Thursday, April 26, 2012

ISRAEL'S POSTEXILIC HISTORY--LESSON 22 NOTES


LESSON 22: THE REIGNS OF Joash, amaziah, and uzzaih (2 CHR. 24-26)

2 CHRONICLES 24:1-27: THE REIGN OF JOASH


Joash and Jehoiada led far-reaching reformation in Jerusalem. … As long as Jehoiada lived, the high priest exercised a good influence over Joash. Later in his reign, Joash turned away from Jehovah. The king regarded the high priest like a son would look to a father.[1]

This boy king began to reign when just seven years old and reigned forty years (2 Chr. 24:1). The real force for good behind the throne was Jehoiada for as long as he lived. "And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest" (2 Chr. 24:2).[2]

One of the main projects of Joash's reign was the repair of the house of the Lord, the temple (2 Chr. 24:4). This work was necessitated because of the destruction done by the wrecking crew of Athaliah. "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 Chr. 24:7). The repair and replenishing work of the temple were financed by a collection from the people (2 Chr. 24:5-11).

The priests and Levites were informed of Joash’s purpose and were sent throughout the kingdom to tell the people of the king’s plans and to collect money for the project. The official religious leaders failed to throw themselves fully into this good work even though they had been told that the matter was urgent. The king counseled with Jehoiada and inquired about the failure of the priests. A half shekel tax (Exodus 30:13-15; Numbers 1:50) was supposed to be paid each year by every male for the purpose of helping to support the work of Jehovah’s House. This tax had not been collected for a long time. God’s House had been completely impoverished by the Baalists. Joash was deeply concerned.

Since his first plan had failed, Joash devised the building of a box with a necessary opening in the cover. … People brought their gifts to the Temple, turned them over to the attending priests who deposited the gifts in the chest. Throughout the borders of Judah the people came with their Temple tax. The failure of the first program had to be laid upon the priests and Levites who would not go to the people with the king’s request. Once Joash’s country-men were told about the king’s plan, with great rejoicing they came. Day after day they filled the money box. Perhaps there was a daily accounting of the funds by attendant priests at the Temple. Just as soon as the money was available, workmen began the task of renewing Jehovah’s house. Whatever needed to be done to make the Temple substantial was accomplished by masons, carpenters, and workers in metals. When all of the necessary repairs were made and paid for, money remained in the building fund. This money was used to provide vessels of silver and gold for the service of the Temple.[3]

However, the turning point in the reign of Joash was marked by the death of the good and faithful priest. His obituary is given as follows: "But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died: an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house" (2 Chr. 24:15-16).[4]

After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah turned the heart of Joash toward idolatry, and the wrath of God came upon the land (2 Chr. 24:17-18). The good prophets were rejected (2 Chr. 24:19), and even Zechariah the son of Jehoiada was slain as he warned the king about transgressing the commandments of God (2 Chr. 24:20-22). For all these things, God used Syria to punish the wayward king. "So they executed judgment against Joash" (2 Chr. 24:24). Subsequently Joash's own servants conspired to vindicate the blood of the sons of Jehoiada and they slew him upon his own bed (2 Chr. 24:25). He was, however, remembered for repairing the house of God (2 Chr. 24:27).[5]

What did God think of these events: In a remarkable statement in Matthew 23:29-36 our Lord condemned the scribes and Pharisees because of their rejection of Himself and the prophetic word. He summarized the history of the Hebrew people when He charged them with the blood of the prophets which had been shed from the time of Abel to the time of Zechariah. Genesis is the first book in the Hebrew Bible. Second Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew Bible. The expression, as Jesus used it, “from Abel to Zechariah”, took in all history pertaining to God’s people.[6]

2 CHRONICLES 25:1-28: THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH

Amaziah is given a qualified commendation as he begins to reign, doing "that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart" (2 Chr. 25:2).[7] [See also 2 Kings 14:3-4] Why was his heart not perfect? He really did not put himself into it and you can see such by the way of the people in 2 Kings 14:3-4.

One of his first acts was to avenge his father's blood by slaying the conspirators, but not their children. They were saved by a Mosaic precept which said, "The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin" (2 Chr. 25:4).

Amaziah was a warrior but his efforts and exploits were his own undoing. He was forbidden by a prophet of God to use the troops which he had hired from Israel to fight against Edom (2 Chr. 25:6-10). In turn, these troops became angry at his rejection and did much mischief in Judah (2 Chr. 25:10-13). The subsequent victory of the king over the Edomites with his own troops was marred by the anger of the Lord toward him, inasmuch as he embraced the gods of Seir and set them up to be his gods. In his idolatry the king was asked a very thought-provoking question: "Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand" (2 Chr. 25:15)?

Next, Amaziah challenged the king of Israel and was sorely defeated. God used Israel to punish the king for his pride in his victory over Edom. "And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent" (2 Chr. 25:22).[8]

To ask for a man’s daughter in marriage meant that the intended groom counted himself at least equal in rank with the woman and her family. The “thistle” (Amaziah) had insulted the mighty “cedar” (Joash) and the thistle could well expect to be destroyed. The thistle represented that which was worthless, useless, and annoying. The cedar was renowned for its worth, usefulness, and pleasing odor. The advice of Joash to Amaziah was that he should forget this ill-advised war because he could very well lose his throne and the kingdom itself could be lost. Joash showed considerable restraint and merited approval for his diplomacy. Bethshemesh was a village about fifteen miles southwest of Jerusalem. Here the battle was joined and Amaziah and his people were convincingly defeated. Once more Joash was very patient in that he did not put Amaziah to death. Amaziah was returned to Jerusalem. A considerable portion of the walls of Jerusalem was ruined. Much booty and spoil, along with prisoners of war (hostages), were taken back to Samaria.[9]

2 CHRONICLES 26:1-23: THE REIGN OF UZZIAH
 
Uzziah is also called Azariah (I1 Kings 14:21, Isaiah 6:l). Uzziah, as did his father, began his reign in a good way, walking in God's good pleasure, and "as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper" (2 Chr. 26:5). He was successful in fighting the Philistines and the Arabians, enjoying the help of God and the admiration of men. He was not only a warrior, but also a builder of towers, cisterns, and other projects which made a better life for people. His good reign made him very strong as a ruler. Unfortunately, his strength became his weakness.

Uzziah's heart was lifted up because of his strength and he presumed to go into the temple of God and burn incense (2 Chr. 26:16). Being a son of David gave him no authority to act in the temple as a priest (2 Chr. 26:18). For this unseemly deed Uzziah incurred the displeasure of man and God and was driven out of the temple and smitten by the Lord with leprosy (2 Chr. 26:20), which plagued him for the rest of his life (2 Chr. 26:21). Even in death his burial place reflected the fact that he was a leper (2 Chr. 26:23).

Uzziah's downfall was his pride, a disposition which caused him to violate Divinely- established boundaries. One of lowly circumstances and accomplishments may be humble and submissive, only to find that with success and notoriety his heart is haughty and rebellious.

[1] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[2] J. K. Gossett. “The Reigns of Various Kings, Evil and Good, in Judah” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[3] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[4] J. K. Gossett. “The Reigns of Various Kings, Evil and Good, in Judah” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[7] J. K. Gossett. “The Reigns of Various Kings, Evil and Good, in Judah” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Robert E. Black. The Books of Chronicles in Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.

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