( 2 Chronicles 25)
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INTRODUCTION Tucked away in the neglected book of 2
Chronicles is this interesting text
25:18But
King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story:
"Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar
tree: `Give your daughter in marriage to my son.'
But just then a
wild animal came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it! ( Living Bible Trans.)
( 1) HIS HALF-HEARTED BEGINNING
Amaziah, King of Judah, ruled from 796 767 B.C. We are told that he put to death those who had assassinated his father. And, in keeping with the Mosaic Law, spared their sons. ( 2 Chron. 25:3-4) He also strengthened Judahs army. ( vs. 5)
3When Amaziah was
well established as king, he executed the men who had assassinated his father. 4However,
he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the
LORD written in the Book of the Law of Moses: "Parents must not be put to
death for the sins of their children, nor the children for the sins of their
parents. Those worthy of death must be executed for their own crimes."
5Another thing Amaziah did was to organize the army,
assigning leaders to each clan from Judah and Benjamin. Then he took a census
and found that he had an army of 300,000 men twenty years old and older, all
trained in the use of spear and shield.
The Good News Bible has He did it reluctantly. The Living Bible renders it he resented it !
He did these things to curry favour with the people over whom he reigned , not out of any sense of obedience to God. He did them because such was expected from one in his position.
And the God, who looks on the heart, knew !!
.
(2) HIS RASH
DECISION
Without reference to prayer, King Amaziah hires mercenaries from the Northern House of Israel.
And pays them a vast sum.
25:6He also paid about
7,500 pounds of silver to hire
100,000 experienced
fighting men from Israel.
But the House of Israel is steeped in idolatry and these soldiers
bring their gods with them. It is the sin of yoking together with unbelievers
which Scripture continually condemns. ( 2 Corinth 6:14-17) As a result God sends a prophet to rebuke
Amaziah !
25:7But
a man of God came to the king and said, "O king, do not hire troops from
Israel,
for the LORD is not with
Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!
8If you let them go with your
troops into battle, you will be defeated no matter how well you fight. God will
overthrow you, for he has the power to help or to frustrate."9Amaziah
asked the man of God, "But what should I do about the silver I paid to
hire the army of Israel?" The man of God replied, "The LORD is able to give
you much more than this!"
Notice Amaziah is concerned about his 75,000 pounds of silver. The Man of God is concerned about obedience to God. After all, what shall it profit a man if he keeps 75,000 pounds and loses God ?
Nor does God want mercenaries in His service ! The Lord Jesus called them hirelings, those who only care for the sheep if they are paid for it. But Gods true shepherds serve Him out of love ! ( John 10:12-13)
(3) HIS COMMENDABLE REACTION
Amaziah sends the mercenaries home and forfeits his 75,000 pounds !
10So Amaziah discharged the
hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim.
This made them angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great
rage.
But as they head home to Israel they slaughter Jews and plunder villages.
13Meanwhile, the hired troops that Amaziah had sent home raided
several
of the towns of Judah between Samaria and Beth-horon,
killing three thousand people and carrying off great quantities of
plunder.
It is sadly true that the sins we commit may be forgiven,
yet the consequences will remain. Amaziahs folly in hiring these men, although
put right by dismissing them , still resulted in tragedy.
..
(4) HIS SINFUL
ACTS
King Amaziah now leads his army against the
Edomites. We are not told that God sanctioned it, certainly not the cruelty
that accompanied Judahs victory.
11Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley
of Salt, where
they killed ten thousand Edomite troops from Seir. 12They
captured another ten thousand and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off,
dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.
It has been suggested that Amaziahs freedom from the godly influences that had
surrounded him in Jerusalem now gave
way to his true rebellious nature. For
not only did he exact cruelty upon the Edomites, but he brought their gods
home with him. And worshipped them !
14When King Amaziah returned from defeating the Edomites, he
brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own
gods, bowed down in front of them, and presented sacrifices to them!
Again, a prophet of
God confronts the King
but this time to no avail !
15This made the LORD very angry,
and he sent a prophet to ask, "Why have you
worshiped gods who could not even save their own people from you?" 16But the king
interrupted him and said, "Since when have I asked your advice? Be quiet now before
I have you killed!"So the prophet left with this warning: "I know
that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have not
accepted my counsel."
Now Amaziah picks a
fight with Israel
having consulted his counsellors
but not God !
17After consulting with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent
this challenge
to Israel's king Jehoash,
.
"Come and meet me in battle!"
.
(5) HIS UNHEEDED
REBUKE !
18But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with
this story: "Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a
mighty cedar tree: `Give your daughter in marriage to my son.' But just then a
wild animal came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it! 19You
may be very proud of your conquest of Edom, but my advice is to stay home. Why
stir up trouble that will bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?"
20But Amaziah would not listen, for God was arranging to destroy
him for worshiping the gods of Edom. 21So King Jehoash of Israel
mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their
battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah. 22Judah was routed by the
army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home. 23King
Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah at Beth-shemesh and brought
him back to Jerusalem. Then Jehoash ordered his army to demolish six hundred
feet of Jerusalem's wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 24He
carried off all the gold and silver and all the utensils from the Temple of God
that had been in the care of Obed-edom. He also seized the treasures of the
royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.
King Jehoash warns
him that he will be crushed like a thistle stood upon by a passing animal. But Amaziah pays no heed. As a result Judah
is routed, Jerusalem is plundered
and he is captured !
(5) HIS SORRY ENDING .
25King Amaziah of Judah lived on for fifteen years after the death
of King Jehoash of Israel. 26The rest of the events of Amaziah's
reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah
and Israel. 27After Amaziah turned away from the LORD, there was a
conspiracy against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his
enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there. 28They
brought him back to Jerusalem on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors
in the City of David.
Amaziah lived ( not
reigned !) another 15 years ( vs. 25 ) until he was assassinated. He who began half-heartedly ( 2) is now turned away from the Lord altogether. ( 27)
.
CONCLUSION From this almost unknown story we learn a host of lessons :-
* The Danger of the Unequal Yoke . *
The folly of not seeking Gods guidance.
* The truth of Proverbs 16:18
that Pride goeth before destruction
! * The sin of
turning a deaf ear to Gods prophets.
* The motivation for
service to God , love not lucre !
* The personal responsibility for our own eternal destiny
( vs. 4) * The need for a
whole-hearted commitment to our God.
And maybe there
was a lesson for you that I failed to mention
??
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2 Chronicles 22 NEW LIVING TRANS.
10When
Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead,
she set out to destroy the rest of Judah's royal family.
11But Ahaziah's sister Jehosheba,
the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah's infant son, Joash, and stole him
away from among the rest of the king's children, who were about to be killed.
She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jehosheba, the wife of
Jehoiada the priest, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him. 12Joash
remained hidden in the Temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over
the land.
1In
the seventh year of Athaliah's reign, Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He
got up his courage and made a pact with
five army commanders:
2These men travelled secretly
throughout Judah and summoned the Levites and clan leaders in Judah's towns to
come to Jerusalem. 3They all gathered at the Temple of God, where
they made a covenant with Joash, the young king.
Jehoiada said to them, "The time has come for the king's son to reign! The
LORD has promised that a descendant of David will be our king. 4This
is what you must do. When the priests and Levites come on duty on the Sabbath,
a third of them will serve as gatekeepers. 5Another third will go
over to the royal palace, and the final third will be at the Foundation Gate.
Everyone else should stay in the courtyards of the LORD's Temple.
6Remember, only the priests and
Levites on duty may enter the Temple of the LORD, for they are set apart as
holy. The rest of the people must obey the LORD's instructions and stay
outside. 7You Levites, form a bodyguard for the king and keep your
weapons in hand. Any unauthorized person who enters the Temple must be killed.
Stay right beside the king at all times."
8So the Levites and the people did everything just as Jehoiada the
priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that
Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. Jehoiada the priest did not
let anyone go home after their shift ended. 9Then Jehoiada supplied
the commanders with the spears and shields that had once belonged to King David
and were stored in the Temple of God. 10He stationed the guards
around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south
side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.
11Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king's son, and
placed the crown on his head. They presented Joash with a copy of God's laws
and proclaimed him king. Then they anointed him, and everyone shouted,
"Long live the king!"
12When Athaliah heard the
noise of the people running and the shouts of praise to the king, she hurried
to the LORD's Temple to see what was happening. 13And she saw the
newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar at the
Temple entrance. The officers and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people
from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.
Singers with
musical instruments were leading the people in a great celebration. When
Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted,
"Treason! Treason!"
14Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge
of the troops, "Take her out of the Temple, and kill anyone who tries to
rescue her. Do not kill her here in the Temple of the LORD." 15So
they seized her and led her out to the gate where horses enter the palace
grounds, and they killed her there.
16Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the
people that they would be the LORD's people. 17And all the people
went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars
and smashed the idols, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of
the altars.
18Jehoiada now put the Levitical priests in charge of the Temple of
the LORD, following all the instructions given by David. He also commanded them
to present burnt offerings to the LORD, as prescribed by the law of Moses, and
to sing and rejoice as David had instructed. 19He stationed
gatekeepers at the gates of the LORD's Temple to keep those who were
ceremonially unclean from entering.
20Then the commanders, nobles, rulers, and all the people escorted
the king from the Temple of the LORD. They went through the Upper Gate and into
the palace, and they seated the king on the royal throne. 21So all
the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had
been killed.
1Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in
Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah, from Beersheba. 2Joash
did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada
the priest. 3Jehoiada chose two wives for Joash, and he had sons and
daughters.
4Some time later, Joash decided to repair and restore the Temple of
the LORD. 5He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these
instructions: "Go at once to all the towns of Judah and collect the
required annual offerings, so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not
delay!" But the Levites did not act right away.
6So the king called for Jehoiada the high priest and asked him,
"Why haven't you demanded that the Levites go out and collect the Temple
taxes from the towns of Judah and from Jerusalem? Moses, the servant of the
LORD, levied this tax on the community of Israel in order to maintain the
Tabernacle of the Covenant. "
7Over the years, the followers of wicked Athaliah had broken into
the Temple of God, and they had used all the dedicated things from the Temple
of the LORD to worship the images of Baal. 8So now Joash gave
instructions for a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to the
Temple of the LORD. 9Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah
and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the LORD the tax that Moses, the
servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness.
10This pleased all the leaders and
the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it.
11Whenever the chest became full, the Levites carried it to the
king's officials. Then the court secretary and an officer of the high priest
counted the money and took the chest back to the Temple again. This went on day
after day, and a large amount of money was collected. 12The king and
Jehoiada gave the money to the construction supervisors, who hired masons and
carpenters to restore the Temple of the LORD. They also hired metalworkers, who
made articles of iron and bronze for the LORD's Temple.
13So the men in charge of the renovation worked hard, and they made
steady progress. They restored the Temple of God according to its original
design and strengthened it. 14When all the repairs were finished,
they brought the remaining money to the king and Jehoiada. It was used to make
utensils for the Temple of the LORD--utensils for worship services and for
burnt offerings, including ladles and other vessels made of gold and silver.
And the burnt offerings were sacrificed continually in the Temple of the LORD
during the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.
15Jehoiada lived to a very old age, finally dying at 130. 16He
was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much
good in Israel for God and his Temple.
..
17But after Jehoiada's
death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded the
king to listen to their advice. 18They decided to abandon the Temple
of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and
idols instead! Then the anger of God burned against Judah and Jerusalem because
of their sin. 19The LORD sent prophets to bring them back to him,
but the people would not listen.
20Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the
priest. He stood before the people and said, "This is what God says: Why
do you disobey the LORD's commands so that you cannot prosper? You have
abandoned the LORD, and now he has abandoned you!"
21Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and by order of King Joash
himself, they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD's Temple. 22That
was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his love and loyalty--by killing his
son. Zechariah's last words as he died were, "May the LORD see what they
are doing and hold them accountable!"
2 Chronicles
24
23At the beginning of the year, the Aramean army marched against
Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the
nation. Then they sent all the plunder back to their king in Damascus. 24Although
the Arameans attacked with only a small army, the LORD helped them conquer the
much larger army of Judah. The people of Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God
of their ancestors, so judgment was executed against Joash.
25The Arameans withdrew, leaving Joash severely wounded.
.
2 Kings 14
17About
this time King Hazael of Aram went to war against Gath and captured it. Then he
turned to attack Jerusalem. 18King Joash collected all the sacred
objects that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the previous kings of Judah,
had dedicated, along with what he himself had dedicated. He sent them all to
Hazael, along with all the gold in the treasuries of the LORD's Temple and the
royal palace. So Hazael called off his attack on Jerusalem.
..
25The
Arameans withdrew, leaving Joash severely wounded.
But his own officials decided to kill him for
murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest. They assassinated him as he lay in
bed. Then he was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.
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INTRODUCTION
It was about 840 B.C.
when King Ahaziah of Judah died and
his mother , Athaliah, seized the throne. A daughter of the infamous Jezebel , she soon followed in her
mothers footsteps. A temple to Baal was erected and the Temple of Jehovah was
vandalised.
7Over
the years, the followers of wicked Athaliah had broken into the Temple of God,
and they had
used all the dedicated things from the Temple of the LORD
to worship the
images of Baal. ( 2 Chronicles 24:7)
Queen Athaliah
also decreed the massacre of all
King Davids descendants
.
(1) THE PRESERVATION OF THE SEED OF DAVID
God had promised King David, some century and a half
previous, that his seed would not perish until the Messiah came.
( 2 Samuel 7: 16) And every
king thus far was of the seed of David. But now Athaliahs murderous intent is
a Satanic attack to thwart Gods plan.
It nearly succeeds. But Baby Joash is hidden by his Aunt Jehosheba in a
Temple chamber.
11But
Ahaziahs sister Jehosheba,
. Took Ahaziahs infant son, Joash, and stole him
away from among the rest of the kings children, who were about to be killed.
She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom.
In this way, Jehosheba, the wife of Jehoiada
the priest, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him. 12Joash
remained hidden in the Temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over
the land.
( 2 Chronicles 22:
11-12)
And eventually the Messiah did come, Jesus of Nazareth, born of the seed of David
as the Scripture had foretold. ( Romans
1:3 )
.
(2) THE PRINCIPLES OF STEWARDSHIP
At the age of 7
Joash is crowned King. It is a surprise move orchestrated by the High Priest,
Jehoida.
Athaliah cries Treason but is slain in the royal
stables.
11Then
Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king's son, and placed the crown
on his head. They presented Joash with a copy of God's laws and proclaimed him
king. Then they anointed him, and everyone shouted, "Long live the
king!"
12When Athaliah heard the
noise of the people running and the shouts of praise to the king, she hurried
to the LORD's Temple to see what was happening. 13And she saw the
newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar at the
Temple entrance. The officers and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people
from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.
Singers with
musical instruments were leading the people in a great celebration.
When Athaliah
saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, "Treason!
Treason!"
14Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge
of the troops, "Take her out of the Temple, and kill anyone who tries to
rescue her. Do not kill her here in the Temple of the LORD." 15So
they seized her and led her out to the gate where horses enter the palace
grounds, and they killed her there. ( 2 Chronicles 23)
In the years that follow the worship of Jehovah is
restored. Baal worship in practically destroyed.
Eventually
some 23 years later ( 2 Kings 12:6)
Joash institutes a restoration program for
the Temple.
An offering chest is placed beside the altar and the
Israelites gladly bring their gifts.
2 Chronicles 24: 4Some time later,
Joash decided to repair and restore the Temple of the LORD. 5He
summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: "Go at
once to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings, so
that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!" But the
Levites did not act right away.
The Levites had been lax in collecting these offerings
perhaps they thought giving to the
Temple project may affect the giving to
them. Or it could be they had not handed in to the Temple officials everthing
they had collected in the villages !
2 Chronicles 24 :8So now Joash gave instructions for a
chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to the Temple of the LORD. 9Then
a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to
bring to the LORD the tax that Moses, the servant of God,
had required of the Israelites in the
wilderness.
10This pleased all the leaders and
the people, and they gladly brought their money
and filled the chest with it.
11Whenever the chest became full, the Levites carried it to the
king's officials. Then the court secretary and an officer of the high priest
counted the money and took the chest back to the Temple again. This went on day
after day, and a large amount of money was collected
.. They restored the
Temple of God according to its original design and strengthened it. 14When
all the repairs were finished, they brought the remaining money to the king and
Jehoiada. It was used to make utensils for the Temple of the LORD
15Jehoiada
lived to a very old age, finally dying at 130.
16He was buried among the kings in
the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his
Temple.
..
*Whilst the Old Testament teaches giving was to be
directed to a central store-house and then distributed by those in charge , the
New Testament teaches each Christian is responsible for where his money goes !
*The Law of Moses commanded the giving of a certain
amount on certain occasions , the New Testament lays down no such law. We are to give as God has prospered us
*Joash sees to
it that the priests and Levites and those who worked on restoring the
Temple receive their due share. (2
Kings 12:16) The labourer is worthy
of his hire. ( Luke 10:7)
*Careful accounting took place.
2 Chron. 24: 11Whenever
the chest became full, the Levites carried it to the king's officials.
Then the court
secretary and an officer of the high priest counted the money and took the
chest back to the Temple again.
*The fact that the offering chest was
placed beside the altar is a reminder to us that there is a very real
connection between our stewardship and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus
Our giving is an act of worship and is a
token of our gratitude toward all that
our Lord Jesus has done for us.
Were the whole
realm of nature mine,
That were an
offering far too small;
Love so amazing
, so Divine,
Demands my soul
, my life, my all !
.
(3) THE PERIL OF A SECOND-HAND FAITH.
* The Advice of the Princes
After the death of Jehoiada, Joash finds
himself in the company of godless princes .. and turns away from the worship of
Jehovah. ( 2 Chron. 24:18) Idolatrous worship flourishes again
17But
after Jehoiada's death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash
and persuaded
the king to listen to their advice. 18They decided to abandon the
Temple
of the LORD,
the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead
.
* The Murder of Zechariah
son of Jehoiadah ! (
Not the eleventh minor prophet
Zechariah whose Book appears later on .)
Probably a one-time playmate of Joash in earlier times. But when Zechariah condemns the idol worship
, Joash has him murdered !
20Then
the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest.
He stood before the people and said,
"This is what God says: Why do you disobey the LORD's commands so that you
cannot prosper?
You have
abandoned the LORD, and now he has abandoned you!"
21Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and by order of King
Joash himself, they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD's Temple. 22That
was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his love and loyalty--by killing his
son
.
(Many commentators consider this to be the Zechariah referred to by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 23:34-35. There are some 27 Zechariahs in the Old Testament. But none of them are spoken of as being martyred except this one.)
* The Invasion of the Arameans. Joash does not turn to the Lord when this
northern foe appears but buys them off with Temple treasures. ( 2 Kings
14:17-18)
17About
this time King Hazael of Aram went to war against Gath and captured it. Then he
turned to attack Jerusalem. 18King Joash collected all the sacred
objects that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the previous kings of Judah,
had dedicated, along with what he himself had dedicated. He sent them all to
Hazael, along with all the gold in the treasuries of the LORD's Temple and the
royal palace. So Hazael called off his attack on Jerusalem.
..
* The Death of Joash. He is assassinated by some of his own officials and is not even
given a royal burial place ! ( 2 Chron. 24:25)
25The
Arameans withdrew, leaving Joash severely wounded.
But his own
officials decided to kill him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest.
They assassinated him as he lay in bed. Then he was buried in the City of
David, but not in the royal cemetery.
There is one verse that sums up this tragic ending to his
life
2 Chron 24:2.. Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD's
sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.
The faith of Joash had not been personal.
He had relied upon godly Jehoiada.
But when Jehoiada died , Joash forgot the Lord. It had only been a second-hand faith.
..
Three lessons have presented themselves to us
* Gods Word comes true in spite of the devices of wicked
men to thwart it. The Messiah was born of Davids seed !
* Our giving to
support Gods work is to be an act of worship. We are to give personally,
cheerfully, sacrificially.
* Beware of not having the Lord Jesus as your own
personal Saviour. As another has said
, Human leaders are to be learned from
, not leaned on.
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Jerusalem News !
Special Edition !!
835 B.C.
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The
Child on the Throne !
.
..
(1)
The Preservation of the Seed of David
(2) The Principles of Stewardship
(3)
The Peril of a Second-hand Faith.
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