Joash: Pleasing God or People

2 Chronicles 24

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY
Creation. Abraham. Moses. DAVID. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

As we study God’s story in God’s people, we are looking at several kings who ruled in Judah. Today, we will examine the life of one who, through God’s protection, came to power at a very young age. His name is Joash. I believe his devotion to the Lord raises questions we should consider in our own lives.

Let’s set the context.

Last time, we learned about Jehoshaphat. One of the major downfalls of his reign was forming an alliance with Israel’s wicked king, Ahab, by marrying off his firstborn son, Jehoram, to Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah. After Jehoshaphat died, Jehoram became king, but instead of following the godly example of his father, he followed the wicked ways of his father-in-law, Ahab. No doubt his wife, Athaliah, had a major influence on him. 

To eliminate any family competition for the crown, Jehoram had his six brothers and some of his nephews put to death. He also permitted the worship of pagan gods. Finally, God spoke through a letter from the prophet Elijah, warning of what would happen if Jehoram did not turn from his evil ways. The king did not listen, and as a consequence of his sins, he died a painful death (2 Chron. 21:18–20). 

Before Jehoram died, the Philistines and Arabs invaded Judah and killed all of his sons, except the youngest, Ahaziah, whose mother was Athaliah. Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he succeeded his father. But after reigning for only one year, he was assassinated. 

When Athaliah learned that her son had been killed, “she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah” (2 Chron. 22:10) —including her own grandchildren. David’s royal line was nearly wiped out. However, Ahaziah’s sister, Jehoshabeath, rescued Ahaziah’s son, Joash, and hid him from his murderous grandmother. Jehoshabeath and her husband, Jehoiada the priest, kept Joash safe. 

Athaliah appointed herself queen over Judah (2 Chron. 22:12), and reigned for six years, during which Judah was ruled by someone outside David’s lineage. When Joash was seven years old, Jehoiada overthrew Athaliah, crowned the young boy as Judah’s rightful king, thereby reinstating the kingship to David’s descendants. He then had Athaliah put to death. 

Because Joash came to power at such a young age, Jehoiada had a significant influence on him. Scripture says that the young king “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chron. 24:2).

When Joash was about thirty years old, he recognized that the temple, then 120 years old, had fallen into disrepair. Foreign adversaries had raided it multiple times, confiscating its gold and other treasures. So Joash “decided to restore the house of the LORD.  And he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, ‘Go out to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God…’” (2 Chron. 2:4-5).

Joash and Jehoiada worked strategically and diligently to oversee the repairs that “restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it” (2 Chron. 24:13). They also crafted new articles for temple worship to replace what had been plundered by the enemies, helping to foster worship among the people of Judah. As long as Jehoiada lived, “they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD regularly” all his days  (2 Chron. 24:14). For a time, Judah was serving the Lord. 

After Jehoiada died, Joash apparently lost his fervor for the Lord (2 Chron. 24:17–18). Without the guidance of a godly mentor, he began to value the opinions of others over what God had said. As a result of Joash’s passive leadership, Judah turned away from the Lord and again worshiped pagan gods. God sent prophets to call the people back, but they refused to listen to his message (2 Chron. 24:19). One of those prophets was Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, yet Joash had him stoned. As Zechariah lay dying, he cried, “‘May the LORD see and avenge!’” (2 Chron. 24:20–22). 

Joash was held accountable. The Arameans, though they had a much smaller army, defeated Judah's superior military force and Joash was severely wounded in the battle. Scripture says, “Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Thus [the Arameans] executed judgment on Joash” (2 Chron. 24:24). Then Joash’s servants “conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed” (2 Chron. 24:25). 

It is ironic, isn’t it? When Joash and Jehoiada worked together to center the people on the worship of Yahweh, the nation thrived spiritually and enjoyed God’s blessing. But after Jehoiada’s death, Joash sought popularity and allowed Judah to turn to other gods. In the end, it was the very people he tried to please who brought about his ignoble end. 

Of course, I can’t know Joash’s heart. Still, Proverbs 27:19 says, “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart” (NIV). After Jehoiada’s death, Joash’s life seems to show that he never truly made the faith his own. He clearly respected Jehoiada, and while the priest was alive, Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But once Jehoiada was gone, he listened to other influential voices that turned his heart away from the Lord. 

There is a sobering lesson here for every parent. Our aim cannot be merely to raise children who follow our rules or reflect our beliefs only while we are present. Each person must eventually come to own their faith for themselves. Borrowed faith rarely survives after the one it depends on is gone. Joash remained faithful during Jehoiada’s lifetime, yet when the priest died, his devotion to the one true God faded. 

One true test of faith is what remains when the voices that shaped us fall silent. Spiritual influence is powerful and can help guide a life, but it is never a substitute for a heart truly transformed by the living God.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on 2 Chronicles 24.  In what areas are you tempted to please people rather than remain faithful to God’s truth?

Talking to God: Ask God to clearly show you where you are trying to please people instead of him. 

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