WHEN KING JOASH LEFT THE HOUSE OF GOD

HERE IS THE WORD: DON’T LEAVE THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

Joash, seven-year-old son of King Ahaziah was crowned King of Israel because the wicked Queen Athaliah had killed all the descendants of the royal family.  “But Jehosheba, … sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.” "And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land." (The father of Joash, a wicked King, had been killed by Jehu.)

The powerful Priest Jehoiada, strengthened himself, had Athaliah killed and with the elders crowned seven-year-old Joash King.

Having a good beginning, he repaired the House of The LORD which had been broken up and brought the people back to their righteous heritage.

“Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. 

Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.”

We should pay attention to the end of this story of King Joash:

 

“And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. 

And they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. 

Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.”

 

God did require it. 

 

“And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus. 

For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 

And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchers of the kings.”

 

2Ki_11:2; 2Ch_22:12; 2 Ch.24:17-19; 2Ch 24:20-22; 2Ch 24:23-25