Year 2, Week 1, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 1, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Chronicles 24; 2 Kings14.

Today’s reading consists of a further account of Joash, King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah; but also an account of Amaziah, who succeeded his father, Joash, as the King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, as well an account of Jeroboam (aka Jeroboam II so as to not be confused with a previous King Jeroboam), King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who succeeded his father, Joash (a different Joash). 2 Chronicles 24 note the good start of Josiah, King of Judah, but also traces the downward spiral of his life: “Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs” (2 Chronicles 24:17-18). After the death of Jehoiada, the priest, who faithfully guided Joash, the king turned to idols. As Zechariah, son of Jehoiada confronted Joash, the king had him murdered: “But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 24:21). But in the end, Joash was assassinated as an act of vengeance: “When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed” (2 Chronicles 24:25). 2 Kings 14 notes the reign of Amaziah, which was somewhat good, but not wholeheartedly: “And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done” (2 Kings 14:3). 2 Kings 14 also records the reign of Jeroboam II and the work the LORD did in spite of him.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the mercy of the LORD shown to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II. Jeroboam, as was true of all the kings of the Northern, was evil: “And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin” (2 Kings 14:25). Border threats and kingdom shrinkage was a sign of the LORD chastening as in the case of today’s reading during Joash’s reign of the Kingdom of Judah: “At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. 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. Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the LORD” (2 Chronicles 24:23-24). This was typically how it worked in accordance with the stipulations of the covenant: “But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then…The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth” (Deuteronomy 28:15,25).

Ironically, during the reign of Jeroboam II, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was able to reclaim some of its previous territory: “He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah” (2 Chronicles 24:25b). Jeroboam II was an evil king who practiced false worship, and yet, he restored the borders of Israel. Areas that had previously been taken by the Syrians and others, were reclaimed. What is most important to see, however, was not the reclaiming of their land, but the real cause behind the land being reclaimed: “For the LORD saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. But the LORD had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (2 Kings 14:26-27). It was the LORD, who, in His mercy, deployed a wicked king to show compassion and gave relief to His afflicted people. Once again, the LORD showed mercy to His people on the basis of His covenant promises to Abraham and David.

One last thing I want to note from today’s reading is the mention of the prophet Jonah. The Word from the LORD that He was going to deploy Jeroboam II to reclaim borders was through Jonah: “He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher” (2 Chronicles 24:25). This was the same Jonah whom the Book is named after. It is interesting how Jonah seemed willing to proclaim a positive message to his own wicked king and his own wicked people but was first unwilling and then reluctant to proclaim a message that would have positive results for the wicked king and wicked people of Nineveh.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe