THE SPIRITUAL RESTORATION BY KING JOASH - GOD GAVE TO A MAN THE OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY (2 CHRONICLES 24:1-14)

Dear Members in Christ,

The spiritual restoration by King Joash - God gave to a man the opportunity and responsibility (2 Chronicles 24:1-14)

Sometimes when we are trying to help someone out of spiritual depression, we hear words of despair such as, “I have sunk so low, I’m beyond help!” Our God is Almighty to save. There is no reason to believe that anyone in trouble is beyond help, especially if he or she is a child of God. God is powerful and He will intervene to rescue and restore the spiritual condition of His people when He is pleased to do so. But we must exercise human responsibility. We must be quick to obey and respond to God’s call to action.

In the Old Testament, at a time when God’s people had sunken to the lowest depth of spiritual depravity incited by the wicked Queen Athaliah, God intervened and He restored the nation. God does the work through His servants, in this case, the priest Jehoiada. The rescue plan worked out by Jehoiada and the loyal servants involved a coup against the Queen and thus ended the life and reign of the wicked Queen. In her place, a young King Joash was installed. The Bible records that,

“Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” 2 Chronicles 24:1, 2

King Joash, though young, started out well. He had a good counsellor and servant in the priest Jehoiada, together they carried out the work of restoration. After years of idolatry, this was the turnaround point for God’s people. There’s a lesson in this for us, namely when God gives us the opportunity and the responsibility to glorify Him, we must diligently carry out the work for the best effect and results and the glory of God. 

A. Set to work and restore your spiritual life!

God had laid upon the heart of King Joash to repair the house of the Lord. The House of God was the place of worship, and it is central to the spiritual life of the nation. So, the king gave the permission to make a collection for the repair work.

“And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD. And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.” 2 Chronicles 24:4, 5

However, the Levites were slow to respond. So, the king called Jehoiada and chided him. “And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?” 2 Chronicles 24:6

This was an opportunity of a lifetime for the Levites to rebuild the house of God, after years of decay and idolatry. They could restore the worship of the LORD, revive their ministry of God’s Word and restore the lives of the people. What an opportunity to glorify God! Yet, “the Levites hastened it not.”

Dearly beloved, let us be quick to grasp the opportunity to set our lives aright and to glorify God. If we have backslided, let us return to devotion and restore our walk with God. God gives an opportunity, man must rise to take up the responsibility. Sadly, we have also seen those who turn away, and instead, choose to serve the world and mammon. If we know there’s an opportunity to restore someone to a closer walk with God, or to revive our spiritual lives, let us “hasten the matter” as King Joash urges his servant.

B. There is much to be done, set your heart to work right away

After years of disrepair, the house of God was in shambles. The reason was the destructive work during the period of Athaliah’s reign, “For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.” 2 Chronicles 24:7. Jehoiada obeyed the king’s command, and the work was carried out in a timely and orderly fashion.

“So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it. And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.” 2 Chronicles 24:13, 14

There was much to do to prepare the house of God for the worship that God had prescribed according to the law of Moses. There were vessels to make, implements for sacrifice and worship, and there was the rebuilding of God’s house. Dearly beloved, lets us be diligent with our hands when it comes to the service of God. God moved the hearts of His people, but they delayed in responding. However, they eventually obeyed and great is the rejoicing, because now, “they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.”

Is there an area of your life that needs restoration and revival? Your prayer life, perhaps your personal devotion and service to God? “Hasten the matter”, get to work to restore it right away. May God bless and keep you all. 

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor