The Reign of Joash

INTRODUCTION: Joash (Jehoash) became king at the age of seven and reigned for forty years. He did well most of his reign until Jehoiada the priest died. At this time, he followed the princes of Judah to his destruction. Joash is one of many kings in the history of Judah who began well but turned from the Lord late in his reign. He even went to the point of murdering the son of the one who had saved his life and put him on the throne.

1. THE BEGINNING OF JOASHS REIGN (2 Kings 12:1-3; 2 Chronicles 24:1-3)
1. The Details of His Reign (2 Kings 12:1; 2 Chronicles 24:1, 3)
1. Beginning in the seventh year of Jehu king of Israel
2. Beginning when Jehoash (Joash) was seven years old (2 Chronicles 24:1)
3. Reigned for forty years in Jerusalem
4. His mother was Zibiah of Beersheba.
5. He took two wives and begat sons and daughters (2 Chronicles 24:3).
2. The Character of His Early Reign (2 Kings 12:2; 2 Chronicles 24:2)
1. He did right in the sight of the Lord.
2. He accepted the instruction of Jehoiada the priest (see 2 Kings 11:17; 2 Chronicles 23:16).
3. The Failure of His Early Reign (2 Kings 12:3)
1. The high places were not removed (cp. 2 Kings 14:4; 2 Kings 15:4).
2. The people continued to sacrifice and burn incense in the high places.
2. THE FAILURE TO REPAIR THE TEMPLE (2 Kings 12:4-8; 2 Chronicles 24:4-7)
1. The Plan to Repair the Temple (2 Chronicles 24:4, 7)
1. Based upon Joashs desire (2 Chronicles 24:4)
2. Necessary because of Athaliahs sons (2 Chronicles 24:7)
2. The Plan to Receive an Offering (2 Kings 12:4; 2 Chronicles 24:5)
1. All the money of the dedicated things (2 Kings 12:4)
2. All the money that comes into a mans heart to bring (2 Kings 12:4)
3. All the money gathered by the Levites (2 Chronicles 24:5)
3. The Plan to Use the Offering (2 Kings 12:5)
1. To be taken by the priests
2. To be used to repair the house of the Lord
4. The Failure of the Plan (2 Kings 12:6-8; 2 Chronicles 24:5-6)
1. The failure of the Levites, they hastened it not (2 Chronicles 24:5).
2. The failure of the priests to make the repairs (2 Kings 12:6)
3. Joashs rebuke of Jehoiada and the priests (2 Chronicles 24:6)
4. The removal of responsibility from the priests and Levites (2 Kings 12:7-8)
3. THE REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE (2 Kings 12:9-16; 2 Chronicles 24:8-14)
1. The Gathering of the Offering for the Temple (2 Kings 12:9-10)
1. The chest for the offering (2 Kings 12:9; 2 Chronicles 24:8)
1. Acquired by Jehoiada
2. Bored a hole in the lid
3. Set at the entry into the house of the Lord
4. Received all the money for the repair of the house
2. The success of the offering (2 Kings 12:10; 2 Chronicles 24:9-11)
1. Much money in the chest
2. The money checked by the kings scribe and the high priest
3. The money put up in bags for the repairs
2. The Breakdown of the Money (2 Kings 12:11-16; 2 Chronicles 24:12-14)
1. They gave the money to the workers (2 Kings 12:11-12).
2. They did not make vessels for the temple at this time (2 Kings 12:13).
3. The workmen dealt faithfully with the money (2 Kings 12:14-15).
4. The trespass money and sin money went to the priests (2 Kings 12:16).
5. The rest of the money was used to make vessels (2 Chronicles 24:14).
3. The Faithfulness to Offer Burnt Offerings (2 Chronicles 24:14)
4. THE DECLINE OF JOASHS REIGN (2 Kings 12:17-18; 2 Chronicles 24:15-24)
1. Joash hearkened to the Princes of Judah (2 Chronicles 24:15-17).
1. After the death of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:15-16)
2. When the princes made obeisance to him (2 Chronicles 24:17)
2. Joash Allowed Perversion of the True Worship (2 Chronicles 24:18-19).
1. They left the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:18).
2. They served groves and idols (2 Chronicles 24:18).
3. They brought Gods wrath upon them (2 Chronicles 24:18).
4. They rejected the prophets of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:19).
3. Joash Killed Zechariah the Son of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:20-22).
1. Zechariah preached against their wickedness (2 Chronicles 24:20).
2. They conspired against Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:21).
1. They stoned him to death.
2. They did it at the command of Joash.
3. Joash remembered not the kindness of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:22).
4. Joash Had to Face Syrias Army (2 Kings 12:17-18; 2 Chronicles 24:23-25).
1. Hazael king of Syria took Gath (2 Kings 12:17).
2. Hazael set his face toward Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:17).
3. Joash bought him off with treasures from the house of the Lord (2 Kings 12:18; 2 Chronicles 24:23).
4. The army of Syria still had a great victory (2 Chronicles 24:24-25).
1. Defeating a great host of Judah with only a small company of men (2 Chronicles 24:24)
2. Because Judah had forsaken the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:24)
3. They executed judgment against Joash (2 Chronicles 24:24).
4. They left Joash in great diseases (2 Chronicles 24:25).
5. THE END OF THE REIGN OF JOASH (2 Kings 12:19-21; 2 Chronicles 24:25-27)
1. The Rest of the Acts of Joash (2 Kings 12:19)
2. The Death of Joash (2 Kings 12:20; 2 Chronicles 24:25)
1. Because of a conspiracy against him (2 Kings 12:20)
2. Because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:25)
3. They slew him on his bed (2 Chronicles 24:25) in Millo (2 Kings 12:20).
3. The Conspirators Against Joash (2 Kings 12:21; 2 Chronicles 24:26)
1. Zabad or Jozachar, the son of an Ammonitess
2. Jehozabad, the son of a Moabitess
4. The Reign of the Son of Joash Amaziah  (2 Kings 12:21; 2 Chronicles 24:27)

CONCLUSION: Sin boasts more than it can give. Joash’s failure to do right led to the loss of many lives, including his own. Oh that God’s people would be faithful to the end!