Today’s passage: 2 Chronicles 24:1-27
Helpful thoughts:
- King Joash was protected and elevated to the throne through the Lord’s faithfulness and the ministry of Jehoiada the priests. The very same King Joash oversaw Judah’s return to idolatry and ordered the faithful priest Zechariah stoned to death.
- When Judah was seeking the Lord, they defeated armies far larger than them. When they returned to idolatry, they were defeated by a few men. (Verse 24)
- King Joash did not remember. God never forgets. (See verse 22 and 25)
Questions to consider:
- What kind of faith or religiosity are we seeing in the leaders and people of Judah? If they are able to go from idolatry, to obeying the Lord, to idolatry again in such quick succession, what must be the true condition of many of their hearts? Were they treating the Lord any differently than they treated the idols?
- What happened to Zechariah before he rebuked the people of Judah for their idolatry (Verse 20)? Was his spirit-empowered ministry successful? Was the message communicated? Who holds the ability and sovereignty to produce the fruits of repentance? (1 Corinthians 3:6)
- Every time it looks like Israel/Judah is going to get a king that fulfills righteousness, they fall short. What does this teach us? Is there a king or a government among mankind that will solve all our troubles and redeem us from our greatest problem (Our sin!)? Who alone qualifies to be our Rescuer and Lord?