Day #187

Sermon - Audio
2 Kings 12-13 & 2 Chronicles 24 - Audio
2 Kings 12-13 & 2 Chronicles 24 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

• 2 Chronicles 24.1-2: The theme of having a good counselor is sounded. Alongside this theme there is the hint of problems ahead. Jehoiada’s place and power are so established that he is the one who finds wives for Joash. Even in this important matter of State, it is a priest who calls the shots.
• 24.3- 7 The first official act that is attributed to Joash ends in the priests not following his directions. Joash calls in his mentor, Jehoiada to try to make the situation right. The result, however, shows that Joash does not have the power to call the shots. He has to compromise.
• 24.8: The command of the king is given, but the word in Hebrew can simply mean “to tell” or “to say”. There is another word in Hebrew that is typically used for “command”. It is possible that the Chronicler chooses this word to hint again at the lack of authority that Joash has at his disposal.
• 24.8-10:Whatever the behind the scenes wranging the people and princes rejoice over the opportunity to restore the temple. We do not hear of rejoicing by the priests.
• 24.12: The repair of the temple is a joint project between the king and the chief priest. For both of them it is an important project for it honors God and lifts him up after the disastrous years of Athaliah.
• 24.13-14: All of the proper utensils and other items are made for the temple. The temple is important to both the people and to God because God desires to be with his people. In the Old Testament the symbol of this desire is the temple. In the New Testament God literally becomes “God with Us” (Emmanuel) in Jesus Christ.
• 24.14: The Chronicler hints of problems to come. He tells us that the sacrifices are done regularly all the days of Jehoiada, rather than they are done regularly all the days of Joash.
• 24.15: The age at which Jehoiada dies shows God’s pleasure with his work. Old age is a blessing of the covenant for those who are faithful.
• 24.16: To be buried among the kings (remember that even some kings did not receive this honor because they were considered unworthy) show Jehoiada’s place of influence, strength, and the good that he did in Israel.
• 24.16: Good in this verse speaks of a broad based good. Jehoiada’s leadership has brought spiritual, economic, creative, political, and religious good to the people. In other words, it has brought all the blessings of the covenant.
• 24.17: The princes who have found themselves on the outside of influence during the time of Jehoiada come and bow down and show proper deference to the king. This does not seem to have been happening, at least not in the way Joash longed for, during the years of Jehoiada.
• 24.18: Abandoning the House of the LORD is a political power move. To establish himself as ruler, Joash has to go around the priests and their power base at the temple. Instead of a willingness to build on the success of Jehoiada and so what was good for the nation, Joash chooses to step away from God.
• 24.19: God’s actions are predictable; first he calls out to his wayward people in love through his prophets. But in typical fashion the people do not listen.
• 24.20: Here we find one of the prophets that comes to call the leaders back to faithfulness. He has the advantage and disadvantage of being Jehoiada’s son—the one who is now seen as a rival to the king. His prophecy, while being completely true, at the same time was probably seen by Joash as an attempt to regain power for the priestly class.
• 24.21-22: What Jehoiada would not do, kill someone in the courts (namely Athaliah), Joash is all too willing to do to the son of the very man who rescued him.
• 24.23-24: God’s covenant curses are brought to bear. A small army defeats Judah.
• 24.25: Joash’s reign ironically ends with his assassination. What Athaliah had failed to do, his own servants carry out. Unlike the priest, Jehoiada, Joash is not buried in the tomb of the kings, even though he is one. It is the Chroniclers way of reminding us of the righteous actions of the priest, and the fall of a king.

2 Kings 12-- see notes above

2 Kings 13

• 13.1-9: God is angry with Jehoahaz (king of Israel) and reduces his army to a mere pittance of what it once was. In the midst of disaster Jehoahaz turns to God and God’s heart softens. The savior that God sends is another nation that puts pressure on Israel’s enemies but it is disputed just who this savior nation is.
• 13.10-25: The main focus of this section is on Elisha. Here we find that he is seen as the true leader of Israel by the proclamation at his death. We also see his last “miracle” when a person comes to life when touching his bones. The failure of the king to strike the arrows which represent victory more than three times shows a lack of enthusiasm to follow the words of Elisha.