JUNE 18 READINGS...2 Kings 11:1-12 & 2 Chronicles 23:1-11 & 2 Kings 11:13-16 &
2 Chronicles 23:12-15 & 2 Kings 11:17-21 & 2 Chronicles 23:16-21 & 2 Kings 12:1-16 &
2 Chronicles 24:1-22 & 2 Kings 10:32-36
Jehu, the king of Israel dies, and Israel begins to weaken under the attacks king Hazael. In the southern kingdom of Judah king Ahaziah is dead, and his evil mother takes the throne, killing all those in the line of David who would be king. Her sister though takes Joash, who is one year old, and hides him in the Temple under the care of the priest Athaliah. They keep Joash there for six years…and when he is seven he is made king. Athaliah hears all the noise from this event and goes to the Temple, and sees what is going on. Jehoiada the priest tells the others to take her out of the Temple and kill her…they do so at the entry way of the palace where the horses enter. We see the great desire for power and what it will do…it leads this evil woman to murder even the most innocent in order to have her power. It makes me think of those politicians who kneel down before Planned Parenthood, and offer the slaughter of the most innocent babies in order to be elected and gain power. Those seeking power in any arena, usually do so on the backs of the poor, the downtrodden, and the innocent.
Jehoiada was a good priest and he made a covenant with Lord, the king, and the people. They tore down the pagan altars, killed the prophets of baal, and placed Joash on the throne. Joash was age seven when he became king, and was a good king all the time Jehoiada was priest. Joash ruled 40 years…and Jehoiada live 130 years. Though Joash was a good king he did not eradicate the land of the place of worshipping idols…but he did begin the restoration of the Temple…at least until Jehoiada died. When Jehoiada died the evil leaders of Judah came and bowed before the king and influenced him to reverse the reforms of Jehoiada, and stop the work on the Temple. Jehoiada’s son Zechariah had the Spirit of the Lord come upon him, and he began to speak against the king and the leaders of Judah…so the king had him murdered. Joash is a good reminder to all of us to stay the course of following God all our lives…it’s great to have a meaningful start, but it is so much more important to have a strong finish.
Share your thoughts from today’s readings. Pray that you and other believers would have a strong finish…that we would follow the Lord all the days of our lives.
TOMORROW’S READINGS…2 Kings 13:1-11 & 2 Kings 12:17-21 & 2 Chronicles 24:23-27 & 2 Kings 13:14-25
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