And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
2 Chronicles 24 belongs to the record of the kings in Judah, covering the forty-year reign of Joash, which he began when young. Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord only while Jehoiada the priest was alive, his goodness being tied to Jehoiada's lifetime. He was strong to do right only while guided, and did what was right all the days of Jehoiada because he was held up by the strong hand of his instructor.
He had learned the way of the Lord under Jehoiada's care, with Jehoiada serving as his counselor and instructor holding him up, so that the good part of his reign was in effect Jehoiada's leadership. His goodness was dependent on that influence, with no firm goodness of his own and no developed strength of character in himself to stand for God. All the human credit for the good done during his reign belongs not to Joash but to the faithful priest Jehoiada. Unlike Josiah, who also began his reign when young but had strength of character to stand for God and put forth every effort to reform the people by himself alone, Joash had nothing in himself to stand for God once his instructor was removed.
As soon as Jehoiada died, Joash listened to Judah's princes and departed from the Lord, going into wickedness. His own heart yielded to evil and he turned into the way of the house of Ahab, though some of the teachings of his ancestors had taken root in his heart. He is counted among the good rulers whose duty brought blessing. His reign is part of the history of Judah's kings, which teaches the awfulness of sin and the judgments that follow as well as God's mercy in pardoning people who return to him.
2 Chronicles 24 belongs to the record of the kings in Judah, covering the forty-year reign of Joash, which he began when young. Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord only while Jehoiada the priest was alive, his goodness being tied to Jehoiada's lifetime. He was strong to do right only while guided, and did what was right all the days of Jehoiada because he was held up by the strong hand of his instructor.
He had learned the way of the Lord under Jehoiada's care, with Jehoiada serving as his counselor and instructor holding him up, so that the good part of his reign was in effect Jehoiada's leadership. His goodness was dependent on that influence, with no firm goodness of his own and no developed strength of character in himself to stand for God. All the human credit for the good done during his reign belongs not to Joash but to the faithful priest Jehoiada. Unlike Josiah, who also began his reign when young but had strength of character to stand for God and put forth every effort to reform the people by himself alone, Joash had nothing in himself to stand for God once his instructor was removed.
As soon as Jehoiada died, Joash listened to Judah's princes and departed from the Lord, going into wickedness. His own heart yielded to evil and he turned into the way of the house of Ahab, though some of the teachings of his ancestors had taken root in his heart. He is counted among the good rulers whose duty brought blessing. His reign is part of the history of Judah's kings, which teaches the awfulness of sin and the judgments that follow as well as God's mercy in pardoning people who return to him.