Today’s reading starts on a positive note: a young king (Joash, or his variant spelling, Jehoash) comes to the throne in Judah and seeks after the Lord! He instructs the priests to repair the Temple. How shocking that the Temple is in disrepair! In addition, the Temple had been raided, and the valuable items used to worship the Lord were now used to worship Baal.
While Joash started out with good intentions, wickedness was revealed in his heart. Though he was spared death from a wicked queen as a child, hidden in the Temple and raised by priests, he eventually commanded the death of a prophet who prophesied against him for his wickedness. As a result, the people assassinated their king. Joash’s character and faith were so shallow that once any spiritual influence in his life was removed, he departed from seeking after God. But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! (2 Chronicles 24:17–18, NLT)
What a reminder! It is easy to start out well for God and end terribly, to have a fervor for God and lose it, to go along with faith, but it is not really our faith. I am reminded of Philippians 2:12-13, NLT. Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Continuing well takes work—it doesn’t come automatically!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24.