2Ch 24:1-16 | KingComments | STEP | Joash’s government clearly shows two parts. These two parts show an opposite situation. Both parts show that Joash has no independent relationship with the LORD, but is influenced by advisers in his direct environment. The first part of his reign ( ) is characterized by the influence of a good counselor, Jehoiada ( ), when he does what is right in the eyes of the LORD. The second part of his reign ( ) is characterized by the bad influence of the princes of Judah ( ). Joash is still very young when he becomes king, he is only seven years old ( ). The duration of his reign is forty years. The chronicler mentions his mother’s name: Zibiah, which means ‘gazelle’. He also mentions the place where she comes from: Beersheba, which is situated southerly. Zibiah will certainly have supported her son in advice and deed during the first years of his reign, but the greatest influence on the reign of Joash has been Jehoiada. Joash does, as long as he is under the good guidance of Jehoiada, what is right in the sight of the LORD ( ). Even when it comes to Joash’s marriage, Jehoiada arranges everything ( ). Jehoiada takes two wives for him. This is the custom of the time, but it is not the original plan of God Who already established monogamous marriage at creation. The motif of Jehoiada with the two wives is that he wants the royal line to continue. This happens, because Joash conceives sons and daughters with his wives.

‏ 2 Chronicles 24:1-16

Introduction

Joash’s government clearly shows two parts. These two parts show an opposite situation. Both parts show that Joash has no independent relationship with the LORD, but is influenced by advisers in his direct environment. The first part of his reign (2Chr 24:1-16) is characterized by the influence of a good counselor, Jehoiada (2Chr 24:2 ; 14), when he does what is right in the eyes of the LORD. The second part of his reign (2Chr 24:17-27) is characterized by the bad influence of the princes of Judah (2Chr 24:17).

Joash King of Judah

Joash is still very young when he becomes king, he is only seven years old (2Chr 24:1). The duration of his reign is forty years. The chronicler mentions his mother’s name: Zibiah, which means ‘gazelle’. He also mentions the place where she comes from: Beersheba, which is situated southerly. Zibiah will certainly have supported her son in advice and deed during the first years of his reign, but the greatest influence on the reign of Joash has been Jehoiada. Joash does, as long as he is under the good guidance of Jehoiada, what is right in the sight of the LORD (2Chr 24:2).

Even when it comes to Joash’s marriage, Jehoiada arranges everything (2Chr 24:3). Jehoiada takes two wives for him. This is the custom of the time, but it is not the original plan of God Who already established monogamous marriage at creation. The motif of Jehoiada with the two wives is that he wants the royal line to continue. This happens, because Joash conceives sons and daughters with his wives.

Joash Wants to Restore the Temple

It is nice to read that Joash’s heart goes out to the house of the LORD already in his younger years (2Chr 24:4). He lived in it for six years and knows the house from the inside like no other. The impressions a child gains up to the age of six largely determine his further development. In the course of time, God’s house has decayed and Joash wants to restore it, that is to say restore it to its original state.

We can learn from this for the local church where we must also have an eye for decay. This decay can take place by the creeping in of individuals and teachings or worldliness that weaken the functioning of the church. We can think, for example, of a weakening of fellowship with each other, of a change in the behavior of believers through conforming to this world, of an adaptation of the doctrine of God’s Word to what the members of the church like to hear, of the introduction of worldly elements into the church.

Joash orders the priests and the Levites to go and collect money in the cities of Judah and in all Israel (2Chr 24:5). He wants to use this money to restore the house of “your God”. By speaking of “your God”, he points out to priests and the Levites the responsibility they have toward God. They owe it to God because they must perform the priesthood and Levite service for Him in His house. Joash also wants them to do what he said quickly.

However, we read that the Levites do not act quickly. One reason may be that they are not really involved in the temple service with their hearts. It is possible that their interest in it has weakened over the years. We will not commit ourselves to God’s house, to us the church of God, if this house does not have the deep interest of our hearts. We will not even do it if others remind us of our responsibilities.

Joash calls Jehoiada to account. He accuses him of negligence. Jehoiada, according to Joash, has been negligent in ensuring that the Levites “bring in … the levy [fixed by] Moses the servant of the LORD” (2Chr 24:6; Exo 30:16). It remains to be seen whether this reproach is justified. What Joash wants is commendable. But the way in which he has worked raises questions. He has not sent the Levites with an appeal to Moses. All he has told them is that they need to collect money to restore the house of God. A heart that is not fully involved in a work for the Lord will not quickly be tempted to ask others to give for that work.

That his accusation may not be justified can also be inferred from the silence of the spiritual-minded Jehoiada. There is no defense to the criticism. This is not weakness or admitting that the saying is true, but rather speaks of spiritual strength. Silence on unjustified accusations often says more than speaking. We also see this silence with the Lord Jesus in all the accusations made against Him.

Joash says why the house of the LORD has ended up in a state that necessitates restoration (2Chr 24:7). It is Athaliah’s fault. She is the embodiment of wickedness. Political power exercised for its own sake will always see service to God as an abhorrent matter. That power will do everything in its power to destroy the service to God. Such an evil power is not only about neglecting the church, but it will attack the church and take away all that is valuable for the service to God.

An evil power dictates that “the holy things of the house of the LORD” will be used “for the Baals”. We see this, for example, in the popular interpretation of the suffering of Christ, of which a Dutch Christian broadcasting made a spectacle disgusting to faith (The Passion). The same goes for the St. Matthew Passion which is visited by the members of the Dutch cabinet because of its impressive performance. Heart and conscience remain completely off the hook. Thus the holy things that stand in God’s house, the church, central, are thrown as pearls before swine (Mt 7:6). The tearing consequences for the church need not be guessed, for they are perceptible to anyone who has enlightened eyes of the heart.

Then Joash starts a new action for the collection of money (2Chr 24:8). On his command a chest is made which is placed “outside by the gate of the house of the LORD”. Then, this time with an appeal to the levy of Moses, a proclamation is made in Judah and Jerusalem to bring the money (2Chr 24:9). The response to this proclamation is very different from last time. All leaders and all people are happy to contribute to the restoration of the temple (2Chr 24:10). They all like to give and keep giving until the restoration work is completed.

The chest is supervised by the Levites (2Chr 24:11). Whenever there is much money in the chest, they take it to the king’s officer. The scribe of the king and the chief priest’s officer empty the chest. A representative of the king and a representative of the high priest are involved. The testimony of two persons confirms a matter (2Cor 13:1). It is important to be able to account reliably for the money collected (2Cor 8:20-21).

This is also about the combination of king and priest. There is a close relationship and cooperation between the two. We also see this with the Lord Jesus, the true King-Priest (Zec 6:13). After the money is taken out of the chest in this responsible way, the chest is taken up again and put back to its place at the temple. In this way money is collected in abundance.

The Restoration of the Temple

The king and Jehoiada – here again we see the close connection between king and priest – make the money available to those who do the restoration work (2Chr 24:12). The money is used to hire workers. Masons, carpenters, workers in iron and bronze are needed to restore the house of the LORD. They work closely together, while everyone does what their capacities are.

The Lord Jesus, as the King-Priest, is busy giving us the means to build His house. The different workers who did the repair work point to the different tasks that believers have in building God’s house. Masons we can see as a picture of evangelists. They bring living stones into the house of God. Carpenters work with wood. They give structure to God’s house. In them we can see a picture of teachers. The workers in iron represent shepherds. They ensure that the believers remain well connected. The workers in bronze are busy with bronze. Bronze is a picture of God’s righteousness. Workers in bronze can be seen as a picture of believers who help others to live in accordance with God’s righteousness.

All these workers work with what is given to them by the king and Jehoiada (2Chr 24:13). It is nice to read that the repair work is progressing in their hands. The goal is to restore the house of God to its original state. To be able to work in this way, the workers must know what the original state is. Bringing God’s house back to its original state also means that the house will be strengthened.

This also applies to all work that is done for the church. The blueprint of the church, and its local expression, is in the Word of God. We must consult God’s Word when we work on the building of God’s house. To us, working on God’s house means showing fellow believers their position in Christ (Col 1:28-29) and that they are firmly established in Him (2Cor 1:21; Col 2:6-7).

After the repair work on the temple there appears to be money left (2Chr 24:14). That money is brought to the king and Jehoiada. Joash, probably on the advice of Jehoiada, makes all kinds of utensils out of it that can be used for the service in the temple. As a result, as long as Jehoiada lives, “they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually”. Here we find the great goal of the restoration of God’s house: offering burnt offerings.

The restoration of God’s house with the result of offering burnt offerings suggests to us that the service of worship is once again central in the church. That is not programmed worship with song and music led by a worship leader, but worship led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to direct the heart of every member of the church to the Lord Jesus Who is the true burnt offering for God.

The burnt offering is the sacrifice that is for God in its entirety (Lev 1:9 ; 13). God desires that the believers come as a church with burnt offerings. Jehoiada is a picture of the Lord Jesus Who is the “great priest over the house of God” (Heb 10:21). Through Him we may approach God in the sanctuary to bring our sacrifices (Heb 10:19-22).

The Death of Jehoiada

Jehoiada’s life comes to an end. He does not die from a disease or an accident, but from old age (2Chr 24:15). He has reached the advanced age of one hundred and thirty years. Until his old age he was active in serving God and His house (2Chr 24:16). His service has been a blessing to Israel. He, who was a priest, behaved royally at the same time. Therefore he is “buried … among the kings”. That they bury him there is proof of the respect of Joash and the people for him.

How are we known to the believers with whom we form a local church? Can it be said of us that we have done good in and to the church? Good deeds must be done in the first place for God. He sees our whole life. Is that directed toward Him? Directly connected to this is doing good with regard to His house, that is the church, that are His own. Doing good to His house means that we behave in His house according to the standards He has given for it in His Word (1Tim 3:15).