Good grief!!! Has it been 2 yrs?!? Well, it's not like I haven't been busy. School starts in a month (and I really should be prepping), but here I am.

Anyway, we're reading through 2 Chronicles right now and finished King Joash's life. How sad. He started so great, or so it seemed. Jehoiada the priest, and his wife, had saved Joash's life when he was 1 from the death blow of his sweet Granny's hand. Oh to be queen! And when Joash turned 7, Jehoiada, with an army of priests and Levites, anointed Joash king and killed his wicked grandma. Jehoiada went on to reform the worship of Israel, turning the people back to the Living God. The people rejoiced over this. I would too. And with the death of Granny, the city had quiet. No more war because their hearts were turned back to God.

When King Joash grew up, he continued Jehoiada's reform, seemingly of his own true desire to worship God. However, Jehoiada's death came; it was said of him that he did good towards Israel and God (now, that's a legacy I'd want to leave). No sooner had he died, than some guys from Israel came down and gave the King bad counsel. He starts worshipping the Asherim. What?!? Not only that, but when God sends a messenger, Jehoiada's son, Zechariah, to tell Joash to put away the false gods and turn back to Him, Joash has Zechariah, practically his brother, put to death!!!! So, of course, murder follows murder and Joash ends up being assassinated.

Now, the obvious lesson here is that we should always be teachable (don't kill the messenger); have a humble heart, willing to recognize when we sin and turn back to God. He is faithful & just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. But the second lesson, what the heck happened with Joash?!? Didn't he seek after God? Didn't he want to obey God? Or was it just that he was following Jehoiaha? It was Jehoiada who wanted to obey God and Joash just followed him. As soon as he was gone, Joash had other counselors to follow. Maybe they were flattering. Maybe they were threatening. Whatever it was, we need to make sure that we follow the voice of God and no other. And for that, God must be your God, He must be my God. And you must know and I must know what He says. How? Through the Bible!

The Lord our God we will serve and His voice we will obey!!!!
Be brave and of good courage, for the Lord your God is with you!!!!