Joash


"AND Joash did that which" was right in 

the sight of the Lord,  all the  days  of    

Jehoiada the priest."  

2 Chronicles  24: 2.


Jehoiada, the priest,  was  a  man  of  great 

influence,  and was much  beloved.  He    

possessed  good  judgment,  and was  firm  in

  his  adherence  to  the  true  worship  of  God, 

 in the  midst  of  apostasy  and  idolatry.    

Jehoshabeath, the wife  of Jehoiada,  was  the 

means  of saving the life of Joash,  when the 

wicked  Athaliah  murdered  the  sons  of 

Ahaziah  (her  grandsons),  and  thus  was 

Joash rescued from death,  by his  aunt,  and 

by  her  secreted  until  he  was  seven  years 

old,  when  Jehoiada,  the  uncle  of Joash, 

placed him  on  the  throne of  the kingdom.

At the age of seven years Joash began to 

reign,  and he  was  very  zealous  in  the   

worship  of  God,  and in  putting  down  idolatry. 

He  restored  the  worship  of  God,  and    

repaired the  temple which  Solomon  had  built 

in Jerusalem,  for the worship of God; for 

the wicked  kings  and  people  of  Israel had 

closed  the house  of  God,  or  used  it for idol 

worship.

Thus  did Joash  do  the work  of a  true   

reformer  for  twenty-three  years,  or  as  long 

as his good Uncle Jehoiada lived;  and   

everything prospered with  him.  The  whole   

nation  of  Israel  enjoyed  the  favor  of  God. 

No  enemies  could  prevail  over  them  while 

they honored  God.  Their  fields  produced 

abundantly,  and business prospered;  but  a 

change  came.  Good  old  Jehoiada  died  at 

the  age  of  one  hundred  and  thirty years, 

honored  and  lamented (verse  15).  He,  by 

his  influence,  restrained  and  directed king 

Joash in  the paths of virtue  and truth.

But now  a  change came.  The  princes  of 

Judah,  knowing  the  weakness  of  Joash, 

came  and  visited  him  after  the  death  of 

Jehoiada (see  verse  17),  and  caused  him  to 

permit the worship  of idols.  And now,  the 

nation being free to walk in  the ways  of the 

heathen,  made  rapid  strides  downward,  to 

idolatry  and  ruin.

God  did  not  leave  them  at  once,  but 

sent  prophets  and  good  men  to  them,  to 

warn  and  instruct  them,  and  bring  them 

back  to  his  own  pleasant fold.  But  all in 

vain.  Finally, Zachariah, the priest, son of 

good  old  Jehoiada,  arose,  and  boldly    

rebuked the king  and  people  for  their  sins; 

and now,  instead  of hearkening to  his  counsel. 

they  conspired  against  him,  and  at 

the  commandment  of  king Joash, slew  him 

in  the  temple  of  God.  (See  verse  21.)

Thus we  see  Joash,  who  began  his reign 

so  favorably,  and  who  had for many years 

obeyed  the  commandments  of  God,  now,  as 

he  approaches  the  close  of  life,  suddenly 

change his  course  at  the  death  of  his  good 

uncle,  and  deliverer,  and  friend,  and  not 

only turn away from  God,  but  murder  the 

son  of Jehoiada, his  own  cousin,  because he 

would be  true to  his  God.  Was it not sad?

Who would suppose it  possible  that  any 

one  could be so  ungrateful  as Joash was  to 

his  Uncle Jehoiada  as  to  murder  his  son,

and so  ungrateful to  God  as  to turn to  the 

worship  of idols?  Yet so it is;  the  princes 

of Judah came,  and made obeisance to  him, 

flattered  him,  drew  him  away  from  God; 

and  how  distressing  the  thought,  that  he 

could follow  them  down  to  ruin,  and draw 

his people  down to ruin  also.

Will  any who  read this now, 

ever  forsake  the  path  of  life,  and,  like 

Joash,  listen  to  the  proposals  of  the    

enemies  of  God,  and  embrace  the principles 

of  evil?  God forbid.  




Jos.  CLARKE.