Johoida and Joash - It's got to be personal

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 24

2 Chronicles 24:1–2 KJV 1900

1 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 Beer-sheba. 2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

2 Chronicles 24:14–15 KJV 1900

14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the Lord, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada. 15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.

Context:

2 Chronicles 24:1 KJV 1900

1 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 Beer-sheba.

Israel’s History:

At this point in Israels History, Israel is a mess, they were split into two kingdoms. Israel in the North, and Judah in the south.

Originally Israel was a nation without a king. They answered directly to God, but the people cried out to God asking for a king.

God gave them a king. King Saul was the first king, then David, then Solomon.

After Solomon the nation split in two nations. 10 tribes said we no longer want to be under the rule of the kings in the lineage of David and so travelled north and became the northern Kingdom of Israel. The Davidic kings and supporting people traveled south and the people became the nation of Judah which.

Joash’s Family history:

Athaliah is an important figure in this story. Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab and Jezebel. They were a wicked family which ruled over the northern kingdom. They brought in Baal worship, killed God’s prophets, and were an incredibly evil family that stood in opposition to the Lord. They had three children, Ahaziah, Jehoram, Athaliah. Ahab died and his son Ahaziah became king. He only lived for two years before dying due to injuries from falling out of a window. Next his brother Jehoram became king.

At this time, one of the kings in line of David ruled over the southern kingdom of Judah. His name was Jehoshaphat.

Athaliah, the daughter of Jezebel and Ahab, who ruled the northern kingdom married the king of the southern Kingdom, Jehosaphat’s son Jehoram. They had a son named Ahaziah also and he would become king after Jehoram’s death.

So at this point, the son of Ahab is ruling in the north, a man named Jehoram(often referred to as Joram), and the grandson of Ahab, Ahaziah is ruling in the south.

It is at this time that God would raise up a man named Jehu from the Northern Kingdoms army who was to be an avenger of the Lord. Jehu would attack the descendants of Ahab and Jezebel who were now both in the Northern and Southern Kingdom. Jehu kills the King Jehoram in the north as well as Ahab’s grandson Ahaziah in the southern kingdom, He also goes on to kill Jezebel and others.

Athaliah is still the queen over the southern kingdom of Judah. After hearing that Jehu had killed her son and was killing off the rest of her family, the house of Ahab, she orders that all of the descendants of King David would be annihilated, this included her own grandchildren, so that she could be the only ruler of Judah. All of Athaliah’s grandsons were killed except for one boy who was approximately one year old at the time. This boy was carried away by his aunt, Jehosheba, the wife of the high priest named Jehoiada. This boys name was Joash.

Joash who was the only direct son in the lineage of David still alive, was taken into Solomon’s temple and hidden from Athaliah’s rage for 6 years and watched over by the high priest Jehoiada. When he became 7 years old Jehoiada the high priest proceeded to make Joash king. When Athaliah hears the celebration ceremony of this young boy becoming king, she doesn’t know what is happening. She enters the temple and cries out Treason, Treason.

2 Kings 11:13–15 KJV 1900

13 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the Lord. 14 And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason. 15 But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord.

Intro:

Joash had a tremendous Christian resume if we only read to verse 16. He had a great testimony for the Lord. The People could have easily praised him for his love for God and his service to the Lord. He was someone who despite a difficult history, was making a great change for the purpose of the Lord.

But I’d like us to notice something of concern in verse number 2.

2 Chronicles 24:2 KJV 1900

2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

and again in 2 Chronicles 24:14

2 Chronicles 24:14 KJV 1900

14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the Lord, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.

How long did Joash do that which was right in the sight of the Lord?

Compare the heart of David in Psalm 23:6

Psalm 23:6 KJV 1900

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I’d like to talk tonight on the idea of “Knowing God has got to be personal.”

Our salvation has got to be personal

Our trust has got to be personal

Our desire to walk in the way of God has got to be personal.

Deuteronomy 4:9 KJV 1900

9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

Having other Christians to fellowship with as we traverse this life is a tremendous help and blessing. It is something we should seek after. After all, we know that we are stronger together.

Young men find benefit in seeking after Godly role models, young ladies also when they find a mentor and friend worth following after.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 KJV 1900

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

ill. Two men getting stuck in the woods overnight in the Vermont winter.

Pastor Max has been teaching us about ecclesiology, with a particular focus on how we work as a corporate body of believers.

There are many things that can only be accomplished as a group, and there is certainly an importance on our unity and fellowship that often runs against the grain of our individually minded culture.

But in this study, I would like to consider how vitally important it is that our group does not determine our identity, rather our identity would determine our group.

il. A person may join a running group so that they can say they are a runner. Does it really make them a runner? It should be that runner would seek a group of people that they can join themselves to because they are a runner.

Look at the life of Joash. How did he react when...

Influence silenced vv. 1-16

Joash no longer followed God when his influence passed away.

Who you are, is who you are when no one is watching.

The Bible is filled with examples of people who at some point, had not made it personal. Consider Nebuchadnezzar In Daniel chapter 3. He referred to God as “the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.” Daniel 3:28-29

Daniel 3:28–29 KJV 1900

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

He referred to God as “the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.”

Influence spoiled vv. 17-18

When the influence turned negative, his way was changed.

Peter warming himself by the fire.

The disciples fleeing from Christ

We need a steady Influence that is steady

Consider once again the book of Daniel, but this time the three Hebrew children.

They are in a nation that everything around them is trying to strip them of their identity in Christ.

Their names are changed, They are taught a new way to think, they are taught to yield to idolatry.

4. Even an influence salutary may not be enough. It wasn’t enough for Joash to follow Jehoaida all the days of his life. We need to follow the Lord.

When it’s all stripped away. Any influence good or bad. The influence of our pastor, our church, our friends, our religious practices, even a Godly role-model, who are we? Who are you and who am I before God.

On the mount of transfiguration we see Peter, James, and John enamored with the Glory of Jesus, and the presence of Moses and Elijah.

Matthew 17:1–8 KJV 1900

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.