170 - Joash's godly reigns

Source

Kathleen's thoughts.

2 Kings 11: 17-20 2 Chronicles 23: 16-21 Revival under Jehoiada

2 Chronicles 24: 3 Jehoiada acquired two wives for him, and he was the father of sons and daughters

2 Kings 10: 34-36 Jehu's death  Jehu rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became king in his place. Jehu reigned over Israel for 28 years.

2 Chronicles 24: 4-7, 2 Kings 12: 4-8 Faithless priests. Joash took it to heart to renovate the Lords temple and told the priests what to do by collecting money from all Israel to repair the temple of your God as need year by year, and do it quickly. However the Levites did not hurry. The King asked Jehoiada the high priest and he said. But by the 23rd year of the reign of King Joash the priest had not repaired the damage to the temple. In the end they decided not to take money from the people and would not repair the temple's damage.

2 Kings 13: 1-2 Jehoahaz In the twenty-third year of Judah's King Joash son of Ahaziah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria He reigned 17years. He did what was evil in the Lord's eyes. and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

2 Kings 13: 3-7, 22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz.

2 Kings 12: 9-16 2 Chronicles 24: 8-14 Joash repairs the Temple.

Joel 1: 1-20 Plague of insects. Destroys the land and famine prevails.




God is telling us to wake up and take note of what is going on around you. Watch what the locusts are doing to our land and families today.  The day and the hour is drawing near make sure you ready for the bridegroom your oil lamps are burning and don't run out of oil for them.

Blessings
Kathleen.

170 - The Temple Repaired

King Joash repairs the temple.
Source

Chareen's Thoughts

• Jehoiada was the priest in Jerusalem.  He made a covenant between the LORD, the king and the people.  At this the people tore down the temples of Baal and killed the priests of Baal.  
• King Joash was seven years old when he became the king and he did what was right in the LORD's sight throughout the time of Jehoiada instructed him.
• Joash instructed the priests to collect the taxes instructed by Moses to maintain and repair the temple.  The priests however did not do it so he called Jehoiada in and enquired why it was not done.
• Jehoahaz became king of Israel and did evil before the Lord who handed him over to Hazael king of Aram. They were oppressed and Jehoahaz saught the Lord who then released them from their oppression.
• By the 23 year of King Joash's reign the priests still had not repaired the temple so Joash took the responsibility and repaired it.  He placed a box at the altar to collect money for it's repair and used that to pay for it.
• Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hands they delivered the money to be paid to the workmen, for they dealt faithfully. 2 Kings 12:15 can you imagine that in today's society ?
• Once the repairs were complete the money left over was used to make articles for the LORD's temple. Articles required to make offerings.
• Today we are introduced to the book of Joel.  His opening words are about a plague of locusts.

I was astonished to read that the priests of the land were given the instruction to fix the temple and for 23 years did nothing.  It took the king's hand to make it happen.  I was also impressed with the fact that no accounting was needed because the men worked in integrity.
This made me think about my own personal integrity and do I walk in it ?

Joash placed a collection box near the altar.  The end of today's reading refers to this verse which I somehow missed in my earlier readings. Deuteronomy 16:16-17   16 ... They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed: 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.
I know this verse is speaking about the males appearing before the Lord but as I read it I was struck about the principle behind this.  What are your thougths.
Blessings
Chareen