2 Kings 12:6-13 Ingathering

  “Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple. So King Jehoash called Jehoiada the priest and the other priests, and said to them, “Why have you not repaired the damages of the temple? Now therefore, do not take more money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple.” And the priests agreed that they would neither receive more money from the people, nor repair the damages of the temple. Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the Lord; and the priests who kept the door put there all the money brought into the house of the Lord. So it was, whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and put it in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the Lord. Then they gave the money, which had been apportioned, into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the Lord; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the Lord, and to masons and stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone, to repair the damage of the house of the Lord, and for all that was paid out to repair the temple. However there were not made for the house of the Lord basins of silver, trimmers, sprinkling-bowls, trumpets, any articles of gold or articles of silver, from the money brought into the house of the Lord.”

‭‭II Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. By the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple: Building projects take a long time, and renovating an old building is almost always more difficult and expensive than building a new one. Nevertheless, it appears that King Jehoash had to wait a very long time until the damages of the temple were repaired. The work was going far too slowly.

i. “In what year Jehoash gave the orders for these repairs, we cannot tell; but the account here plainly intimates that they had been long given, and that nothing was done, merely through the inactivity and negligence of the priests.” (Clarke)

b. The priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar: Under the direction of King Jehoash, the priests gave the people the opportunity to give. Even willing givers should be given an opportunity.

i. “Then he placed a collection chest in a strategic location on the right side of the altar, giving the repair project a high priority and a corresponding high visibility.” (Dilday)

c. Now therefore, do not take more money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple: King Joash got to the heart of the problem – the building project was plagued by poor administration and financial mismanagement. Through Jehoiada the priest, he implemented a system where the money would be set aside, saved, and then wisely spent for the repair and refurbishing of the temple.

i. “When the people were assured that the money would really be used for the purpose for which it was given, they responded generously and so similar arrangements were continued by Josiah (2 Kings 22:3-7).” (Wiseman)

ii. “So successful had been the king’s program and so well did all concerned carry out their duties that there was even money left over for the provision of sacred vessels for the sanctuary service (2 Chronicles 24:14).” (Patterson and Austel) (Guzik)

Ingathering 

Every year around thanksgiving our church has what is called ingathering project for repairing or upgrading the churches at the three campuses and the online ministry. They raised $400,000 last year! We aren’t a mega church but we have great attendance for our small community. This year they are expanding parking lots at all three campuses which are in three different cities. Last Easter, cars were lined up on the highway a half a mile down the road waiting to enter the church parking lot!

The church performs several local community services which include a monthly food truck and provides its facilities for housing in times of emergencies.

They also provide the supplies and support for the Life Recovery Bible group that my wife and I lead, letting us use the chapel and two classrooms.

We don’t have a chest with a hole in it for donations but we have boxes mounted to the wall with slots in various locations throughout the church.

We have found this works great and also allows privacy for the donations.

““Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Does your church pass a plate for donations for all to see?

Blessings 

2 Kings 12:4-5 Dilapidations in the Lord’s house!

 “And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the Lord—each man’s census money, each man’s assessment money—and all the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the Lord, let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.”” II Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. All the money of the dedicated gifts: There was a regular income coming into the temple from several different sources. King Jehoash wanted to put that money towards a particular purpose.

i. This money was received in three ways:

· Each man’s census money: This was the half shekel each Israelite older than the age of twenty had to pay every year (Exodus 30:14-15).

· Each man’s assessment money: “That is, literally, ‘each man the money of his souls of his estimating.’ This was a kind of property tax based on the personal assessment of each individual (Leviticus 27:2).” (Dilday)

· All the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the LORD: These were freely given offerings over and above the required donations.

ii. “All these sources had ever been in some measure open, but instead of repairing the dilapidations in the Lord’s house, the priests and the Levites had converted the income to their own use.” (Clarke) King Joash, working through the priests, corrected this problem.

b. Let them repair the damages of the temple: It was natural for Joash to have a high regard for the condition of the temple, because it was his home as a young boy.

i. The temple needed restoration because it was vandalized by Athaliah and her sons (2 Chronicles 24:7). (Guzik)

Dilapidations in the Lord’s house!

“the priests and the Levites had converted the income to their own use.”

I find it interesting that they converted the income for their own use instead of maintaining the Lord’s house!

I am reminded of another time the Lord’s house was neglected!

““Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?”” ‭‭Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A few years ago another church in town had its furnace go out and it needed replacing but they couldn’t afford it. So our church helped them by supplying the needed resources for the replacement.

Our church always seems to have volunteers performing various maintenance work and is able to raise funds for needed repairs. Such a blessing!

Is your church dilapidated or in good order?

Blessings 

2 Kings 12:1-3 Mostly Blessed?

 “In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. But the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.”

‭‭II Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. He reigned forty years in Jerusalem: This was a long and mostly blessed reign. Jehoash fell short of full commitment and complete godliness, but he did advance the cause of God in the kingdom of Judah.

b. Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him: This implies that when Jehoiada died, Jehoash no longer did what was right in the sight of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 24:15-23 tells us that he turned to idolatry when Jehoiada died, and judgment followed.

i. “After the death of the godly high priest, Jehoash fell into the hands of godless advisors who turned his heart to Canaanite practices.” (Patterson and Austel)

c. The high places were not taken away: This indicates that Jehoash implemented a half-way reformation and not a total reforming of Israel’s worship. He did not take on the more difficult job of removing the high places.

i. “The people were so fondly and strangely addicted to the high places, that the foregoing kings, though men of riper years, and great power and courage, and finally settled in their thrones, could not take them away; and therefore it is not strange if Jehoiada could not now remove them.” (Poole)

(Guzik)

Mostly Blessed?

“This was a long and mostly blessed reign. Jehoash fell short of full commitment and complete godliness”…

When we observe our lives concerning Jesus, are we all in for Him or half heartedly? Are you a good person on Sunday and the rest of the week running with the unfaithful? When He meets us face to face will He say:

“His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Or: “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Would you rather be blessed or mostly blessed? If you read the prayer attached try replacing all the blessings by adding “mostly” blessed and you will understand the difference.

Blessings 

2 Kings 11:18-21 Revival!

 “And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord. Then he took the captains of hundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts, and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and went by way of the gate of the escorts to the king’s house. Then he sat on the throne of the kings. So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword in the king’s house. Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.” II Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down: In 2 Kings 10 Jehu supervised the destruction of the temple of Baal in Samaria. Here the temple of Baal in Jerusalem was destroyed, and appropriately destroyed by the people of the land.

i. They didn’t stop at destroying the building itself; they went on to destroy both the sacred objects dedicated to Baal and to kill Mattan the priest of Baal.

ii. One reason the people resented this worship of Baal in Jerusalem so much was because Athaliah had directed that sacred objects from the temple of the LORD be put into the temple of Baal: For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD to the Baals (2 Chronicles 24:7).

b. Then he sat on the throne of the kings: After more than six dark years, the rightful king of Judah once again ruled over his grateful people. (Guzik)

Revival!

The people had a revival and placed the only remaining heir to the throne as king at a remarkable young age of seven years old!

We need a revival too!

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love: According to Barclay, the word we translate conveyed had a special significance in the ancient world. When one empire conquered another, the custom was to take the population of the defeated empire and transfer it completely to the conqueror’s land. It is in this sense that Paul says we have been conveyed into God’s kingdom. Everything we have and everything we are now belongs to Him.

i. The Son of His love is a Hebraic way of saying “God’s dear Son.” (Guzik)

Have you been conveyed into God’s kingdom?

Blessings

2 Kings 11:17 Re-committed!

 “Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, that they should be the Lord’s people, and also between the king and the people.” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. That they should be the LORD’s people: The covenant was between the LORD and the king and the people. They re-committed themselves to honor, obey, and serve God.

b. And also between the king and the people: This shows that God intends that both kings and citizens have mutual obligations towards the other. Neither have absolute rights over or against the other. (Guzik)

Re-committed!

“They re-committed themselves to honor, obey, and serve God.”

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone re-committed themselves to honor, obey, and serve God? But the problem is many people were never committed themselves in the first place. 

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Which gate have you chosen, the narrow that leads to life or the broad that leads to destruction?

Blessings 

2 Kings 11:15-16 Just Sentence?

 “And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be killed in the house of the Lord.” So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses’ entrance into the king’s house, and there she was killed.”

‭‭II Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her: This was both righteous and prudent. It was a just sentence against this woman who had murdered so many, and prudent precautions were taken so she could not mount a resistance.

b. Do not let her be killed in the house of the LORD: As a priest, Jehoiada had a great concern for the sanctity and reputation of the temple. Yet in the place where horses entered the king’s house, and there she was killed.

i. “Thus Athaliah, the most infamous queen of Judah, died at the hands of her executioners, much as did her mother, Jezebel, queen of Israel.” (Patterson and Austel)

(Guzik)

Just Sentence?

Today we seem to have a two tiered legal system, and it also seems that what’s upside down is right side up. 

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

But our God is a just and a righteous God, and He will right all wrongs for the Bible says:

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

““When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭31‬-‭33‬, ‭41‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The goats will receive a just sentence!

But the question I have for you is this, will you be divided with the goats 🐐 or with the sheep 🐑?

Blessings