Joash, the eighth king of Judah, was initially raised under the protection and guidance of High Priest Jehoiada. Jehoiada risked his life to protect the young Joash, teaching him the ways of serving the Lord until he ascended to the throne. Under Jehoiada's leadership, Joash began his reign as a righteous king, dedicating himself to God, repairing the temple, and setting a godly example for his people to follow.
However, after Jehoiada passed away, Joash changed drastically. Without Jehoiada, Joash didn’t know how to stand before God on his own. He began to listen to the words of corrupt officials and fell into idol worship. Joash’s dependence on Jehoiada's guidance and faith revealed that his own spiritual foundation was shallow, crumbling after Jehoiada's death. This serves as a warning of the danger of relying solely on another’s faith rather than developing a personal relationship with God. God desires us to have a deeply rooted faith that we embrace as our own, not one solely dependent on others.
God longs for us to establish a personal, devoted faith, one that is built on a genuine, independent commitment. True faith is when we center our life on God, fixing our gaze upon Him, standing firmly on our own free will, and fully entrusting ourselves to Him.
Joash’s most egregious sin was his betrayal of Jehoiada’s family. Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, was both prophet and priest, calling Joash to repent and delivering God’s message. Zechariah spoke truthfully to Joash on behalf of God and in honor of his father’s legacy. Yet Joash ignored his words. In a tragic and brutal act, Joash ordered Zechariah to be stoned to death in the courtyard of the temple. This event reveals that once a person departs from God, they may end up betraying even those who have shown them great love and grace. Joash betrayed Jehoiada, the one who had protected and guided him, and ultimately chose to kill Jehoiada's son.
Yet God continued to extend opportunities for Joash to repent. Nevertheless, Joash disregarded God’s warnings and ultimately faced invasion by foreign armies and betrayal by his own servants, dying a tragic death. Joash’s end was the consequence of abandoning God and accumulating sin.
Through this story, we see the devastating outcome of ignoring God’s warnings. A relationship with God must be at the center of our lives, and we must build a personal faith that transcends reliance on external guidance or the influence of others. Joash’s betrayal and downfall vividly remind us of the importance of obeying God’s voice.
A new day of grace has begun.
Today, as we carefully read, listen to, and meditate on God’s Word, may we reflect deeply on the tragic end of Joash and the significance of maintaining unwavering faith in God to the end. May you have a blessed day as you hold this in your heart.
In Jesus' name, I bless you!
Amen!
Church Everyone