2 Chronicles 24

2 Chronicles 24:1-14

Joath’s end all corresponded with his gracious beginning. 1. Whilst Jehoiada lived he did well, and repaired the temple, ver. 1—14. 2. After his death, he stood off his profession, set up the worship of Baal, ver. 15—18, the ‘warned to the contrary, ver. 19, and put Zehariah the prophet to death, for rejoicing him for us, ver. 20—22. 3. The Syrians invaded him, ver. 23—24. 4. He was struck with fore disहर, slain by his servants, and buried under a mark of infamy, ver. 25—27.

1. ¶ Oath was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: his mother’s name also was Zibeah of Beer-sheba. 2. And Joath did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3. And Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he begat sons and daughters. 4. ¶ And it came to pals after this, that Joath was minded to repair the house of the LORD. 5. 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 hath the matter: howbeit the Levites haltered it not. 6. And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hath thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah

Under Jehoiada’s influence, Joath continued to reign with credit and honour. See 2 Kings xii. 1. We may add to what was there observed,

1. How great a mercy it is for young people, when they fall into good hands.

2. That to be advised and influenced by age and experience, shows the truest wisdom.

3. Many a fair profession hath no root at bottom. The religion that is put on, through prejudice of education, or maintained purely by the influence of others, will, when these restraints are removed, be easily shook off; or if the form still continues, it can but more fatally deceive those who are destitute of the power of godliness.

4. Many a commendable action, as Joath’s repairing the temple, hath appeared in those, who being full in the flesh, cannot please God; though their zeal is a just reproof of the backwardness of better men.

2 Chronicles 24:15-27

How far the apotacy of the unhappy Joath! This fun that rose to bright, here less eclipsed in darkness.

1. Jehoida dies. Long had God fared his afield life, during six reigns before Joath. His character was exemplary, and his last works greater than his faith. In regard to his manner, the people, sensible of their deep obligations to him, honoured him with a sepulchre among the kings of Judah; but whilst they thus reflected his corps, they quickly forgot his counsel. Nair, (1.) A long life is a blessing, when thus employed in the cause of God. (2.) They who in life have been most afield, deserve after death the most honourable remembrance. (3.) The departure of a great good man, is a national affliction. (4.) They who continue to revive the memory of great and good reformers, often grievously degenerate from their practice and precepts.

2. The princes of Judah, never truly changed, though conforming to the reformation, from the present favourable opportunity, and with obliquious flattery gaining the king’s ear, easily prevail on him to restore idolatry, and to plant again those grows which he had destroyed. Nair, (1.) Many confess to religion when it is fashionable, who are glad to get the first opportunity to throw off the restraint. (2.) Flatterers about the throne, are often the ruin of the prince. (3.) Faith contention is not only for it.

3. God left not himself without witness. His prophets, commissioned from him, rebuked this shameful idolatry, and particularly Zachariah, the worthy son of the great Jehoida, stood up, moved by the Holy Ghost, and plainly and scouthe reminded them of the perverfenels of their ways, and the danger thereby incurred. Nair, (1.) Ministers must be faithful to men’s souls. (2.) In times of great degeneracy, great zeal is needed to oppose the torrent of ungodiasis. (3.) In the work of days, God will not want some witnesses for him. (4.) I see who hate to be reformed, shall at least be left without excuse.

4. Win was the treatment their holy men received. In general they despised their admonitions; and as Zachariah’s reproof, though mild and gentle, particularly exasperated them, at the infigation of the princes, and by the command of the king, the people raised a tumult, even in the Lord’s house, and flowed him on death between the perch and the altar; neither reीरained by the sacredness of the place or person, daringly defying his warching, and ungratefully forgetting the innumerable obligations they owed his pious father. Nair, (1.) God’s ministers who are zealous for the truth, must expect to suffer for it. (2.) Ingratitude is amongst the greatest sins. (3.) They are ripe for ruin, who fill up the measure of their iniquities with the persecution of God’s prophets.

5. The dying martyr foretells the vengeance of God, which was ready to overtake them; not desiring it might come out of a spirit of revenge, but predating its certainty from the spirit of prophecy. Nair, (1.) God will avenge the blood of his faints. (2.) Though we may not wish to avenge ourselves, we cannot but desire the manifestation of God’s justice, and the vindication of his injured honour.

6. God soon arose to judgment. A small army of Syrians vanquished the more numerous hosts of Joath, plundered his capital, flew his princes, and left him lingering either under the wounds they had given him, or some disease which had found him; but what they left unfinished, his own servants accomplished a conspiracy was formed, and they flew him on his bed. And since he had degenerated so greatly from his ancestors, they judged him unworthy to drop in their feuds from. Thus justly did God require blood for blood, and laid on him the heavy burdens his iniquities had provoked. Nair, (1.) Woe unto any people, when God hath forsaken them; they cannot but fall an easy prey to every invader. (2.) Nothing but blood can satisfy for blood. (3.) They who lie down under the wrath of God, will feel the intolerable burden to eternity. (4.) Let apoturers from the truth behold and tremble at Joath’s miserable end.

CHAP.