Saturday, June 18, 2022
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Three AM in the bedroom of the king
The Spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoida the priest. He took his stand above the people.
King Joash ruled Judah forty years, since he was seven, ever since his grandmother was overthrown and killed by soldiers for Yahweh.
But what did Joash know? He was only seven. Our grandson Miles will be six in November and seven the next November. How much will he know by then? Enough to rule a kingdom? (No doubt he will think so, but … no!)
When he was only one year old Joash had been saved from assassination by his Aunt Jehosheba. Seven years later when he became king, Joash followed the path set by Uncle Jehoiada, priest and husband of Jehosheba. His uncle the priest lived a long time, and died at age 130. Everything changed after that, and the temples of Ba’al were refurbished and re-opened. Yahweh seemed mostly forgotten except by Zechariah.
“God says, “Why are you transgressing my commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the Lord, he has abandoned you.” At the king’s order they stoned him to death in the court of the Lord’s temple. At age 47, after ruling for forty years, King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoida.
What a fool he was. Surely, though, he was at least confused or divided in his mind. He heard out the princes in one ear and the priests in the other. What should he do?
Jesus said to his disciples, “No one can serve two masters. He will hate one and love the other; he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
In just a few months, Joash’s long reign came to end, and he was killed by invading armies. Everything fell apart for him so fast! He was afraid of everyone, and perhaps especially of the Lord, the God of Hosts, Yahweh, King of the World.
Such a mistake.
I will punish his crime with a rod and his guilt with stripes, says the Lord. But my mercy I will not take from him, nor will I belie my faithfulness.
How Jesus could have helped Joash come back to the way:
Do not worry about your life, Joash, what you will eat or drink, about your body and what you will wear. Is not your life more than food and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky, are you not more important than they? Can you add even a single moment to your life by worrying?
Joash! Do not be afraid. Joash! Open your eyes and see how precious you are. Joash! Listen to these words. They are for you. You are loved.
Your heavenly Father knows what you need. So seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and everything you need will be given to you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Come on, Joash. You’ve got enough problems just for today.
Let’s take a look at them together.
(2 Chronicles 24, Psalm 89, 2 Corinthians 8, Matthew 6)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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