#577 I Am Ignorant but Please

Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover in the second month— 3 for they could not keep it at that time because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem— 4 and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly. 5 So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed. 6 So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the Lord God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see. 8 Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”

10 So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11 However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.

13 And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the brook Kidron. 15 And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. 16 They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. 18 For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.”[a] 20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.21 And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might[b] to the Lord. 22 And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the Lord. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

23 Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast for another seven days. So they kept it for another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And the priests consecrated themselves in great numbers. 25 The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven. 2 Chronicles 30 ESV

Passover


The kingdom has been divided for some time, but as Judah comes to seek and glorify God, renewing the covenant again, this king also remembers his brothers to the north and east. The Passover has not been observed here in quite some time, and their separated family has been in dark for much longer than that. When we are in the wake of true reform though, we shall not forget our neighbors. This is only a remnant of Israel that is left, for most of these tribes have been taken by the Assyrians. Hezekiah has decided that though there is not time before the proper day to meet the requirements of the Passover, there is yet a precedent to hold it the next month. So eager are they for the things of the Lord, they decide not to put it off another year. He sends his porters to Israel, come brothers, please humble yourselves and return to the God of your fathers, the God you have forsaken, the only true God. Don't be like your fathers, stiff necked, unrepentant. God does not here intervene when they go out, He does not tell them, "don't go, they are only going to laugh at you, you will be beat and mocked." No, and as excited as you may be to learn of the grace of God, the need of the Passover, and that everyone born of Adam has this same need, blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you. You will not always be so well received, sometimes it will be words, sometimes fist, and some will even be sawn in half or hung upside down. Christ told us to go anyway, deny ourselves, there was never a self help seminar or a call to find yourself. Go preach the gospel, this will be used by the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin. They laughed at them, the majority of them had this deep argument against them, they mocked them. I hated some of the people that told me about God. I liked the idea of a golden ticket to paradise, but some of these preachers insisted that if I truly believed my life would bear fruit. They insisted that it was not a sign this card and make up your own version of Christianity, according to your preferences. These teachers outed me as a sinner, for living with my girl friend, objectifying women, being a drunk, a drug addict, a boy who glorified violence thinking it made him more of a man. How dare they though, I was raised in a Christian home and went to a Christian school, so you can't tell me about God, I already know. You can't relate to me because you didn't grow up with a single mom, without a car, having other people pick you up for church because you were poor. You stay in your temple, I will be fine up here with my calves, and if you don't leave I will kick your butt all the way back to Jerusalem. Well it made sense to me at the time, but as much of a jerk as I was, some people kept praying for me, they loved me beside myself, even though I thought I was pretty great. 

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”   Matthew 10:22

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”… Matthew 28: 18-20

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 3-11

Just like I thought I knew enough about God, that I thought the people telling me about God should say less about my sin, should feed my ego more and tickle my ears, so when we do find God, remember that we were actually found by Him. Don't go into the world expecting to be held upon men's shoulders for telling them the truth, that is not how it works out there. Go for love's sake, go often and go anyway, but take no offense, some of Israel came, and even one makes it all worth while. It was most felt in Judah because that is where God has His hand to move the hearts of His people. They threw away the altars and all that was not sanctioned by God, but in all that they do well they still come upon an issue. Many of those that came from Israel did not come prepared. They had not known the laws or customs of God so well, since they had for so long been indoctrinated by the religion of the state, the ways of Jeroboam. There was no head of household who had been consecrated, so the Levites would perform the sacrifice for them and the sprinkling of the blood, and Hezekiah would pray on their behalves. I am reminded here of the thief on the cross, that the word of God, the doctrines of the faith cannot be dismissed, but no one comes to God so prepared. No one is more deserving than the thief, but many who have been given much, are in such a worse place, that they still drink milk at this time. God, see our hearts are not set upon our own ways, but as yet we have not learned all of Yours, and God, we are sinners, please forgive our sins. The Lord heard and healed the people, for it is God Who makes clean, and it is God Who looks upon the heart and will have mercy rather than sacrifice. Now look at the changed heart, they do not want to leave, but rather stay to continue learning, praising, returning to the God of their people. It is a true revival, and the celebration of the Passover goes on another week. God restores the years the locust took away. 

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10: 34-43

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#576 All Hands In

Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah[a]the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east 5 and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth[b]from the Holy Place. 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs. 7 They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron. 17 They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the Lord. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the Lord, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. 19 All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.”

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship

20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord. 21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar. 23 Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them, 24 and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

25 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to[c] the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. 32 The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. 33 And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34 But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves. 35 Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly. 2 Chronicles 29 ESV

Sister text 2 Kings 18

According to all that his father David had done, and how lovely a compliment is that when it is said that David was a man after God's own heart. Few have had the drive to reform at all in Israel, and most have left the high places off limits here in Judah. Just like the Godly parent does not insure the Godly child, neither does the wretch thwart the effective call of God upon the life of a child. There are things that can be measured, that studies will tell us are our best hope due to our design, that if we have two parents, teach our children about God and demonstrate moderation in our own lives, then they will have an advantage. But this is not a total guarantee for Hezekiah is the son of a wretch who was the son of a good king. You will never hear me pray, Lord do not interfere with my children's free will, but rather you will hear me beg time and again, Lord, change their hearts, God, please save my children. I do not want my children to feel safe because their parents believed, they went to church or because they recognize that their is a Creator. I want their hope to rest in Christ and Christ alone. 

The government before him has cut off the people from the true worship, and the priest during his father's reign has even helped him in this, made an altar after that of the king of Assyria. The priest is not a priest to the king but to God, the Levites belonged to that service, and he should have withstood Ahaz, corrected Ahaz, but he joined him in his folly. Now the son of Ahaz is bringing the sons of Aaron and the Levites back to this house and saying, look what our parents have done. Why is the wrath of the Lord against Judah and Jerusalem?

1. They turned away their faces from the Lord. Here is the mercy seat, but the altar does not face it, our hearts are with practices but not tied to the humility of the truth of practice. We have insisted on worshiping God in the high places, with our backs turned away from Him so much that we no longer worship God, but our pride and our idols.
2. We have also shut the doors, forbidding others to enter through the narrow gate, to worship in Spirit and in Truth. 
3. We have removed the lights, that lamp of knowledge which is the reading of God's word, that light which shows the way, the path. My father did not want to hear the words of God, and your fathers made little objection. We have entered a dark age, but the light is on the other side of those doors, so consecrate yourselves, return to that which you were called.
4. You have not burned incense in so long, and this use to be a house of prayer. My great grandfather defiled this once, so I dare not take up the incense myself, but I beg you, please return to your office, let your life be a sweet savor to the Lord. Do not forsake your duties, know the value of such a place, your position. 
5. There have been no burnt offerings, tribute to the place and position of God, that everyone and everything belongs to Him. He is Sovereign, Holy, infinite in all His majesty, what we and the things we make with our hands are not. You have not honored Him nor have we sought to return Him to His throne. 

They were stirred enough by this to go in and clean out the abominations that were in the house and consecrate the things of the Lord. I wish someone would say something to the preachers of this day, that they would speak to this dispensation of so called "believers" who are a priesthood, whose bodies are the temple of the Living God.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Why have you turned your backs on the only true God, and replaced Him with the gods of this culture and age? Why have you turned your backs on Holy Scripture, and returned to darkness? Why do you despise a just weight and measure, no longer regarding those who study or rightly divide the word of truth, but trading them for teachers who reflect your wants, emotions, and tickling your ears? You have forsaken Christ's model of prayer, and it is no wonder, because though it offends you to hear it, it is no longer God you pray to, but rather the idols of your mind. You do not worship God for Who He is, but you worship god for what you make him to be. 

The priests sacrificed the bulls, the rams, the lambs and then the congregation placed their hands upon the goats. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. God does not enjoy this outside of justice, for He makes it clear,

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. 16For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.… Psalm 51: 15-17

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6

Christ is our scapegoat, bearing not just the sins of Israel, but that of the whole world. These offerings taught them that something needed to bear their sins for them, Someone would have to take their place, there is always the continuing story of redemption, the gospel, Christ work from first we heard of that Seed in the garden. They offered all this up and with the Levites stationed in the house, playing instruments and singing Psalms to the Lord. Christ said, "if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." The Lord does inhabit the praises of His people, and the people responded here, and this must be the over pouring of God's Spirit for the priest cannot keep up with the offerings and here of necessity and heart, not of vane glory, the Levites are called upon to help the sons of Aaron. Many are called, but few are chosen. Some are even well trained, but their hearts are unfit. Praise the Lord, come with a humble heart, grateful to be allowed to give back to He Who has given all. Put your hands upon the goat and mourn over your sin. I am a thief, but Lord remember me when you enter Your kingdom.

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[c] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 18-21

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#575 Rage Against God

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done, 2 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, 3 and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering,[a] according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

Judah Defeated

5 Therefore the Lord his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force. 6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 from Judah in one day, all of them men of valor, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the commander of the palace and Elkanah the next in authority to the king.

8 The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven. 10 And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the Lord your God? 11 Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.”

12 Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war 13 and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us guilt against the Lord in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly. 15 And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the king[b] of Assyria for help. 17 For the Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and carried away captives. 18 And the Philistines had made raids on the cities in the Shephelah and the Negeb of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages. And they settled there. 19 For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah act sinfully[c] and had been very unfaithful to the Lord. 20 So Tiglath-pileser[d] king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. 21 For Ahaz took a portion from the house of the Lord and the house of the king and of the princes, and gave tribute to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him.

Ahaz's Idolatry

22 In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and he shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 In every city of Judah he made high places to make offerings to other gods, provoking to anger the Lord, the God of his fathers. 26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place. 2 Chronicles 28 ESV

Sister Passage 2 Kings 16 Ahaz

Godly parents are not a guarantee of Godly children. We, who have the means of grace, must bestow it to our children in the form of Bible reading, prayer with and without, attend a true church, live humbly and righteously before them. They were not given to the state, church or any other than their parents, and it is our duty and if we are real, our privilege as well that they be brought up in the nurture and admonishment of the Lord. We must not only boldly profess the faith, but live it and correct their ungratefulness and all other sin. Still, when a child does well and runs after God with their whole heart, we have not ourselves to thank nor others to despise. We plant the seeds given to us in the ground prepared for us, and others may water, but it is God Who shows mercy, Who makes everything grow. Ahaz was not like his father, not even as good as his grandfather, and he could trace a line with it's histories and failures of the kings, back to David.  

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 1 Corinthians 3: 6-9

Molech

He could have learned from his father in walking upright before the Lord, but instead he chose the practices of Israel, which was to assimilate the false religions of those nations around them. He made altars and images for Baal. He sacrificed his children, much like we do today, to the god of virility, the gods of leisure, idols of convenience, and the image of self. "No, no, no,' you say, 'you've got it all wrong. We only hunt our children when they are still inside the womb. They are only sacrificed as non-humans, sub-humans, growths, like having an appendix removed, or your tonsils. It's a fetus and there is this thing called viability, and it is not it's own person but rather it's identity is that of a part of the mother, which falls under her decision to keep or to remove. Now science may show us something else, that information from you combined with information from another, makes not you or that other, but an individual, with it's own code, description and belonging to life, but I don't care even then. Why, because there is this population problem, and it is my right anyway, it affects my life." Killing someone kind of affects their life as well, and why do those who can't yet speak for themselves, have their rights or lack there of decided by others? How does the cure for "population" fall into your hands to decide?  Technology has changed; men have not.

For these trespasses, God gives Ahaz over to the kings of Syria and Israel, where 120,000 of Judah's strong are killed and Israel captures 200,000 of what is called their relatives, for they are also Jacob's children. The kingdoms are divided, but no longer by good versus evil kings, or by right versus unholy doctrine. It is not because of God's special favor to Israel for their righteousness, for they had none, but rather that they are now His rod of correcting for Judah's unrighteousness. He has not given them up to be totally destroyed for out of Judah will still come Messiah, as the prophet Isaiah spoke during this time.

3 And he[g] said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel Isaiah 7: 13-14

Whom the Lord loveth He chaseneth, and yet He sends His prophet to protect. Judah has done wrong, she has cheated on me, but I have also seen the unjust vigor, the rabid malice of Israel, who has attacked his brother with rage. I have allowed you this far, but you have your own moat in your eye, something that is making you not see right, that you would now make slaves of Judah, adding insult to injury. Heaping transgression upon transgression, should we not rather restore our brothers, help them up from their injury, cover their nakedness, feed them and send them home? Is it not the gospel that I needed the same Christ that I am telling you about? They clothe them, anoint them and send them on their way. These were asked to be and became the good Samaritans that day. 

Ahaz is unmoved, as can be seen again and more so in Isaiah 7; he will not call upon the God of Israel because he has decided in his heart that the king of Assyria is his deliverer. Note that his grandfather suffered leprosy for defying the rules of the temple in desiring to burn his own incense, to make himself also a priest, to have religion his way, on his own two feet and terms. This is so much worse, leprosy is a blessing compared to a hardened heart, dying in your trespasses and sins, locking up the temple away from the people, turning the access away to the north, sacrificing your children, destroying your country all in the name of pride. He could not be moved by or convinced in the least by his calamities, they only seemed to drive him deeper into this madness and rage. Some men will never worship a God they cannot control or make after them. They would rather worship another man who can be flattered or an idol that can be held, but both are made, so I will not see either as worthy. I will worship the Creator according to His word that He has given me, the Bible. Lord, please preserve me in Your way, let my life bring glory and honor to Your name. 

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#574 Jotham the Finisher

Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people still followed corrupt practices.3 He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord and did much building on the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and forts and towers on the wooded hills. 5 He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And the Ammonites gave him that year 100 talents[a] of silver, and 10,000 cors[b] of wheat and 10,000 of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place. 2 Chronicles 27 ESV

He mimicked the good things that his father had done, and he learned from the bad. He did not violate the position of the priest, offering himself up to such duties as he was not fit. He did well, and there is nothing here recorded against him, but rather against the people during his reign. They had this witness before them, a good king, a Godly king, it says that he became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord. He brought his problems and his questions to the Lord, that he may better discern his way. Not only was he made great, but his people enjoyed the prosperity of his time, had his Godly example before them and his just rule. This was also the time of some of the greatest prophets in the land, the temple had been shown important again, respected by their king, yet the people still followed corrupt practices. When we see the end of Uzziah, made a leper for an example against such vain practices, how is it that only one man seems to have learned from the example of the prior king? If one goes before us and does well, we should imitate, but if he falls in the end then we should stop ourselves long before that ledge, and we should look into the way that was laid out before us. His son did, but the people are still hardened towards the Lord. I am writing this to myself, because I sat in seats both close and far away from the stage before, witnessing the end of dramas and follies, and then I went from there into the night and acted them out for myself. It was not always or even my own vomit, but often the foolishness of others I returned to.

The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name. 3 John

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#573 Smells Like Prayer

And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5 He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.

6 He went out and made war against the Philistines and broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. 9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them. 10 And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders. 12 The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.

Uzziah's Pride and Punishment

16 But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the Lord who were men of valor, 18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.” 19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy[a] broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, by the altar of incense. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the Lord had struck him. 21 And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the Lord. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz wrote. 23 And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son reigned in his place. 2 Chronicles 26 ESV

Sister 2 Kings 15 Uzziah

All the people took Uzziah. He did that which was right, like his father had done before him, and like his grandfather he had a good mentor. He was taught by Zechariah, and as long as he sought the Lord, he prospered. There is no law against doing good, exercising self control, and even those who have not found the Lord nor given Him the whole of their heart, have often found the blessing of the principles. Those who may not appreciate all of the ten commandments, have learned the benefit of some. Thou shalt not, may go against that natural depravity, man's desire to do anyway, but he appreciates or likes the idea of his own life being spared, others being honest with him, not being cheated or lied about. Some may even find such a code desirable in themselves, their own golden rule, a measure to attain to. What happens when your mentor passes, your audience changes? Now that you are old and retired, looking back upon the walls you have repaired, the enemies you have pushed back? You have listened to the people in the outskirts and provided them with towers of defense. You have invented and installed new weapons of warfare. Almost like wisdom you have nurtured agriculture, but truly you were given a passion for the dirt. Where does the praise belong? 

“I have lived long enough to observe that the greatest faults that are ever committed by professedly Christian men are not committed by young people. Most painful is it, to me to remember that the worst cases of backsliding and apostasy that I have ever seen, in this church, have been by old men and middle-aged men, – not by young people; for, somehow or other, the young people, if they are truly taught of God, know their weakness, and so they cry to God for help; but it often happens that more experienced people begin to think that they are not likely to fall into the faults and follies of the young; and I care not how old a man may be – even if seven centuries had passed over his head:, – if he began to trust in himself, he would be a fool, and soon he would have a grievous fall.” (Spurgeon)

I can be, have been and most certainly will be wrong, often if ever, and whenever I have done well or seen the fault of another, pride has always whispered to me. You think her your friend because she tells you how hard you have labored and how much you deserve this. There is no one so under appreciated as you, and she, like all flatterers, is really just a spider, a Venus fly trap or a crocodile underneath the mirror of the water. Uzziah cannot honor himself enough, and there is a place that he has been forbidden to go, a tree that he cannot eat the fruit from, for in that day, what will happen? He watches the priest, who must only come from the tribe of Levi, the sons of Aaron, take incense to burn on the altar of incense. Other kings burn incense in their gardens, in Israel anyone can be a priest that buys his way into it, I am a great king, a good man, I have observed the law and ruled well over God's people. I don't need anyone to offer up incense on my behalf. I am worth a hundred of these priests, and I shall extend my honor, stand on my own merit, no, but no, I read this, and there is only one place that feels right to finish this. I shall understand this better with my face pressed against the ground, crawling till my head hits that tree, not daring to look around, I smell the metal of bloody feet, and now I see why I needed someone else to be the priest. I realize that every prayer that makes it to the ear of God must come through Christ. He is the only Priest that was also the perfect prophet and King. You would take away Christ's honor, belittle the Holiness of God, look down upon the honor He has already bestowed upon you, not only to be made in His image, to be granted the warning of the priests, but also that of king. It is not enough for you, who did not make yourself? You come in thinking yourself worthy, but look at your forehead, you do not belong here. The state of your heart has now become the state of your face. Now you will know that you are unclean and only God makes clean. You use to come thus far, but now you cannot enter the house of the Lord, and if you are healed, to verify your healing, you will have to be approved by a priest. The Lord resist the proud.

All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2

And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Revelation 8: 3-4

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#572 Estimate

Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart. 3 And as soon as the royal power was firmly his, he killed his servants who had struck down the king his father. 4 But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not die because of their children, nor children die because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin.”
Amaziah's Victories

5 Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah and set them by fathers' houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that they were 300,000 choice men, fit for war, able to handle spear and shield. 6 He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel for 100 talents[a] of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites. 8 But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down.” 9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” 10 Then Amaziah discharged the army that had come to him from Ephraim to go home again. And they became very angry with Judah and returned home in fierce anger. 11 But Amaziah took courage and led out his people and went to the Valley of Salt and struck down 10,000 men of Seir. 12 The men of Judah captured another 10,000 alive and took them to the top of a rock and threw them down from the top of the rock, and they were all dashed to pieces. 13 But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, not letting them go with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 people in them and took much spoil.
Amaziah's Idolatry

14 After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them. 15 Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?” 16 But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
Israel Defeats Amaziah

17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.” 18 And Joash the king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle. 19 You say, ‘See, I[b] have struck down Edom,’ and your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness. But now stay at home. Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”

20 But Amaziah would not listen, for it was of God, in order that he might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 23 And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for 400 cubits,[c] from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 24 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God, in the care of Obed-edom. He seized also the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.

25 Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 26 Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, from first to last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 27 From the time when he turned away from the Lord they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there. 28 And they brought him upon horses, and he was buried with his fathers in the city of David. 2 Chronicles 25 ESV

Sister 2 Kings 14


Sometimes we just go down the list, check the boxes, church on Sunday, pray before meals, don't cuss and every once in a while, hand a dollar to the homeless guy. Amaziah starts out doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, he punishes those who murdered his father, rightly so. He does not punish their children, because that is the law of God, well done. Yet, we read that it is not with his whole heart, so why does he set out to do what's right? Well, all men have the ability to reason in varying degree, even animals can be trained or will adjust to circumstances. When you walk into the room where you keep your fish tank, they take notice and come up to be fed. When I was small my mother would take away something I valued when I did something unfavorable. Maybe he saw the time of his father when he was under the influence of Jehoiada and that he did well, but then he saw his father die at the hands of his own servants whom he now punished. What part of his heart is he holding back, that he feels does not belong to God? He seems to have some head knowledge, but where is his heart? So far, almost every king we read about, could not handle success, peace, blessing, wealth. Once we have, we are healthy, rich, surrounded by "friends", enemies have been placed in check, we have gotten what we wanted all along. Now, do we hold these things with and open hand, reckoning them the gifts of God that we dedicate to His honor, or do I grasp at my own fame, my own renown?

So he prepares to go to war, and as is the custom of his day, he hires mercenaries. He probably thinks nothing of it, other than that it is added assurance, good business, making allies. A prophet comes and tells him not to go with Israel, to cancel his agreement with them, because the Lord is not with them. But I have already paid them, there is an 80 billion dollar arms agreement on the table, I will lose what I have invested so far, and they will lose their pillage. I am fighting one enemy already, but you would have me offend someone else as well? What is the price of doing the right thing? The Lord is able to give you much more, so do what is right in His eyes. I hear men argue all the time against the God of the Bible, about what they stand to lose, about what they have lost here already, but there is the eternal proposition that I was always too dumb to see or too proud to acknowledge. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard right, but it is yet held out by these prophets, by the word of God, 

Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. 36What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?…Mark 8: 34-36

It will cost you everything you think you have here, your wife, your children, your kingdom, your money, your glory and honor amongst those other thieves. But now lay that thread, that piece of your hair, that single strand, across the line of eternity, now back up to the edge of the universe and with your naked eyes, look back to where you left that thread, "well I think it was that way, but I'm not sure, I can't see it." At my work they will make fun of me, who cares, you should love them more than their approval. I stand to lose a lot of money if I do what's right now, who cares, what if you had all the money in the world and lived a hundred years here, how would that measure against eternity? 

He sends the Israelites home, but they are angry and on their way back they kill and pillage, for the thief only comes for that, to steal, to kill and to destroy. You paid them, you told them what God said, but you had to separate yourself from them, for God was not with them. They were suppose to fight along side you, but they have no issue stealing and killing your people on the way home. God gives you the victory, yet you bring home the gods that could not protect the nations you conquered. This was reserved in your heart all along, once you got what you wanted then you no longer needed God. It is not even just these idols, it is your pride, that you hold up yourself. The prophet warns him, and how kind is it of God to warn us, for we would not even bother. Those who were lost often shake their heads at the lost, but God, Who has long held the right to destroy us all, shows compassion through His prophet. Stop, I don't want to hear it! Shut it, or I will shut it for you! If you want to die, then keep talking. I am the king and you are nobody, I did not ask for your opinion, so what are you doing here? This king has arrived, he is well past the need of prophets, of men who do not look like much, nor have the things he has. He doesn't care to listen, does not want the opportunity to repent, does not see himself as needing saved. “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

Now he takes counsel, but not from the prophet of God, and now he has an idea of right and wrong, that he has been wronged by Israel. There is good reason for him to confront their king, those mercenaries that killed his own people, but just as God is not for them because of their high places, their false doctrines, He is also now even against Amaziah, who has taken to the idolatries of the other nations. He has refused wisdom, whether from God's prophet or from this king who calls him out on his pride, and he makes ready for battle. I have heard so many times at work, the voice of VPs and their hirelings, declaring, "I like his confidence, he sticks with his decision." Too bad he's wrong, too bad God is not with him. 

Harness the steeds to the chariots,

inhabitants of Lachish;

it was the beginning of sin

to the daughter of Zion,

for in you were found

the transgressions of Israel. Micah 1: 13

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#571 Son Of

Joash[a] was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada got for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.

4 After this Joash decided to restore the house of the Lord. 5 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 from year to year, and see that you act quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly. 6 So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the congregation of Israel for the tent of testimony?” 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also used all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord for the Baals.

8 So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 And proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished.[b] 11 And whenever the chest was brought to the king's officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king's secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it and return it to its place. Thus they did day after day, and collected money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who had charge of the work of the house of the Lord, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord. 13 So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it. 14 And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made utensils for the house of the Lord, both for the service and for the burnt offerings, and dishes for incense and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord regularly all the days of Jehoiada.

15 But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died. He was 130 years old at his death. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.
Joash's Treachery

20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” 21 But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”[c]
Joash Assassinated

23 At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah[d] had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

25 When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son[e] of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite. 27 Accounts of his sons and of the many oracles against him and of the rebuilding[f] of the house of God are written in the Story[g] of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place. 2 Chronicles 24 ESV

Sister 2 Kings 12

Joash reigned well when he was reigned in. Jehoiadas are a wonderful thing, and though they may live long, they do not live forever. While the one who spared him, raised him, and brought the kingdom back to his house, lived, and while he was under the influence of one so set upon the true God, he did well. We must teach our children correct doctrine, good behavior, give them every advantage toward the things of God, but if their religion stops with us then it falls short. If we leave them with the vision of piety and self righteousness, then they may well see the need of the building where we meet but not the temple that is their heart. They may take pleasure in the exercise, the show, the outward symbolic gestures, and yet be tarnished inside from all manner of idolatry. I get it, I understand that the care of the building where we meet is important, and it's neglect may well represent the state of those falling away, it was good he recognized this. It was good that he made sure, as stewards should, that the money went to the proper hands so that the work took place and no one was taken advantage of in the name of the cloth. We should take care when we give that we do not broadcast it to our glory, but also that we see where it is going. The same things that plague government also plague the church, they are men in both places and men can not only be wrong, but also corrupt. We must take care and guard against such. Once they knew where the money went and saw it work to good use, they gave over and abundantly. 

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully4 will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency5 in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9: 6-9 

Jehoiada dies at 130 and I also think of note, he is buried among the kings, so much respect there was for this man, this man who literally laid all on the line for the line. The house of David was kept alive in the temple that this priest presided over, and during his time the government was held in check, and so after his time he rested with David. The vultures can see a carcass from far away and the jackals see the vultures, so the princes come to Joash. Some men are easily buttered, complimented, they love the gestures as well, the titles and find their greatness easy to believe. Come now Joash, surely you see that the need for everyone to worship at the temple was an invention of Jehoiada, his need to control, some wondered whether he was the king or you. Let us return to the high places, that each man may worship God in his own way, and that all else may be cursed. A little leaven, and now they go all the way to those idols long ago found useless. God sends prophets and they will not listen to the prophets. Then, the son of the man who saved you, the one who brought you back to the throne you would not have known of without, his son. He speaks to you and all the people and you can't stand what he says, that you have forsaken God so now He has forsaken you. How dare he speak to you this way, as if you have made all this history, that God has not made those who intervened on your behalf, but rather than confess your wrong and lack, stone him, crucify Him. Oh the blood of those who warn us of our sin, the blood of the innocent, the blood of the one whose father protected you. You were dead without him, your own grandmother would have eaten you alive, but now you will have to answer for the blood of his son. The hope of Judah hangs low, the enemy from within has called the enemy from without. The Syrians take your bloody counselors, those foolish princes that you found so wise, and your own servants conspire for your blood, you will not be buried with the kings of Judah. 

“There was a want of principle in Joash, and it is of that I want to warn all our friends. Do not, I pray you, be satisfied with the practice of piety without the principles of piety. It is not enough to have a correct creed; you must have a renewed heart. It is not sufficient to have an ornate ritual; you must have a holy life, and to be holy you must be renewed by the Holy Spirit. If this change is not wrought in you by the Holy Ghost, you who yield so readily to good will yield just as quickly to evil.” (Spurgeon)

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