Defining Moments-Part 6- Who's Influencing You?

Introduction-II Chronicles 24:1-25

Today we are going to talk about influence—we are living in a world today where influence has become such a prominent focus that there are people who are literally being paid huge sums of money as “influencers” to influence their audiences toward a particular product or brand.

Tiktok—Charli D’Amelio—157 million followers

YouTube-Mr. Beast—397 million subscribers

Facebook—Cristiano Ronaldo—170 Million Followers

Instagram—Cristiano Ronaldo—652 Million Followers—Over 5,000 accounts with over 1 million followers in the U.S.

X—Elon Musk—220 Million Followers

Name someone that has influenced you

Up to this point in this series we have considered defining moments in the lives of several fairly well-known Bible characters ranging from Jacob and Saul to Kings Saul, David, and Solomon.

Today we are going to consider a defining moment in the life of what is likely for most of us a much lesser known figure.

A man named Joash who reigned in Jerusalem beginning when he was seven years old.

He reigned for a period of 40 years and in the midst of his reign there is a defining moment that we will explore today.

Though Joash is not as well-known as the other characters that we have considered, the defining moment that he faces in the passage we have read, I believe will resonate with every one of us today.

A Promising Start (Vs. 1-14)

It is helpful to know as we begin this passage which describes the life of King Joash that Jehoiada and his wife are responsible for saving Joash’s life when his brothers were slaughtered by II Chronicles 22:10-12

It is Jehoiada who is largely responsible for Joash’s ascent to the throne—this taking place when Joash is only seven years old.

Joash enjoys a lengthy reign of forty years in Jersualem.

In the early stages of his reign the scripture states that he “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord” with one notable phrase attached to this statement— “all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”

Galatians 4:17–18 “They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.”

In this early period of his reign Joash demonstrates what appears to be a genuine concern for the state of the house of the Lord and acts to secure the funds necessary to make needed repairs to it.

He gave specific commandment that a collection would be received which would be used to pay for the work which needed to be done in order to restore the temple to its former glory.

The money was collected and distributed to the workers, the house of God was repaired, and the money which remained was used to produce vessels to be used in the worship there.

There is nothing at all in these early stages of Joash’s reign to indicate that he is anything other than godly and honorable.

Yet we will come to recognize that Joash will soon face a defining moment where he must make an important choice that will affect his life from that moment forward.

The Loss of Godly Influence (Vs. 15-16)

These verses describe the death of Jehoiada—having lived to be 130 years old his time has come and he dies and is buried.

It is of note that Jehoiada was buried “among the kings” because this gives us some insight into how highly revered and respected Jehoiada was among the people.

Jehoiada displayed genuinely godly character and was unquestionably a very positive and formidable influence upon Joash during his life.

It is noted that he had done good in Israel, both toward God and toward His house.

From the earliest stages of Joash’s life, Jehoiada had been there to exert influence, to provide godly counsel and instruction to young Joash, but now Jehoiada is gone and Joash is left alone.

This left a vacuum of influence in Joash’s life and reveals a serious deficiency in Joash for it seems he has no principles of his own as we will learn from what follows Jehoiada’s death.

You and I ought to be thankful for the godly influences that are present in our lives, but there is a real danger that we may become overly dependent upon them and fail to develop our own convictions and godly character independent of their influence.

This seems to be exactly what happened in the case of Joash.

A New Influence Arises (Vs. 17-18)

Almost immediately upon Jehoiada’s death the princes of Judah approach King Joash bowing before him in an appearance of humility—which is actually only their means of securing influence with him.

They apparently request that they may be allowed to worship without the necessity of appearing at the temple as some had done previously.

Their true intentions are only revealed when the king hearkens to them and thy proceed to forsake the house of the Lord in favor of worshipping idols.

Illustration—influence constantly changing—genres of music, taste in clothing, behavior towards authority figures, sinful practices—goth, preppie, thug, etc…—lack of genuine conviction and accompanying lack of real personal identity.

This is a defining moment in the life of Joash which ultimately reveals his lack of genuine spirituality and his openness to influences that are in fact opposed to God.

Joash seems to be a man who is easily influenced and who has no core principles upon which he is established.

When Jehoiada was present he was perfectly content to serve God and to display a godly temperament.

Yet when Jehoiada was no longer there and the princes of Judah exerted pressure upon him to turn away from following the Lord, he does not appear to make any attempt to resist their influence.

Joash is a man who lacks genuine character and who is apparently subject to the influence of whomever has his attention in the present moment.

A Shocking Display (Vs. 20- 22)

What happens next is a shocking display of just how far Joash has fallen under the influence of these idolaters.

The scripture tells us that as Joash began to turn the kingdom away from the Lord—God sent prophets to testify against them in an attempt to cause he and the people to turn back to Him.

Yet we are told that “they would not give ear”—they did not want to hear what the prophets had to say and they ignored all their warnings.

Finally the Spirit of God comes upon Zechariah—the son of Jehoiada—and he addresses Joash and all the people.

He questions them as to why they have transgressed God’s commandments and the consequences of their decision to forsake the Lord.

As a result the people conspire against him and at the commandment of Joash they proceed to stone Zechariah to death for speaking out against them.

Joash is now responsible for the death of the son of the very man that saved his life—what a startling turn of events and a testimony to the power of the ungodly influences in Joash’s life.

As Zechariah dies, he essentially pronounces judgment upon Joash for what he has done.

The End (Vs. 23-25)

Yielding to the influence of the ungodly princes of Judah has deeply corrupted Joash so much so that it is hard to imagine the man that he once was in the early days of his reign.

In the later stages of his rule, God raises up the Syrians to come against him, and they attack Judah and Jerusalem—destroying all the princes of the people—the very ones whose influence had led Joash to this moment.

Even though the Syrians seemed to be at a disadvantage, they overwhelm the armies of Judah and Jerusalem because they had forsaken the Lord.

After this attack is over and Joash and the kingdom are essentially left in ruins—Joash is apparently afflicted with some serious ailment and his own servants ultimately conspire to kill him.

He dies in a sad state with the kingdom in serious decline and himself suffering the consequences of his decision to turn against God.

Upon his death the scripture states that he too was buried in the city of David—but it is of note that he is not buried in the sepulchres of the kings as Jehoiada was.

This simply shows the distinction in their character—Jehoiada being a man of truly godly character and Joash without character who only imitated those whose influence he was under.

Conclusion

There is a vital lesson for each of us in this passage of scripture.

We ought to appreciate the godly influences that are present in our lives—but we must not become too dependent upon them.

It is so important that we develop Godly principles of our own so that we are not as Joash—so easily influenced to turn away from God and from truth.

Godly influences will come and go and there will always be those who are willing to fill the vacuum that their influence leaves.

What will you do if that godly influence is suddenly gone and other ungodly influences are vying for your attention?

Will you have the personal resolve to resist their influence and to remain devoted to God and truth?

What you need more than anything is to be under the influence of the Spirit of God—Ephesians 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

We will each face defining moment where our character is called into question. Will we stand the test—will our core principles keep us safe from the influence of the ungodly?

If we will be filled with the Spirit we will be able to exert an influence upon others for the cause of Christ.