Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Chronicles Chapter 24

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Ezra
Date Penned: (430 BC)
Overview: A History of God's Chosen People (c 1-36)
Theme: The Kingdom of Judah (c 10-36)
Message: Joash Repairs the Temple (1-28)

2 Chronicles 24 Commentary 

(24:5) The Levites Disregard the Lord - The Levites took their time carrying out the king's order, even though he told them not to delay. Annual offerings for keeping the temple in order were not just the king's wish but God's command (Exodus 30:11-16). The Levites, therefore, were disregarding not only the king but also God. When it comes to following God's commands, a slow response may be little better than disobedience. Obey God willingly and immediately.



(24:10) The People Were Glad to Give - Evidently, the Levites weren't convinced that the people would want to contribute to the restoration of the temple (24:5), but the people were glad to give of what they had for this project. Don't underestimate people's desire to be faithful to God. When challenged to do God's work, they may surprise you by responding willingly and generously.


(24:8-20) God Gives Joash Another Chance - When King Joash and the nation of Judah abandoned God, God sent Zechariah to call them to repentance. Before dispensing judgment and punishment, God gave them another chance. In the same way, God does not abandon us or lash out in revenge when we sin. Instead, he aggressively pursues us through his Word, his Spirit in us, the words of others, and sometimes discipline. He does not intend to destroy us but to urge us to return to him. When you are moving away from God, remember that he is pursuing you. Stop and listen. Allow him to point out your sin so you can repent and follow him again.


(24:18) The Nation Becomes Spoiled - If everything went so well in Judah when the people worshiped God, why did they turn away from him? Prosperity can be both a blessing and a curse. While it can be a sign of God's blessing to those who follow him, it carries with it the potential for moral and spiritual decline. Prosperous people are tempted to become self-sufficient and proud--to take God for granted. In our prosperity, we must not forget that God is the source of our blessings. (See Deuteronomy 6:10-12; 8:11-14.)


(24:19) God Warns Joash - God sent many prophets to Joash and the people to warn them that they were headed for destruction. Joel may have been one of these prophets. Read the book of Joel for more information about the political and spiritual climate of the times.


(24:22) Zachariah Pleads for Justice - Zechariah asked God to call the people to account for their sins. He was not seeking revenge but pleading for justice. When we feel like despairing over the wickedness around us, we can rest assured that in the end God will bring complete justice to the earth.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

God is Just

 Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of 2 Chronicles with Chapter 24 and we see Josah repairs the temple and later goes on to disobey the Lord and see Judgement. What catches my is how a person can serve the Lord to have great victories but then decided to leave God's Path to face judgement. God is no respecter of persons and will judge fairly depending on our decisions. It reminds me of men of God that I have seen do great and mighty things of the Lord to see them stray and face the consequences of their actions. How about you? Do you see that our decisions will be judged by our actions? Let us learn from our text today and the life of Joash to be reminded that God is a just judge.

 

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2 Chronicles 24

2 Chronicles 24

 1Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.

 2And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

 3And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.

 4And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD.

 5And 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 hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.

 6And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of 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 of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?

 7For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.

 8And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD.

 9And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.

 10And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.

 11Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto 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, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

 12And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.

 13So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.

 14And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

 15But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.

 16And 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.

 17Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.

 18And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.

 19Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.

 20And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

 21And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.

 22Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.

 23And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host 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 the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.

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

 25And when they were 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 slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.

 26And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.

 27Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.