After
evil king Ahaziah died and his evil mother Athaliah took over the rule of Judah,
Ahaziah’s sister Jehoshabeath, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, rescued Ahaziah’s
son Joash and hid him form Athaliah who was putting all the king’s sons to
death. He was one year old at the time. Then six years later, Jehoshabeath’s
husband stepped forward to lead the people in making Joash king over Judah. He
gathered all the people and explained how they would live according to the
directions the Lord had given through David. And he crowned Joash as the new
king of Judah. He began his reign at 7 and reigned for 40 years with Jehoiada
beside him as his mentor and counselor.
Now
note what the text says about King Joash’s reign: “And Joash did what was right
in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” That’s right. He
was a good king…as long as Jehoiada was alive. But after that he listened to
the evil counsel of the princes of Judah and abandoned the house of the Lord
and served idols. Jehoiada lived a long time (130 years; longer than Moses and
Aaron) and as long as he was alive his influence on Joash was great and
pleasing to the Lord.
I’m
wondering about you and me. Is there anyone in our lives to whom we are their Jehoiada?
Is there anyone whom you and I are mentoring and helping to live a life that is
pleasing to the Lord? Is there anyone whom we are helping with wise, godly
counsel? Perhaps we ought to look around us and see the “Joash” God has put there.
Then let us “take courage” as Jehoiada did and invest our lives in them.
Prayer:
Father, I pray that you would help us as godly men before you to help those
around us to walk in a way that pleases you. Help us not only to live to your
glory ourselves but also to mentor others to do the same. Let us not become
reservoirs of your blessings but channels through which they flow to others.
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