We’ll eventually get back to Jehu who’s over the Northern Kingdom of Israel at present. Right now we’re still in the Southern Kingdom of Judah where the young man Joash has been ruling since the age of seven. The Temple of the Lord was in terrible disrepair and Joash had ordered the priests and Levites to collect the money needed to restore it.
“So now the king ordered a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to the Temple of the Lord. Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness. This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it” (II Chronicles 24:8-10, NLT).
The people of Judah were happy to see the Temple being repaired and “gladly brought their money.” “Whenever the chest became full, the Levites would carry it to the king’s officials. Then the court secretary and an officer of the high priest would come and empty the chest and take it back to the Temple again. This went on day after day, and a large amount of money was collected” (II Chronicles 24:11). The enthusiasm of the people continued and the proof was in their continued giving.
“The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the construction supervisors, who hired masons and carpenters to restore the Temple of the Lord. They also hired metalworkers, who made articles of iron and bronze for the Lord’s Temple. The men in charge of the renovation worked hard and made steady progress. They restored the Temple of God according to its original design and strengthened it” (II Chronicles 24:12-13).
These workers didn’t merely patch things up – they made sure they followed the Temple’s “original design” and they even “strengthened” or improved the sturdiness of that. “When all the repairs were finished, they brought the remaining money to the king and Jehoiada” (II Chronicles 24:14a). Not only that, but during the entire project “No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men” (II Kings 12:15).
“Honest and trustworthy men” made it possible to complete the repairs to the Temple with superior quality of workmanship and in a timely manner. Any supervisor will tell you that nothing makes his job more pleasant and a business more productive than having employees who will work as hard when he’s not present as they do when he’s looking over their shoulders.
“And the burnt offerings were sacrificed continually in the Temple of the Lord during the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest” (II Chronicles 24:14c).
Another sign of trouble: “during the lifetime of Jehoiada.” Had the burnt offerings continued after his death, this comment wouldn’t have been needed.
“Jehoiada lived to a very old age, finally dying at 130. He was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his Temple” (II Chronicles 24:15-16).
“Because he had done so much good.” What a great way to be remembered! Let me leave you with a quote from a sermon on KeepBelieving.com: “What will the people who knew you best say about you when you’re gone? We all know that casual acquaintances can say what they want, and it doesn’t really matter because they never really knew us. But you can’t fool your children or your spouse or parents or your closest friends. They know the truth because they’ve lived with you so long and seen you in so many different circumstances. How will you be remembered?”
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
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