2nd Chronicles 24:27 – Now 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.
At seven years old Joash was crowned King. It’s unfathomable to us today to think of someone so young being put in that position, but he was and he began to reign well under the strong spiritual guidance of Jehoida the priest. He rebuilt the house of God and turned the people’s hearts back to serving, but then Jehoida died. And upon his death it is written in verse 16 of this same chapter “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.” But of Joash, a few verses and a long story later we find that he has been murdered by his own servants (vs. 25) And 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.
One chapter and a tale of two leadership teams in a ministry left me thinking this morning about the importance of those we surround ourselves with. With the guidance of Jehoida, Joash had accomplished great things which are written down for all to read. But as is often the case it matters most on how you finish. Following Jehoida’s death, the princes of Judah became his advisors; they began “making obeisance,” flattering him with words and his sites were no longer toward God but toward serving idols. Spiritual advisors tried to step in, he had them killed, and low and behold the King dies at the hands of his servants, diseased and ashamed; not even buried with an honorable death.
Since salvation I have been blessed with strong spiritual leaders who advised me in the paths I should take and trained me in the ways of the Lord. To God be the glory, it was His leading and placement that got me to that place. I’m grateful, and after reading this story, very cautious. Any of us are just one decision away from enacting the next chain of events that could lead to a bad ending to our story. If Joash had harkend to Johoida’s son, Zechariah, when he told him to turn back to God, if he had not listened to the lies and flattering tongue of the political powers he could have lived a blessed life. But he chose the temporal feel good paths that lead to his destruction. God’s ways are not always the easy ways (they seldom are actually) but they’re always the right way.
Everyone has advice, but it’s not all good, and it’s certainly not all in your best interest. When making any decision it’s important to surround yourself with godly people, and to be wary of flattering tongues. King David knew it when he penned the words in Psalm 12:1-2, “Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Is this the hour of decision for you? Pray! Seek godly counsel and then decide. Remember you are one decision away from a bad ending. Finish well!