2Ch 23:5 | KingComments | STEP | After the presentation of the king in a closed circle of insiders, the public presentation of the king must now take place. For this presentation Jehoiada also has a plan of approach and gives instructions ( ). He determines that three groups must be formed. One third of the priests and Levites must serve as doorkeepers. They must take the guard at the gates of the temple, where the king is hidden, to ward off all intruders. Another third is to supervise the course of events relating to the palace, the future residence of the king ( ). The last third must be at the Gate of the Foundation. It is assumed that through this gate the king goes from his house to the temple. Finally, all the people who are in Jerusalem, possibly on the occasion of the proclaimed feast day, must stand “in the courts of the house of the LORD”. Of all the people, according to the precepts of the LORD, no one may enter the temple ( ). Entering the temple is only allowed to the priests and Levites who serve, “for they are holy”, that is, they are separated from the people for that purpose. Also now, only those who form a holy priesthood may offer up sacrifices to God ( ). The Levites, the servants of the priests, must protect the king ( ). They must be armed and have those weapons in their hands to be able to use them directly to repel an attack on the king. They may not for a moment deviate from the king’s side, “when he comes in and when he goes out”. This is about going into the temple and coming out again from the temple. The life of the king is completely connected to the temple. He is God’s representative, and in order to represent Him well, he must regularly seek His presence. This assignment also applies to us. Each of us is not only a priest, but also a Levite. We must protect our Lord, Jesus Christ, from attacks on His Person. The weapons given to us are spiritual weapons ( ; ). We are good soldiers when we protect the interests of our Lord. For this it is necessary that we are and stay close to Him. To be close to Him we will have to be wherever He goes or stands, wherever He sends us or wherever He lets us stay. The Levites and all Judah do exactly what Jehoiada commanded ( ). Obedience is of the utmost importance to truly serve the interests of the king. It is obedience that is connected with service on the sabbath. The rule is that there is one division on duty, while another division is off duty. In this case, Jehoiada has cancelled all leaves. The Levites who will serve and the Levites who will be relieved must remain ready. With regard to the Lord Jesus, to us obedience is also of the utmost importance. In that obedience there is no time for leave, for there is a fight to fight for Christ. Here the word from Ecclesiastes 8 applies: “There is no discharge in the time of war” ( ). To us the sabbath speaks of the rest for our souls which the Lord Jesus has worked for us through His work on the cross ( ). There must be inner rest in order to be able to obey and fight. The weapons that Jehoiada hands over to the captains are from the time of King David and come from the sanctuary ( ). To us, this means that we can only fight with weapons that have also been used by the Lord Jesus, of Whom David is a picture. He used the Word of God to defeat the devil ( ). The Word of God is the Word that has its home in the house of God, the dwelling place of God. When we read and study the Word of God, if our mind is good, we are in the sanctuary. There we learn through God’s Spirit the meaning of God’s Word and how to use it. After the instructions to the priests and the Levites regarding their place and task in view of the king, Jehoiada finally stations “all the people, … around the king” ( ). Every member of the people is in contact with the king and every other member. They also each have their weapons in hand, ready for immediate use. The safety cordon stands before the full width of the house. The arrangement is such that they have an eye on the altar and on the house. This attitude shows us how important each member of the people of God is for the protection of the king. We can apply this to the church and its members. We have to be “united” ( ), no member should be missing or neglecting his task ( ). Each member must be able to use the spiritual weapons made available to him. Together they must stand before the whole house of God, that is the church of the living God, to defend the truth of it. In that house is the Lord Jesus, “the mystery of godliness” ( ). In doing so, we must keep an eye on the Lord’s Table, of which the altar is a picture, while also keeping an eye on the house, the whole church ( ). When all the preparations have been made and each has taken his place, the great moment is there that the king is presented to the whole people ( ). The crown is put on Joash that gives him royal dignity and symbolizes his power over the people. He also receives “the testimony” in his hands, which is a copy of the law. Every king must have this to attune his reign to it ( ). The law designates his dependence and submission. Authority and power are exercised in God’s mind only when it happens in dependence on and obedience to Him. After that, Jehoiada and his sons – Jehoiada involved his family in this event – anoint Joash king. For us it is a matter of acknowledging the Lord Jesus as Lord. We are made a kingdom over which He reigns. To behave royally we must read the Bible ( ). It tells us what the Lord Jesus expects of us. Then we will also be preserved for arrogant and autonomous action. It is important that we involve our children in our acknowledging of the Lord Jesus as Lord. If that is our desire, we will give them God’s Word as young as possible to become familiar with it.

‏ 2 Chronicles 23:5

Joash Proclaimed King

After the presentation of the king in a closed circle of insiders, the public presentation of the king must now take place. For this presentation Jehoiada also has a plan of approach and gives instructions (2Chr 23:4). He determines that three groups must be formed. One third of the priests and Levites must serve as doorkeepers. They must take the guard at the gates of the temple, where the king is hidden, to ward off all intruders.

Another third is to supervise the course of events relating to the palace, the future residence of the king (2Chr 23:5). The last third must be at the Gate of the Foundation. It is assumed that through this gate the king goes from his house to the temple. Finally, all the people who are in Jerusalem, possibly on the occasion of the proclaimed feast day, must stand “in the courts of the house of the LORD”.

Of all the people, according to the precepts of the LORD, no one may enter the temple (2Chr 23:6). Entering the temple is only allowed to the priests and Levites who serve, “for they are holy”, that is, they are separated from the people for that purpose. Also now, only those who form a holy priesthood may offer up sacrifices to God (1Pet 2:5).

The Levites, the servants of the priests, must protect the king (2Chr 23:7). They must be armed and have those weapons in their hands to be able to use them directly to repel an attack on the king. They may not for a moment deviate from the king’s side, “when he comes in and when he goes out”. This is about going into the temple and coming out again from the temple. The life of the king is completely connected to the temple. He is God’s representative, and in order to represent Him well, he must regularly seek His presence.

This assignment also applies to us. Each of us is not only a priest, but also a Levite. We must protect our Lord, Jesus Christ, from attacks on His Person. The weapons given to us are spiritual weapons (2Cor 10:4; Eph 6:10-17). We are good soldiers when we protect the interests of our Lord. For this it is necessary that we are and stay close to Him. To be close to Him we will have to be wherever He goes or stands, wherever He sends us or wherever He lets us stay.

The Levites and all Judah do exactly what Jehoiada commanded (2Chr 23:8). Obedience is of the utmost importance to truly serve the interests of the king. It is obedience that is connected with service on the sabbath. The rule is that there is one division on duty, while another division is off duty. In this case, Jehoiada has cancelled all leaves. The Levites who will serve and the Levites who will be relieved must remain ready.

With regard to the Lord Jesus, to us obedience is also of the utmost importance. In that obedience there is no time for leave, for there is a fight to fight for Christ. Here the word from Ecclesiastes 8 applies: “There is no discharge in the time of war” (Ecc 8:8). To us the sabbath speaks of the rest for our souls which the Lord Jesus has worked for us through His work on the cross (Mt 11:28-30). There must be inner rest in order to be able to obey and fight.

The weapons that Jehoiada hands over to the captains are from the time of King David and come from the sanctuary (2Chr 23:9). To us, this means that we can only fight with weapons that have also been used by the Lord Jesus, of Whom David is a picture. He used the Word of God to defeat the devil (Mt 4:1-10). The Word of God is the Word that has its home in the house of God, the dwelling place of God. When we read and study the Word of God, if our mind is good, we are in the sanctuary. There we learn through God’s Spirit the meaning of God’s Word and how to use it.

After the instructions to the priests and the Levites regarding their place and task in view of the king, Jehoiada finally stations “all the people, … around the king” (2Chr 23:10). Every member of the people is in contact with the king and every other member. They also each have their weapons in hand, ready for immediate use. The safety cordon stands before the full width of the house. The arrangement is such that they have an eye on the altar and on the house.

This attitude shows us how important each member of the people of God is for the protection of the king. We can apply this to the church and its members. We have to be “united” (1Cor 1:10), no member should be missing or neglecting his task (1Cor 12:14-19). Each member must be able to use the spiritual weapons made available to him.

Together they must stand before the whole house of God, that is the church of the living God, to defend the truth of it. In that house is the Lord Jesus, “the mystery of godliness” (1Tim 3:15-16). In doing so, we must keep an eye on the Lord’s Table, of which the altar is a picture, while also keeping an eye on the house, the whole church (1Cor 10:16-18).

When all the preparations have been made and each has taken his place, the great moment is there that the king is presented to the whole people (2Chr 23:11). The crown is put on Joash that gives him royal dignity and symbolizes his power over the people. He also receives “the testimony” in his hands, which is a copy of the law. Every king must have this to attune his reign to it (Deu 17:18). The law designates his dependence and submission. Authority and power are exercised in God’s mind only when it happens in dependence on and obedience to Him. After that, Jehoiada and his sons – Jehoiada involved his family in this event – anoint Joash king.

For us it is a matter of acknowledging the Lord Jesus as Lord. We are made a kingdom over which He reigns. To behave royally we must read the Bible (Rev 1:3). It tells us what the Lord Jesus expects of us. Then we will also be preserved for arrogant and autonomous action. It is important that we involve our children in our acknowledging of the Lord Jesus as Lord. If that is our desire, we will give them God’s Word as young as possible to become familiar with it.