaps he cared nothing about God Himself, but he respected Jehoiada too much to hurt him by turning to idol worship while he was alive? Just who was Joash’s relationship with? God? Or Uncle Jehoiada?
And who is YOUR relationship with, friend? Do you serve God because it would hurt your mother or father if you didn’t? Do you go to church because you respect the pastor? Do you call yourself a Christian because you are afraid not to? Do you attend a particular denomination because you have been told that this is the “only” church that will make it to Heaven, the only church that holds to a certain doctrine that you have been told is your key to Eternal Life? If you do, than the moment your parents are gone, your favorite pastor is transferred, or you learn that your church doesn’t teach 100% sound Biblical doctrine, like Joash, you will fall away.
It would have been far better for Joash to have had a personal relationship with God Himself, as did David his forefather. Then even when Jehoiada passed away, Joash would have not strayed and Israel would not have been led back into idolatry.
Who is YOUR relationship with, my friend???
Love in Christ,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.scripturalnuggets.org ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org