This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
2KINGS
1 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3 But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
Joash, only 7 years old at this inauguration, had Jehoiada (the High Priest) as his counselor and guardian. Therefore, he did "right in the sight of the Lord."
4 And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,
5 Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.
Joash commanded that all the free-will offerings of people be put into a separate account and used to repair the temple.
6 But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.
7 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
8 And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.
9 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.
10 And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.
11 And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,
12 And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
Joash was disappointed and voiced his discontent with the repair work. Jehoiada came up with another plan. He placed a huge chest with a hole in the top in the entrance to the temple.
13 Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD:
14 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.
15 Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.
The money was ot used for decorative things, but for needed repairs. The workmen were so honest that no "reckoning" was required of them.
16 The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'.
The money that belonged to the priests for their livelihood was not used. Only the free-will offerings went toward the repairs.
17 Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
2Chronicles 24:17-22 tells us that when Jehoiada died, Joash began to listen to other people. He was used to receiving counsel, and quite willingly gave his decision-making over to powerful persuaders.
19 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
20 And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.
21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
The waywardness of Joash was evidently so bad that his servants developed a conspiracy and murdered him.
When a person rationalizes and determines to travel the road most pleasing to self, he has departed from the "good ole ways." God will not allow those who have tasted His sweet grace and tender mercy to (for any lengthy measure of time) lead His people into sin. But the "fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation" comes upon them (Hebrews 10:27). Please continue in Bible Study with us.
CHAPTER 12
Children left to themselves bring shamd because "foolishness is bound in the heart of the child.." (Proverbs 22:15).
But with godly counselors and guides, even children can make good rulers.
The 'high places' probably refer to private worship altars. These were probably there because the people didn't trust the priests, and were worshipping in private centers rather than at the temple.
This happens today. When people can't trust the leaders of the church they resolve themselves to private religious activities. This is not a good substitute because it diminishes the opportunities for training and missions.
Even after the temple was repaired, the private worship centers were left in tact, and therefore the temple wasn't used much. This cause a "run-down" condition.
However, the offerings were either low, or the laxness of the priests caused the temple to continue going unrepaired.
When people are not challenged with worthwhile uses of money in training and missions the offerings are poor.
Also, the priests were left in charge of seeing to the repairs, and they probably didn't have the wisdom for it.
And he pubilicized the use of any money put there to go toward repairs. The publicity of the thing increased the offerings.
Also, they immediately began to contract work to be done. When people see improvements, they more readily give.
Good financial principles in church business promote honesty and giving.
The "workman" is worthy of his hire, and those who live by the temple should be cared for appropriately.
Because of this, he allowed himself to be detoured toward idol worship. And God sent the king of Syria as a reprimand.
They didn't try to take the kingdom. They simply rid the kingdom of the unrighteous servant.
Such a sad end to an otherwise quite faithful man.
The lesson here, I believe, is that we should seek "GODLY" counsel, and be sure that we bend to NO OTHER.