The Book of Second kings

Chapter 12

 

 

[1] In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
[2] And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
[3] But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

 

1)      The Reign of Jehoash                  Vs 1-3

 

a.       Upon his fathers death, his grandmother killed all the royal family so she could be queen

b.       As an infant, he was rescued by his aunt and raised in the House of God by Jehoiada the priest

c.       At 7 yrs old he was anointed King of Judah and he began a 40 yr reign over the kingdom

d.       (vs2) Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada instructed him

e.       (vs3) But he fell short of full commitment as he did not take away the high places

                                                                           i.      Dt 12:13,14 they were only to offer sacrifice in designated places


[4] And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,
[5] Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.

 

2)      The Resolution of Jehoash          Vs 4-5

 

a.       The house of God was in a state of disrepair AND it was to be an HOLY Place

                                                                           i.      Jehoash knew the Queen Grandmother had vandalized the House of God

                                                                         ii.      2 Chr 24:7 The sons of Athaliah that wicked woman had broken up the house of God

b.       Joash the King has a heart for the house of God and wants it to be repaired

                                                                           i.      Remember he not only loves the house of God BUT was raised there

                                                                         ii.      Realizing it will cost much, he decrees three ways to raise the money for repair

1.        Census money- ˝ shekel pd yearly (Ex 30:3)

2.        Assessment Money-  Estimation of each individuals service (Lev 27:2-13)

3.        Offerings – Freely given (2 Cor 9:7-Let him give, not grudgingly, God loveth a cheerful giver)

c.       Jehoash knew a prosperous kingdom matters little if Gods House is neglected

                                                                           i.      The condition of the house of God and things of God is a valid measurement of heart Mt 6:21


[6] But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.
[7] Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests , and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
[8] And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.
[9] But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.
[10] And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.
[11] And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,

 

3)      The Response to Jehoash            Vs 6-11

 

a.       This money was being received YET the House of God was not repaired

b.       The King called the priests and wants an answer as to why the House of God is not repaired

c.       The King required the donations to be used for repair BUT the priests had redirected the money

                                                                           i.      The priests consented to receive no more donations

                                                                         ii.      YET, Their negligence continues as they still didn’t repair the house of God

d.       This poor business administration and financial mismanagement is accountable to God

                                                                           i.      2 Cor 5:10 We must appear before the judgment seat of Christ

e.       (Vs 10) Yet, Jehoiada took a chest and bored a hole in the top of it and money was brought

                                                                           i.      This would keep the money out of the hands of the priests

f.        (Vs 10,11) The money was to be set aside, saved, accounted for and spent wisely

When the people are assured the money is used for the purpose it was given that gave generously  

 

 [12] And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
[13] Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD:
[14] But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.
[15] Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.
[16] The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'.

 

4)      The Repairs by Jehoash   Vs 12-16

 

a.       The new business administration was blessed by God and honored HIS name

                                                                           i.      Honest men were sought out to labor and work on the House of God

                                                                         ii.      The money was being used wisely and went right into the hands of men performing the work

b.       This project was a great success and nothing was taken from the priests

                                                                           i.      Many projects are accomplished at the expense of Gods Men, as the individuals will not give  


[17] Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
[18] And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
[19] And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
[20] And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.
[21] For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

 

 

5)      The Restitution to Jehoash          Vs 17-21

 

a.       2 Chr 24:15-22

[15] But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.
[16] And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.
[17] Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
[18] And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
[19] Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
[20] And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
[21] And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.
[22] Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.

                                                                           i.      Jehoiada the high priest died

                                                                         ii.      Leadership in Judah ask King Jehoash if they can go worship in high places

                                                                        iii.      He granted their request and obtaining this freedom they will worship in high places

1.       Since no one will observe what they do, they are again going to worship idols

                                                                       iv.      By his neglect, Jehoash has allowed the people to trespass

                                                                         v.      God sent prophets to warn the people, Zachariah- son of Jehoiada especially warned the king

                                                                       vi.      Vs 21,22 Jehoash had Zachariah stoned

1.        The people would not listen to God but listen to the king

2.        Jehoash answered the kindness of Jehoiada with cruelty to his son Zechariah

3.       In the same place he was anointed king, Jehoash committed murder

     vii. Zechariah said “the Lord look upon it, and require it”   The Lord repay you

 

b.       2 Chr 24:24,25

[24] For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.
[25] And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.

                                                                           i.      God allows an inferior army to attack and cause defeat

                                                                          ii.      God allows Jehoash, who would not trust God, to be wounded in battle

                                                                        iii.      James 4:8 draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you

                                                                        iv.      2K 12:17,18 Jehoash takes treasures from the house of God to bribe and buy Syria to leave

 

c.       2K 12:19-21 There is no record Jehoash ever repented

His servants conspired against him and assassinated him (for the blood of the sons of Jeh