November 1, 2023

An interruption ignored

2 Kings 11-12

Makaila Swank
Wednesday's Devo

November 1, 2023

Wednesday's Devo

November 1, 2023

Wednesday's Devo

November 1, 2023

Wednesday's Devo

November 1, 2023

Big Idea

Forgetting God's Word is the first step away from faithfulness.

Key Verse | 2 Kings 11:17

And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, that they should be the LORD'S people, and also between the king and the people.

2 Kings 11-12

Athaliah Reigns in Judah

1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and she put 1 11:2 Compare 2 Chronicles 22:11; Hebrew lacks and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they 2 11:2 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate (compare 2 Chronicles 22:11) she hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. 3 And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the LORD, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Joash Anointed King in Judah

4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the house of the LORD. And he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the LORD, and he showed them the king's son. 5 And he commanded them, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king's house 6 (another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards) shall guard the palace. 3 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain 7 And the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the LORD on behalf of the king, 8 shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

9 The captains did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 And the priest gave to the captains the spears and shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of the LORD. 11 And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house on behalf of the king. 12 Then he brought out the king's son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”

13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the LORD to the people. 14 And when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” 16 So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was put to death.

17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, that they should be the LORD's people, and also between the king and the people. 18 Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest posted watchmen over the house of the LORD. 19 And he took the captains, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, marching through the gate of the guards to the king's house. And he took his seat on the throne of the kings. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king's house.

Jehoash Reigns in Judah

21  4 11:21 Ch 12:1 in Hebrew Jehoash 5 11:21 Jehoash is an alternate spelling of Joash (son of Ahaziah) as in verse 2 was seven years old when he began to reign.

1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash 6 12:1 Jehoash is an alternate spelling of Joash (son of Ahaziah) as in 11:2; also verses 2, 4, 6, 7, 18 began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places.

Jehoash Repairs the Temple

4 Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the LORD, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the money that a man's heart prompts him to bring into the house of the LORD, 5 let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” 6 But by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests had made no repairs on the house. 7 Therefore King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing the house? Now therefore take no more money from your donors, but hand it over for the repair of the house.” 8 So the priests agreed that they should take no more money from the people, and that they should not repair the house.

9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the LORD. And the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. 10 And whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king's secretary and the high priest came up and they bagged and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD. 11 Then they would give the money that was weighed out into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the LORD. And they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the LORD, 12 and to the masons and the stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and quarried stone for making repairs on the house of the LORD, and for any outlay for the repairs of the house. 13 But there were not made for the house of the LORD basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold, or of silver, from the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, 14 for that was given to the workmen who were repairing the house of the LORD with it. 15 And they did not ask for an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen, for they dealt honestly. 16 The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.

17 At that time Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath and took it. But when Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem, 18 Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred gifts that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent these to Hazael king of Syria. Then Hazael went away from Jerusalem.

The Death of Joash

19 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 20 His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. 21 It was Jozacar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, who struck him down, so that he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

Footnotes

[1] 11:2 Compare 2 Chronicles 22:11; Hebrew lacks and she put
[2] 11:2 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate (compare 2 Chronicles 22:11) she
[3] 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
[4] 11:21 Ch 12:1 in Hebrew
[5] 11:21 Jehoash is an alternate spelling of Joash (son of Ahaziah) as in verse 2
[6] 12:1 Jehoash is an alternate spelling of Joash (son of Ahaziah) as in 11:2; also verses 2, 4, 6, 7, 18

S2:213 2 Kings 11-12

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Dive Deeper | 2 Kings 11-12

The reign of Joash (also spelled Jehoash) started strong because he was under good leadership and heeded wise advice. He was just a child—7 years old according to 2 Kings 11:21—and yet was thrust into a leadership position unlike anything else he'd ever done. The Bible is clear that the Lord does not discredit faithfulness because of youthfulness. In the words of 1 Timothy 4:12: "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." The smartest thing Joash did was obeying what Jehoiada the priest instructed him, because Jehoiada had "made a covenant between the LORD and the king" (2 Kings 11:17).

Joash tore down the house of Baal, demolishing its images, altars, and priests. It's important to realize that a new ruler means a complete removal of the old ruler. Baal had been the city's primary god during the six years that Queen Athaliah ruled, and Joash makes it very clear that now Judah is going to worship Yahweh. He knew that if he left these idols up, chances were high that the people would begin to  follow a false god again.

Not only did Joash tear down Baal's temple, but he made it a point to repair the LORD's temple. He instructed the priests to use the money given by people to make repairs. Joash saw that there was a problem with the way people treated the house of the LORD, and he sought to change that.

Unfortunately, Joash made a fatal mistake. When confronted with an attack from Syria, he bought off Syria . . . using gold from the temple, instead of trusting in the Lord's plan for Judah. That's right, he took from the very temple he made sure was being repaired and gave it to the enemy. And like all sin, it led to Joash's death (2 Kings 12:20-21).

How are you handling the sin in your life? Are the Lord's priorities your priorities? Do you have wise friends in your life who give you biblical counsel? Let the lessons of Joash's life and actions help you.

This month's memory verse

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Discussion Questions

1. Are there times you fear you might be discredited or think that the Lord couldn't possibly use you, because of your _____? Perhaps it's your youth, stature, appearance, sin struggle, or past. What does the Bible say about that?

2. In what areas of your life have you left up idols to other gods? What are practical steps you can take to tear those down in order to guard against drifting away from the Lord?

3. This passage details a mentoring relationship between Jehoiada and Joash. Do you have someone in your life who is instructing you in the way of the LORD? Conversely, is there someone you are discipling to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD? What is fruitful about these relationships—why does the Bible encourage them?

4. Are there any ways you or people around you are treating dishonorably the Lord/the house of the LORD?

5. In what ways are you like Joash—starting strong and then faltering from a lack of trust in God? How can you restore your trust in Him?

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

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Hugh Stephenson

Good morning Makaila! Love this from your devo- The smartest thing Joash did was obeying what Jehoiada the priest instructed him, because Jehoiada had "made a covenant between the LORD and the king" (2 Kings 11:17). “And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to think how it might have turned out otherwise. I look back on the “Jehoiada” figures that guided me and how they blessed me when I was young and I am incredibly thankful. I still made lots of mistakes but they made a huge difference to me. The notes emphasize the importance of mentors- "The forty-year reign of Joash may be divided into two parts—before and after the death of his spiritual guardian, Jehoiada. ... Without the moral and spiritual courage of this high priest [Jehoiada], Joash was as unstable as Lot without Abram. Therefore, God showed His mercy to the people of Judah by extending Jehoiada's life to an amazing 130 years [longer than anyone on record during the previous 600 years (cf. Exod. 6:20)]!" “Joash followed the Law of Moses and ruled well as long as his mentor Jehoiada, the high priest, lived. However when Jehoiada died—evidently shortly after Joash's temple repairs were complete (2 Chron. 24:15)—the king began to follow the advice of certain Judean officials who led him into unfaithfulness to Yahweh. He stubbornly refused the warnings that God sent him by prophets (2 Chron. 24:17-19) and by Zechariah, who had replaced his father as high priest (2 Chron. 24:20-22). He even executed Zechariah. In the earlier years of his reign he was faithful to God, except that he allowed the high places of worship to remain in Judah (cf. Deut. 12:2-7, 13-14).” "... it is evident from the sequel of his history that the rectitude of his administration was owing more to the salutary influence of his preserver and tutor, Jehoiada, than to the honest and sincere dictates of his own mind." "Joash was an excellent follower but not a good leader."
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Hugh Stephenson

Q1. Can God use me? By God’s blessing I was taught early in my time in re:gen, Prodigal, and Men’s abortion recovery that God can use anyone to advance His plan and tell His story through my story. A favorite verse from Malachi remains me of how God can refine me to pure silver and gold for His use- “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.” Q2. My remaining idols? God’s kindness has purged of many who were present B.C. A.D. - The hassles and expenses of big houses has cured me of “house idolatry”. 2nd homes never really appealed to me. Not quite so with trucks. Q3. Yes, to both. I love having wise brothers guide me. They were like oxygen to me early on in my recovery. Walking with younger men is just as much of a joy. I am thankful that Watermark is focusing more on this for men and for women. Q4. Treating the Lord’s house dishonorably? Wow. I sure hope not. This is a great question that I have not thought about at all. If I move beyond the physical facility to a wider understanding of “house”, then the answers become more visible. Still very thought provoking. Q5. Having started so weakly and lost so many years the LORD has given me huge energy to finish strong. My image is of the runner who sprints all the way into the finish and collapses as he falls through the tape. That’s how I want to finish the race He has set out for me, (Hebrews 12:1-2). Thankfully, we have many men and women who have the same backstory and have embraced the same call. A huge part of the blessing is those who began the sprint at a young age and have never slowed down. “Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31) I pray that I the Spirit will carry me to the end so that I am one of “those”.
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Hugh Stephenson

How much impact can one person really have? Maybe in heaven we can ask Jehosheba and Joash? This is such a powerful move by her- “But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and she put 1 him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they 2 hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death.” Wow. https://www.gotquestions.org/Athaliah-in-the-Bible.html A huge piece of history happened because of her faithfulness. I know that whatever positive impact I might have on others journey that I’ll likely not know in this life. And I don’t need to know it. The assurance of blessings and peace that comes with striving for faithfulness is more than enough. From the notes- "It was one of the many attempts Satan made to exterminate the male offspring to make the coming One, the promised Savior, the seed of the woman, impossible. Had he succeeded through Athaliah in the destruction of the royal seed of David, the promise made to David would have become impossible." "Once a promising, God-fearing young ruler, Joash died a disappointment. By bribing Hazael with Temple treasures, he tarnished his one great achievement, the Temple restoration." "Joash's reign started off well but ended poorly because he turned from Yahweh. Instead of continuing to follow the high priest's counsel, he silenced him by killing him. Consequently, God's blessing on his earlier years in office turned into chastening later in his life." https://www.gotquestions.org/Jehoiada-in-the-Bible.html https://www.gotquestions.org/King-Joash.html
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Michael Sisson

Re: 2Kgs 11:2-3 2 Kings 11:2-3 (NASB) But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and >>>placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah,<<< and he was not put to death. 3 So >>>he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD six years,<<< while Athaliah was reigning over the land. In the Temple, the room above the Holy of Holies was known as the Heb. “cheder hamitot” (Eng. "bedchamber").
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Michael Scaman

Kng Joram married a daughter of Ahab named Athaliah (meaning exalted and she exalted herself). Big mistake. Tragic consequences. The quick thinking and action of Jehosheba a daughter of Joram, hid and saved her baby brother. Jehosheba means Yahweh and seven (can be oath), God's oath? God's promise? Jehoash means Jehovah bestows. So the daughter's name was about God's promise and the son's about God's provision. With the royal line in the north wiped out and now the south all but one wiped out, there was a fresh start with a 7 year old King. A revival happened with 7 year old Jehoash where worship in the land rose from ashes Jehoash means Jehovah bestows. Buying off Hazael was perplexing. Doesn't seem the right thing to do. Hazael means God beholds.
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Greg Jones

One of the nice little things that makes Watermark great is you can get a great cup of coffee when you’re there. The big thing that makes Watermark great are the people there working and serving. The Bible can be a funny book to read. Not so much ha ha funny but you have to really pay attention and you sometimes have to read all the layers of it to come to your conclusions. Example when I read 2 Kings 6:32-33 and 2 Kings 7:1-2 I assume Elisha is talking to this person-the captain on whose hand the king leaned, when he speaks in verse 1. But in 7:18 you figure out Elisha was talking to the king because verse 18 tells you “when Elisha told the king”…funny weird but for the reader it plays into the things the things seen and not seen by the characters and brings the reader into the narrative. Different than that Hosea 1 talks about Jehu who is king of Israel while Jehoash is king of Judah and the LORD’s condemnation of Jehu’s actions. In Hosea the LORD says he is going to forsake the nation of Israel for the sins of the house of Jehu. And He is going to save Judah but not by horsemen or chariots. Hosea looks back to the days of Jehu and says this is the beginning of Israel’s defeat. So is the act of Jehoash a precursor to the LORD saving Judah in an unconventional way the way Jehu’s act is the precursor of the LORD destroying Israel in what some may consider His conventional way? In another layer 2 Chronicles says this. At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash. When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. In Chronicles Jehoash/Joash doesn’t pay off Hazeel. His army is defeated by a smaller army and the enemy hauls off the plunder and executes judgement on Joash. Three perspectives on the relationship between Yahweh Judah Israel their kings and their common people concerning these times and reigns while Elisha is prophet in Israel.
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Sue Bohlin

Thanks so much, Makaila, and what a JOY to read your devo about growing up at Watermark and walking with Jesus your whole life! Two things struck me in today's reading. First, yet again we see the power of a godly woman's influence showing initiative to make a HUGE difference. Jehosheba scooped up baby Joash to protect him--FOR SIX YEARS!! And thwart the enemy's plan to cut off David's line to prevent God from fulfilling His promise to keep the Davidic dynasty on the throne. Go Jehosheba!! Second, what we DON'T read about Joash's response to Hazael's aggression toward Judah. He doesn't inquire of the Lord. He makes his own plan. Dumb, dumb, dumb, Good reminder to us--ALWAYS check EVERYTHING with the Lord!
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Amy Lowther

1. No, but it is always interesting to see what God deals me. I know He wants me to do my best. As it says in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” 2. I have had several idols in the past but I currently am doing pretty good not to idolize anything. I am able to do this because of discussing idols in Regeneration on Monday nights in small group and because of my continued efforts to practice what I learned. Defining what a biblical idol was and being honest about “life” that needed more God and Jesus helped me identify my idols and live more as God preferred. Value for the Lord and what He recommends keeps me from drifting from Him. 3. The Lord’s unconditional love welcomes me to listen to and read the instruction of the Lord. I am not currently discipling to anyone in particular. I do encourage people to attend church and to participate in church activities. I also encourage people who are searching for the “good” in life to be themselves and meet God, to learn about Him, and to learn about Jesus too. I think their willingness to share and care is fruitful. The Bible encourages them because God’s words help each and every person increase their respective value. 4. No one close to me is dishonoring the God. But, if people aren’t using God’s goodness in how they handle life especially in the church or church related activities and someone is getting hurt because of what they do, dishonoring God is occurring. 5. I did this in school. Learning more about God and using what I learned more frequently in daily life corrected my “falling just short” practices.