The reign of Joash

II Kings Chapter 12

Joash began to rule and reigned for forty years. His mother was Ziabiah from Beersheba and all his life, Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. Yet, he did not destroy the pagan shrines and the people still sacrificed and burned incense there.

One day Joash told all the priests to collect the money given voluntarily as offerings and put some of it away to pay for repairs on the Temple. But by the 23rd year of his reign, the priests still had not made the repairs. So he told all the priests to not use anymore of the money for their own needs, but to spend it on repairs.

Then Jehoiada bore a hole in the lid of the large chest and put it beside the altar at the entrance to the Temple. Whenever the chest became full, the court secretary and the high priest counted the money and put it into bags. Then they paid the construction supervisors who paid the people working on the Temple. The money brought to the Temple was not used for making silver cups, lamp snuffers or other articles of gold or silver for the Temple. It was paid out as wages to the construction people who were honest and faithful. However, money contributed for guilt or sin offerings was given to the priests for their own use.

About this time, King Hazael of Aram went to war against Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. Joash collected all the sacred objects that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the previous kings of Judah had dedcated and sent them all to Hazael along with the gold in the treasuries of the Lord's Temple and royal palace. So Hazael called off his attack on Jerusalem. Joash's officers plotted against him and assassinated him at Beth-millo on the road to Silla. The assassins were Jozabad and Jehozabad, both trusted advisors. Joash was buried with his ancestors in the City of David and his son Amaziah became king.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Joash did much that was right, but he didn't go far enough in removing sin from his nation. The Israelites were supposed to offer sacrifices only in designated areas under priestly supervision, not just anywhere. By making sacrifices on the hilltops, they copied pagan customs and encouraged other pagan practices to enter their worship. Blending these beliefs, led people away from God.

The Temple had undergone years of neglect and needed to be totally restored. Pagan idols were removed. The condition of the Temple shows how far the people had strayed from God.

The reason Joash was assissinated was because he had begun to worship idols, killed the prophet Zechariah and had been conquered by the Arameans. They killed him not because he turned from God, but because his kingdom was so out of control.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Joash didn't go far enough in removing sin. Are you sure you've gone far enough in correcting your own actions? Ask yourself: Does the Bible prohibit this action? Does this action take me away from loving, worshiping or serving God? Does it make me its slave? Is it bringing out the bst in me? And does it benefit other believers?

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Update on Stella: I’m sorry to report that this tiny baby has finally passed and is in heaven with our Lord. She fought a long fight and endured much in her few months. Pray for her family.
Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for Brian and Ashley, as they lost the expected baby boy. It was so sad because she was 4 months and we had seen the sonogram of him moving and sucking his thumb.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.