2 KINGS
The Ministry of Elisha
2 Kings 11:1-12:21
INTRODUCTION
Whereas our literature focuses on the history of the 2 Jewish kingdoms from the perspective of 2 Kings, we have additional material concerning this same period in the history of Judah and Israel in 1 and 2 Chronicles. From reading just 2 Kings 11-12 you come away with the impression that Joash's reign was a raging success. From 2 Chronicles though we learn the truth that whereas Joash (or Jehoash) started out well, he did not end up well. In fact his reign is going to go down in flames.
Why does this happen? Why is it too often you read about people in the Bible who started off so well and yet finished so miserably? Before our study of 2 Kings we studied 2 Timothy which highlighted several followers and churches of Paul who for all practical purposes had cooled off considerably in their relationship with Christ by the end of their lives: Demas, the churches of Asia, and Timothy(?). For some people this is never an issue because they never even started out right in their relationship with God. For them being a Christian meant nothing more than being good and going to church.
Others though have started out great in their relationship with Christ. What went wrong? Maybe some of these had accepted Christ during their idealistic years. As the harsh reality of life began to settle in, they felt that Christ was not the answer to their lives as they had once thought. For others they grew in material possessions and became soft as a result. Somebody recently told me that I had it made at First Baptist Church because I had good security here; they told me that I should never look any further than this church. Their statements sent a shudder throughout my body. What a terrible reason to stay at a church as a minister. The only reason I should ever be at any church is that I believe that's where the Lord would have me be. I started out my ministry this way, and by God's grace I am also going to finish it this way.
THE THREAT TO THE DAVIDIC PROMISE (11:1-3)
In the previous chapters we see Jehu as God's instrument of wrath upon the household of Ahab, even that part which had gone down into Judah. When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah the slain king of Judah--when she sees that her son is dead, she decides she will usurp the throne of Judah. If ever a daughter was like her mother, it was Athaliah, Jezebel's daughter. She launches a bloodbath and destroys all those who might have a claim to the throne of Judah, even her own grandsons. Jehosheba, the daughter of Jehoram and half-sister of the slain Ahaziah, though takes one of the grandsons, Jehoash (Joash) and hides him most likely in a closet storing mattresses and bed linens in the temple compound. This would be a natural place for her to hide him since she is the wife of Jehoiada, the high priest. Athaliah, thinking that she has completely wiped out any potential heir, settles down upon the throne of Judah.
From a human perspective we are seeing one of the most critical events in the history of the Jewish people and in the history of God's promise to David. God had promised David that one of David's sons would sit upon his throne and reign eternally (2 Sam. 7:12-16). Because of what happened later, we know that God was referring to the coming of His Son, Jesus. At this moment in Israel's history, the promise is on the verge of being snuffed out. If Joash had died, the promise would have died with him; however, although the flame of David's promise was on the verge of being snuffed out, it continued to burn, no matter how faintly.
JEHOIADA'S PLOT AND JOASH'S CORONATION (11:4-21)
Joash was only 1 year old when Athaliah usurped the throne of David. After 6 years Jehoiada the high priest believes that it is time to reveal to Judah that her true king is alive. The Hebrew text at this point is confusing. There are certain terms which we simply do not know the meaning of, such as, Carites. This much is clear though. Apparently Jehoiada summoned the main military force protecting the temple and the palace and presented Joash to them. They accepted immediately Jehoiada's claims that Joash was the true king over Judah. Jehoiada devises a plan to crown Joash and dethrone Athaliah. This military force is already divided up into 3 different units. The units serve the temple area only one unit at a time. During the changing of the guard between 2 units, Jehoiada intends to present Joash to the people in the temple compound. At that time 2/3 of the guard would be there to protect Joash from Athaliah. Moreover, it appears that he instructs the third unit to protect the palace entrance into the temple area. Since he does not want to arouse Athaliah's suspicions, he tells them not to equip themselves with heavy arms until they get to the temple compound. At that point he will provide them either with weapons David had provided for the temple area or with replicas of these weapons (David's having long disappeared). In the meantime Jehoiada dispatches the Levites throughout Judah, secretly summoning the people for the king's coronation.
On the appointed day everything goes according to Jehoiada's plan. The changing of the guard occurs, the third unit protects the palace entrance, and Jehoiada presents Joash to the assembled crowd. They temple compound erupts in joy and thanksgiving. The people make such a commotion that they alarm Athaliah. She hurries to the temple compound to ascertain the meaning of the noise. When she sees the unveiling of Joash, she screams out in utter hypocrisy: "Treachery, treachery!" The woman is in a state of total denial. Here she was--the ultimate usurper--accusing Joash of treachery when he is only claiming what is rightfully his. Jehoiada does not want her blood spilt in the temple compound. Instead he orders the guards to take her to the mews (horses' stables) and kill her there. [It is by no means a coincidence that this daughter of Jezebel meets her fate in the same arena Jezebel met hers--around the hooves of horses (2 Chron. 23:15).] Jehoiada's plan succeeds wildly. Joash is crowned king over Judah.
RESTORING THE TEMPLE (12:1-6)
Joash upon ascending the throne launches a major national revival throughout Judah. First he destroys the worship of Baal in Judah. Second he restores the temple. The temple needed restoration first because it had been 130-140 years since its construction during Solomon's reign and second because Athaliah had devastated the temple compound. According to 2 Kings Joash's primary mistake was not to remove the high places in Judah. These were shrines people had built for individual worship. The problem with these shrines is that whereas they might first be used for the worship of Yahweh, because there were no controls they were eventually used for the worship of Baal and Asherah. We prize individual worship; however, one of the values of the church is that it provides a balance and corrective to unbridled individualism. You and I have the right to believe anything we want to believe; it doesn't mean though that we are right. The church helps to provide that corrective.
It is interesting that whenever a major revival occurred through Judah the people undertook the task of restoring the temple, for example, the revivals during the reigns of Joash and Josiah, and the ministries of Haggai and Ezra. Today we've "progressed" beyond such sentiment. We know that "God does not have a house," that "He lives in the hearts of people," and that "these buildings are just mere buildings." It is true that the bricks which make up the church building are not any holier than the bricks surrounding your house. YET what goes on in that building of bricks is of extreme importance, AND MANY TIMES my treatment of that building reflects my attitude as to what goes on in that building. I seriously doubt that people who disrespect the church complex have a high regard for what goes on inside the building--worship and the study of God's Word. Refurbishing the church does not make me a better Christian; it probably though does reflect my heart attitude towards what the church is involved in.
At first Joash entrusts the restoration to the priests, with funds for the restoration coming from the regular tithes and offerings of the people. After considerable time has passed, Joash discovers that the restoration is not proceeding anywhere near the pace he thinks it should. As a result he takes the project away from the priests and places it under royal control. He is not taking it away from the priests because THEY have failed but because the system he had set up did not work. The general offerings simply not sufficient to provide for both the priests and the restoration project. Instead of taking the money from the regular tithes and offerings, he sets up a designated account for the project. He places a large chest within the temple compound and drills a hole in the top of the chest so that people can give specifically for this project. It's a classic example of a designated account. The reason for such a move is that whereas most people won't give more to general funds, they will give to designated accounts first because they know specifically where the funds are going and second because they believe in the value of the project.
What happens next is truly extraordinary. Joash enlists the aid not simply of quality craftsmen, he enlists the aid of craftsmen who can be trusted absolutely. He trusts them to such an extent that he does not demand an accountability from them. Notice 2 things about this. First, this is not the normal experience. Because we are all sinners, we all need some form of accountability. A great day of accountability is coming; the forms of accountability in our lives today prepare us for this greater day. These men are so unique though, that is, they are so good at holding themselves accountable, that Joash does not demand an account from them. Second, this idea came from Joash, the one who had the right to hold them accountable, and not from the men who were the objects of accountability. You should beware of any person, who is being held accountable, going around claiming that he should NOT be held accountable. That person probably has something to hide. I've seen incredibly gifted ministers who abused their popularity with their church by removing all forms of accountability. Within a few years they had misused church funds, thereby bringing scandal upon their ministries and disrepute upon the church. No church wants to control its ministers; however, there is a healthy sense of accountability which is vital for the success of the church. Ministers and Christians in general who act like they are above being held accountable need to be reminded that even Paul allowed himself to be held accountable (2 Cor. 8:19-21). Well, if an apostle is not above being held accountable, who are you and I not to be held accountable? Regardless of all this, Joash's plans pay off, and the temple is restored.
JOASH'S DECLINE (12:17-21; 2 Chronicles 24:15-27)
Hazael's Invasion (12:17-18)
Things go well for Judah up until the latter years of Joash's reign. At that point things begin to unravel. First, Joash engages in a policy of appeasement which has been used by the Jews for over 2000 years and which has throughout her history devastated her. The specific occasion for this is the invasion of Judah by the Syrians. Hazael is proving true Elisha's prophecy that he would be the scourge of Israel and Judah. He sweeps past Jerusalem and attacks the former Philistine city of Gath (Gath presently is in Jewish hands). After conquering Gath, Hazael sets his sights on Jerusalem. Instead of trusting God, Joash does the "wise" thing--he raids the temple treasury and pays off Hazael, who thoroughly appeased withdraws.
Jehoiada's Death and the Return of Asherah (12:19-21; 2 Chron. 14:15-27)
If you were to read just 2 Kings, you would think that Joash never faltered in his relationship with God and that he suffered a tragic death at the hands of some vicious servants. Second Chronicles though informs us that this was not the case. Jehoiada was considerably older than Joash; therefore, it was only natural for Jehoiada to die while Joash still reigned. Matters take a serious turn for the worst though upon the death of Jehoiada. For close to 40 years Jehoiada has mentored Joash. To his credit Joash has received well Jehoiada's instructions. It might be true though that Joash was either weak and felt intimidated by Jehoiada or else that Joash was beginning to chafe under Jehoiada's tutelage. After all was not Joash king? Jehoiada was not the one who had been anointed to rule Judah. Whatever the nature of their relationship, Joash reveals his true colors upon the death of Jehoiada.
Upon the death of Jehoiada, Joash reverts to the worship of Asherah, Baal's consort. It might be that he simply wanted to fuse the 2 religions together in order to be culturally relevant. Second Chronicles tells us that some of the younger men in court were having an evil influence upon him. Whatever his reason, Joash leads Judah back into the worship of Baal. Although Jehoiada has died, his spirit lives on in his son Zechariah. Just as his father had stood up to Athaliah, so now Zechariah takes it upon himself to stand up to Joash. He confronts him for his idolatry. Instead of repenting, Joash has Zechariah stoned. Joash has fallen to such depths that he kills the son of his mentor. Zechariah, as he is dying, places a curse upon Joash. Because of Zechariah's murder, 2 of Joash's servants assassinate him. These are not evil servants. They executing God's judgment upon Joash for killing one of God's servants.