Read 2 Chronicles 24 and Revelation 15.
This devotional is about 2 Chronicles 24.
In yesterday’s devotional, the heroes of the story were Jehoiada the priest and his wife Jehosheba. They were heroic because they believed the Davidic covenant and saved Joash, the only remaining heir to David’s throne, from being killed by his grandmother, Athaliah. Joash was a baby when his life was saved and, according to our passage today, 2 Chronicles 24:1, he was “seven years old when he became king.”
As a seven year old king, Joash wasn’t ready to run his own life yet, much less the kingdom of Judah. So, Jehoiada, the priest who saved his life and installed him as king, served as his leader and advisor, even to the point of finding two wives for him, according to verse 3. And, God used Jehoiada in the life of young king Joash. Verse 2 says, “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest.”
Having godly mentors is important. But it is also important to become a godly man genuinely, not only because you’re following godly leadership. At least once in his life, Joash did demonstrate some ability as a spiritual leader. In verse 4 we learn that “Joash decided to restore the temple of the Lord.” That was a good decision, one that showed genuine spiritual leadership. Following his decision to restore the temple, Joash even came up with a good plan–charging the priests and Levites to collect the money the people owed for the upkeep of the temple (v. 5). When the Levites failed to obey his command, Joash even called in his spiritual leader and mentor Jehoiada and held him accountable (v. 6). So, the tables have turned and, at least in this one instance, the young king Joash acted righteously when his guardian and spiritual leader Jehoiada failed to do what was right.
To this point in the story, then, it looks like Joash benefited from godly leadership when he was young and grew into a man who was personally and sincerely a godly leader as king. But looks can be deceptive. When Jehoiada died, Joash abandoned the principles he was taught and was immediately influenced by ungodly men. Verses 17-18 say, “After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. 18 They abandoned the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols….”
God sent prophets to rebuke Joash and his new influencers, but “they would not listen” according to verse 19 and they even killed one of them, Jehoiada’s son Zechariah (vv. 20-22). What began as a promising reign of spiritual leadership by Joash ended with God’s wrath on him and he was executed in his bed by his own officials (v. 25).
Here is one lesson from this story: How much do others influence your decisions–either for righteousness or for evil? We need godly leaders and godly advisors, but we all need to develop godly character for ourselves. When your pastor or other significant spiritual leaders leave or die or forsake the Lord themselves, will you have developed the personal character to do right on your own? Or will you be immediately influenced for evil by sinners who enter your life and attempt to turn your heart from God?
Walk with God yourself and develop your own principles and your own moral character! Learn to do what is right, even when righteous influences are gone and those around you want to do wrong.