Disobedience brings its own bitter reward – Saturday, 11th week in ordinary time – 2 Chronicles 24:17-25

From 2 Kings we shift for a brief period to the second book of Chronicles to supplement the narrative of the seven-year-old King Joash who was placed on the throne in a stunning coup by the priest Jehoiada. The wicked grandmother of the king, Athaliah is executed and the temple of Bal and its priests destroyed.

The book of Chronicles attributed to the scribe Ezra or sone unknown Levite, in its Greek title reads as ‘paraleipomena, meaning “things omitted,” or “passed over”; things in the accounts found in Samuel and Kings that are ‘passed over’. However, The Books of Chronicles, are much more than a supplement to the books of Samuel and Kings. When we actually compare the two histories in the books they disclose striking differences in their scope and purpose. The Books of Chronicles record in some detail the lengthy span, almost five hundred and fifty years of Israelite history; from the death of King Saul to the return from the exile.

The text of today documents the forty year reign of King Joash , also known as Jehoash in 2 Kings 12 and how judgment followed when he turned to idolatry. His was a long and mostly blessed reign. While he did advance the cause of God in the kingdom of Judah during the time that the priest Jehoiada, this king too fell short of a full commitment to complete godliness. When Jehoiada died, Joash no longer did what was right in the sight of the LORD.

Life is not merely about putting your best foot forward, it’s about being consistent. Joash began well. He set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD; This indicated the godly concern that Joash had regarding the condition of the temple. We are told that the sons of the wicked queen Athaliah, had broken into the house of God. This explains why the temple was in such disrepair. It wasn’t just normal wear and tear usage; it was a deliberate campaign against the temple and the worship of the true God prompted by Athaliah and her sons.