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Home , Ahab, Ahaziah of Judah

Series: Bible Characters JOASH – (II Kings 12:1-2)

1. The name “Jehoash” is also the name “Joash” (2 Kings 11:2). 2. There are two meanings of the name Joash. a. “Jehovah supports, hastens to help.” b. “Jehovah has given.” 3. Background info. a. Joash was the son of king Ahaziah. b. Ahaziah was the son of Jehoram and his wife . c. Athaliah was the daughter of and . d. King was killed by , the king of Israel (northern kingdom). e. When Ahaziah died, his mother Athaliah rose up and tried to kill all of the royal seed. As for the reason, Henry Morris states that she “had persuaded [Jehoram, her husband] to follow the Baalite idolatry of her parents rather than the true worship of Jehovah…” Coming from such a wicked line, , Ahab, and Jezebel, it is certain that “she wanted to establish Baalism as the state religion of Judah.”1 After the death of her son Ahaziah, she had been in total reign for about a year and all the children of royal seed (’s line) were very young. She took this opportunity to slay them all and continue the line of Ahab who was a usurper of the throne and not of the seed royal. She murdered all she could find thinking she had destroyed David’s line. But we must remember that God is in control.

In this lesson I want us to see that who we surround ourselves with will indeed influence us for right or wrong.

I. GODLY INFLUENCES

A. A Godly Influence on Joash.

1. Joash was only 7 when he came to throne and needed a godly influence. 2. God put into place the high priest, and we notice that Joash “did that which was right” while Jehoiada was alive and with him (2 Kings 12:2). 3. Jehoiada’s godly actions. a. It was Jehoiada and his wife that took Joash and hid him in the house of the Lord for six years while Athaliah was on the throne (11:2-3).

1 Henry M. Morris III, The New Defenders Study Bible (Nashville, World Publishing, Inc.) study note II Kings 11:1, p. 597.

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b. It was Jehoiada that brought Joash out of hiding, set Joash up as king, and brought the people back to God (11:4-21). 1) He brings the leaders of Judah together and made a covenant with them and took an oath of secrecy from them. Then he showed them the surprise – Joash (11:4). 2) He puts together a plan to restore the rightful heir to the throne (vv. 5-11). 3) He sets Joash in place as king (v. 12). a) Crown – authority as king b) Testimony – the law to guide him c) Anointed – signifies spiritual blessings 4) He removes the ungodly influence of Athaliah (vv. 13-16, 21). 5) He brings the people back to God and makes a covenant between the king and the people (v. 17). 6) He destroyed everything associated with (v. 18). 7) He placed Joash on the throne (v. 19-21). 4. The godly actions of Joash (2 Chr 24:4-14). a. He sent a chest around Judah so that they could give so that the temple could be repaired (v. 8). b. After the temple was repaired, he had the vessels of the temple made and began offering burnt offerings again (v. 14).

B. A Godly Influence on Us.

1. Though the heart of Joash wasn’t fully God’s, he shows us the importance of godly influences. 2. What are godly influences that should be incorporated into our lives? a. Church b. Friends c. Family d. Teachers (i.e. college) e. Music

However, even though there was a revival happening in Judah, not everyone was experiencing revival (2 Kings 12:3). It comes down to a choice. Just as we have services Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, the choice is always yours as to whether or not you will come. And when the godly influence of Jehoiada was gone, the choice of Joash was not good.

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II. UNGODLY INFLUENCES

A. An Ungodly Influence on Joash.

1. Not long after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah come and influence Joash to turn to idolatry (2 Chr 24:17-18). 2. It is good to have godly influences, but Joash illustrates for us “the need for a personal, maturing faith that is characterized by a living fellowship with the Lord.”2 3. But God is a God of grace (v. 19-20). a. He first sends to the king and the princes trying to get them to forsake their idolatry (v. 19). b. God always has His man and in this case it was Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah (v. 20). c. Joash showed no respect to Jehoiada, his godly influence and mentor, he has Zechariah stoned to death (v. 21-22). d. God deals with the sin of Joash by sending the Syrians (vv. 23-24). e. Joash is wounded and goes home to recover, but God’s judgment cannot be escaped (v. 25). 1) While lying on his bed trying to recover, his very servants come in and kill him to revenge the slaying of Zechariah. 2) And they would not allow him to be buried in the place of the kings, he was buried as a commoner.

B. An Ungodly Influence on Us.

1. No matter how much godly influence is around us, it all comes back down to our choice. 2. One of the problems is that we all have the sinful nature and it wants to be in control. If we allow it to be in control it will not matter how much godly influence is around, we will be judged accordingly. 3. But don’t forget something, God loves you and always shows grace by providing good godly men and women who give godly counsel and the preaching of God’s Word to try and turn your heart back to Him.

2 The King James Study Bible (Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1988) study note for :17, p. 732.

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