THE REVIVAL KINGS #3 JOASH II CHRON. 23,24
THE KING WHO WAS INFLUENCED BY A GODLY MAN.
Background
As I mentioned previously in this series, after the reign of King Solomon the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms.
Israel - the northern kingdom - ten of the twelve tribes
Judah - the southern kingdom - two of the twelve tribes ( Judah and Benjamin )
Israel had 19 kings - all bad, not a good one in the lot.
Judah had 20 kings - 8 were good and 5 of the eight were godly and were the revival kings.
These five godly revival kings were:
Asa - Jehoshaphat - Joash - Hezekiah - Josiah
They were raised up by God to bring periods of revival and reformation to the nation. The OT books of Kings and Chronicles overlap and cover the same period of history. They are similar yet different.
Kings presents mainly an historical account of the two nations.
Chronicles presents "Gods view of history".
II Chronicles is a "Book about Revival"
Each of these Five Godly Revival Kings illustrates a different principle of Revival or Restoration.
Asa - Obey God’s Laws
Jehoshaphat - Teaching the Word
Joash - Paying what is due (restitution)
Hezekiah - Cleansing the Temple
Josiah - Return to hearing God’s Word
INTRODUCTION
This week we come to the third of the godly kings of Judah that experienced revival and reform during their reigns. First was Asa - Second was Jehoshaphat - Now Jaash.
Joash was the great grandson of Jehoshaphat, one of the godly kings of Judah. His grandmother was Athaliah who was either the sister or the daughter of Ahab, king of Israel. She had married one of the sons of Jehoshaphat.
We begin this morning with some palace intrigue and treachery after the death of Joash¡¦s father.
II Chronicles 23:10-12
As we will soon discover, Athaliah was a very wicked and evil woman but thank God that for every ungodly woman there is a godly woman. Joash¡¦s great aunt saves his life and preserves the line of David.
We have the child Joash, the only surviving heir to the throne of David, being hidden from the wicked Queen Athaliah for six years by the High Priest Jehoida.
For six years Jehoida the High Priest waited.
For six years Athaliah usurped the throne.
For six years she led the nation into idolatry
For six years the priests of Baal prospered.
But still Jehoida waited until the time was right.
II Chronicles 23 tells us that in the seventh year Jehoida made his move. He gathered the faithful men of Judah together and they crowned Joash King at age 7.
Look at Vs. 11-15
Jehoida, the High Priest was a remarkable man. He was God’s servant. He had no selfish motives or ambitions. He only wanted God¡¦s will - not his own.
Joash is considered one of the five godly kings of Judah but the godly reign of Joash is more about the godly High Priest Jehoida than about Joash.
Since Joash was only 7 when he came to the throne -- Jehoida was regent of the nation.
I. THE REFORMS OF JEHOIDA II CHRON. 23:16-21
1. The National Covenant was Renewed. Vs. 16
Israel was to be the people of God. They were to serve God and God alone.
2. The Idolatry and Worship of Baal was Destroyed. Vs. 17
The temples, altars, and images of Baal were shattered by the people.
a. Sin must be forsaken and overthrown.
b. God must reign supreme over all.
3. The Worship of Jehovah was Restored. Vs. 18,19
Praise and thanksgiving filled the courts of God’s house and Worship was restored in its ancient purity.
4. The Throne of Judah (David) was Established. Vs. 20,21
Joash was elevated to his lawful place as king.
5. The Priesthood was Elevated to it¡¦s Highest Honor.
While Joash was a child, Jehoida virtually reigned. As Samuel elevated the office of the prophet, so
Jehoida elevated the office of High Priest.
When He died they buried him with the kings. 24:15,16
II. THE EARLY REIGN OF KING JOASH II CHRON. 24
1. He Was Minded to Repair God¡¦s House. Vs. 4 Why? Vs. 7
2. He Sent the Levites to Gather an Offering of the People. Vs. 5,8
3. He Made a Chest for the Offering. (The Chest of Joash) Vs. 11
4. He repaired God’s Temple. Vs. 12,13
III. THE DOWNFALL OF JOASH
Four things led to Joash’s downfall.
1. As long as Jehoida was around to guide him, Joash was good, but after Jehoida died, he followed the people and not God. 24:2, 17
2. He neglected the strongholds. 24:18
The parallel passage in II Kings 12 tells us that "the high places were not torn down." The "high places"
were centers of idol worship on hilltops. False worship instead of true worship. Altars similar to God¡¦s
altars were found there. Counterfeits
3. He surrendered the sacred. II Kings 12:17,18
He surrendered what he should not have surrendered. When push comes to shove, what comes first. He bribed the enemy with the things that belonged to God instead of seeking God¡¦s face.
What about us? When push comes to shove, what comes first?
God or our Job. God or our Budget. God or our Pleasures.
When something really neat is happening on Sunday morning, what comes first?
4. He Ignored God’s call to repentance. II Chron. 24:19-22
Instead of heeding God’s message, Joash killed the messenger.
5. The Death of Joash Vs. 25
God’s judgment fell upon Joash for his sins and he was murdered in his sleep.
When he was buried, he was not considered worthy to be buried with the kings.
CONCLUSION Something to note in these revivals
1. In true Revival - People, not just leaders, turn back to God.
2. In Revival - not all the people turn back to God.
3. In Revival - not all people turn back to God to the same extent. Some turn back wholly, some partially
4. Some turned from all sin - some hung on to some of their sins.
5. Sin always brings judgment
As a young college student, I spent the summer in a town in Indiana. In the early 1930s a well known evangelist of the day held a city wide meeting there. Revival broke out. People were converted-lives were changed. Bars and saloons closed. Men stopped cursing. For months the town was not the same.
Today, a great crusade comes to town. People make professions but there is very little lasting change. There is no true genuine revival.
On Sept. 11th people prayed and sang God Bless America. There was a turning to God but something was missing. There was no turning from anything. America prayed to God but kept her sins. True genuine revival involves both turning to God and turning from sin.
