Pam Padgett ... teacher
Joash, king of Judah, did that which was right
in the sight of God while Jehoiada the priest was alive ...
2 Chronicles 24:1-2 Joash was seven years old when he began to
reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's
name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did that which
was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the
priest.
But after Jehoiada died, Joash and the princes of Judah turned
from God and served idols. When God sent prophets and
Jehoiada's son to try to turn Joash from this evil, they would not
listen and stoned Jehoiada's son ...
2 Chronicles 24:15 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.
Judgment was brought against Joash and the princes of Judah because
they had forsaken God ...
2 Chronicles 24:23 And it came to pass at the end of the year,
that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to
Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people
from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the
king of Damascus. 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.
While considering how kings such as Joash did what was right in the
sight of God at the beginning of their reign, but did not continue, I
was reminded that Paul exhorted us to run the race set before us with patience, continuing steadfastly and with perseverance in the ways of God ...
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every
man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they
do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I
therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that
beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway.
Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is
set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners
against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have
not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.