Gold for the heart - 2 Chronicles 24-27

2 Chronicles 24

1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him; and he begat sons and daughters. 4 And after this, Joash decided to repair the house of the LORD. 5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the required annual offerings to repair the house of your God, and see that you do this quickly. However the Levites did not act quickly. 6 And the king called for Jehoiada the chief and said to him, Why have you not required the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and from the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?

The temple and everything done there taught the people about God and His love for us.
The collection was the tithes and offerings that God specified through Moses in the law (Exodus 30:12-16).

7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God; and used the holy things of the house of the LORD for the Baals. 8 So at the king’s commandment they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9 Then they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until it was finished.

Nowhere in scripture is an offering plate passed during a worship service.
This money was a gift to God and the people were happy to give it.

11 Now when the chest was brought to the king’s office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, took it, and carried it to its place again. They did this day by day, and gathered money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD. They hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also those who worked iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD. 13 So the workmen worked, and the work progressed in their hand and they restored the house of God, and strengthened it. 14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; they made from it articles for the house of the LORD, articles for serving and offering, spoons and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

The sacrifices showed God’s love poured out for us

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

1Peter 1:18 you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your empty way of life received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

15 But Jehoiada grew old, and was full of days when he died; he was 130 years when he died. 16 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.

Jehoiada ended Athaliah’s reign of terror and brought the nation back to God.
The nation remained true to God as long as Jehoida was leading king Joash.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this, their trespass. 19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not listen.

The LORD is the only god, Maker of all.
He is jealous. All other gods lead to eternal death.
God in His righteousness and love for man cannot let idolatry continue indefinitely: just long enough to allow the choice and display which each man chooses to follow, his Maker or evil.

1Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Exodus 34:14 For you shall worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

John 14:6J esus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

20 And the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people and said to them, God says this, Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you. 21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.

Matthew 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, who you killed between the temple and the altar.

God requires the blood of the innocent

22 By this, Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died he said, The LORD look on it, and require it. 23 And at the end of the year the army of Syria came up against him: and 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.

Remember these princes led the people to eternal death.
The worship of the false gods often involved human sacrifice of children.
They were murderers both temporally and eternally.

Psalm 9:12 When he makes inquisition for blood, he remembers them: he does not forget the cry of the humble.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, you do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, did not stay in the truth, because there is no truth in him.

24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap.

25 And when they departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the graves of the kings. 26 And these conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith, a Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the report of the book of the kings. And his son Amaziah reigned in his place.

What Joash did to Zechariah came back on him.
Joash killed God’s servant and was killed by his own servants.
Contrast Joash with David who sinned in some things but never left the LORD his Maker.
He lived a blessed life and a blessed death.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man thatdoes not walkin the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law he meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf will not wither; and whatever he does will prosper.

2 Chronicles 25

1 Amaziah was 25 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. 3 Now when the kingdom was established to him, he killed his servants that had killed his father the king. 4 But he did not kill their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded saying, The fathers are not to die for the children, nor are the children to die for the fathers, but every man is to die for his own sin.

Capital punishment for murder is a primary function of human government.
God set this rule because man is made in God’s image, and God sets the limits.

Genesis 9:6 Who ever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood is to be shed: for in the image of God he made man.

Deuteronomy 24:16 The fathers are not to be put to death for the children, the children be put to death for the fathers: every man is to be put to death for his own sin.

5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and made captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found 300,000 choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. 6 He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor out of Israel for 100 talents of silver.

Amaziah prepared to protect the nation. The talent was $2,000.00 before inflation. So Amaziah paid $200,000.00 for the mercenaries from Israel.

God has the power to help or to cast down

7 But a man of God came to him saying, O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you; for the LORD is not with Israel nor with any of the children of Ephraim. 8 But if you go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make you fall before the enemy: for God has power to help, and to cast down.

God was not with Israel because they left Him and worshipped idols.
God warned them of defeat if they disobeyed Him about this.
He has power to bring victory or defeat.

9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what will we do for the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give you much more than this. 10 Then Amaziah separated them, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home: so their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in the heat of anger. 11 Then Amaziah strengthened himself, led out his people, went to the valley of salt, and struck down 10,000 of the children of Seir. 12 The children of Judah left alive and captured another 10,000, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock so that they were all broken in pieces.

Remember that God is not willing that any perish but that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
If God allows a people to be destroyed by war they are past the point of help (Gen 15:16).

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

13 But the troops of the army that Amaziah sent back and did not allow them togo with him to battle, attacked the cities of Judah, from Samaria even to Beth-horon, killed 3,000 of them, and took much plunder. 14 Now after Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, set them up to be his gods, bowed himself down before them, and burned incense to them. 15 Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him that said to him, Why have you sought the gods of the people that could not deliver their own people out of your hand? 16 And as he talked with him the king said to him, Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop; why should you be struck down? Then the prophet stopped, and said, I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel.

Psalm 96:5For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

God delivered them to their enemies because they sought the gods of Edom

17 Then Amaziah, king of Judah, took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel saying, Come, let us see one another in the face. 18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon saying, Give your daughter to my son as wife: and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle. 19 You say, Look, you have struck down the Edomites; and your heart lifted you up to boast: now stay at home; why should you meddle to your hurt, and fall, you, and Judah with you? 20 But Amaziah would not hear; for it came from God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22 And Judah was defeated before Israel, and every man ran to his tent. 23 And Joash, the king of Israel, took Amaziah, king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, 600 feet. 24 He took all the gold, the silver, all the articles that were found with Obed-edom in the house of God, and the treasures of the king’s house, and hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

Joash captured the king, took him back to Jerusalem and looted the city, taking hostages.

25 And after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah, the son of Joash, king of Judah lived fifteen years. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 Now after the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and killed him there. 28 And they brought him on horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I test the emotions, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

2 Chronicles 26

1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.

Psalm 75:6 promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another.

Daniel 2:21 And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was 16 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

God prospered Uzziah as long as he sought the LORD

5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the seeing of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper. 6 He went out and warred against the Philistines, broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims.

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Hebrews 13:6 we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man will do to me.

8 The Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his fame spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. 9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the desert and dug many wells: for he had much livestock, both in the low country, and in the plains: farmers also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved the soil. 11 Moreover Uzziah had an army making war, going out to battle by troops, according to the number of their muster by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains. 12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valor was 2,600.

Uzziah strengthened the military. These chiefs were like Medal of Honor winners.

Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace:

13 And under their hand was an army of 307,500 that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones.

Uzziah’s army was well equipped. God is at war with evil. If we don’t agree with God, we have sided with Satan.

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that does not gather with me scatters abroad.

God helped Uzziah marvelously

15 In Jerusalem he made equipment invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped until he was strong. 16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him 80 priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18 They stood against Uzziah the king, and said to him, It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for you have trespassed; neither will it be for your honor from the LORD God.

Uzziah knew this was wrong because of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1, Numbers 3:4).
The 80 priests were mighty warriors.
God wants to honor His people.
He cannot honor disobedience.
Uzziah brought dishonor on himself by not respecting God’s commands.

19 Then Uzziah was enraged, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was enraged with the priests, leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from there; yes, he himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him. 21 And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and his son Jotham was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land. 22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, has written. 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Leprosy is a picture of sin.
It is contagious and it slowly eats the flesh until there is nothing left.

Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

2 Chronicles 27

1 Jotham was 25 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: however he did not enter the temple of the LORD. Yet the people did corruptly.

Uzziah, Jotham’s father, went against the rules of God’s temple and offered incense. When the priests came to remove him he became enraged against them. God struck him with leprosy.
God is holy; and He is watching.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

3 He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and he built much on the wall of the tower. 4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers. 5 Also, he fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him a hundred talents of silver the same year, ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. That’s how much the children of Ammon paid to him, both the second year, and the third.

Joshua 23:10 One man of you will chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fights for you, as he has promised you.

God honors those who honor Him

6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was 25 years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

God is our strength.

1Samuel 2:30… those that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me will be lightly esteemed.

Psalm 28:7The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him.

SUMMARY: 2 Chronicles 24-27

The LORD requires justice for the blood of the innocent
He has the power to help or cast down
He delivered His people into the hands of Edom because they sought other gods.
He prospered Uzziah as long as Uzziah sought Him
He helped him marvelously
The LORD honors those who honor Him