be the influence you need

Can you imagine...
a seven year old king?

That's what Judah got.
It was either that,
or the continued reign of
their first Queen... an evil one at that.

​Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah,
took the throne after he was killed by Jehu.
She then proceeded to have all the royal sons
in line for the throne eliminated.

Except this baby boy, Joash,
who was hidden in the House of the Lord
by the priest Jehoiada for six years.
When it was time to reveal him,
he was ushered out under guarded protection,
and crowned king before the whole of Judah
in the courtyard of the holy temple.

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.
2 Kings 11:19-20

And as advisor, this priest Jehoiada,
stayed close by his side as he grew up.

The godly influence of Jehoiada was strong.
He must have been as a father figure to Joash,
raising him with the values of the Lord.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant
between himself, the people, and the king,
that they should be the Lord’s people.
And all the people went
to the temple of Baal, and tore it down.
2 Chronicles 23:16-17 NKJV

Finally, Judah had returned to the Lord.
And the priests and Levites
were established again in the temple.

Now it happened after this
that Joash set his heart
on repairing the house of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 24:4

After so many years of worshipping idols,
bowing to foreign gods,
the people of Judah willingly gave offerings,
materials were brought, and workmen labored.
Until the day they restored the house of God
to its original condition, and reinforced it.

But Jehoiada grew old
and was full of days, and he died;
he was one hundred and thirty years old
when he died.
And they buried him in the City of David
among the kings, because
he had done good in Israel,
both toward God and His house.
2 Chronicles 24:15-16

How blessed Joash had been all these years.
To have had such a mentor.
How blessed Judah was during this reign,
to have had such a priest.
How blessed Jehoiada was in obedience
to have served such an awesome God.

And this resting place was truly an honor for a priest.
One typically reserved for only the royalty of kings.

But Joash, was now without his priest,
without his mentor, without his guide.
Now his ear was inclined to other influence.

Now after the death of Jehoiada
the leaders of Judah came
and bowed down to the king.
And the king listened to them.
Therefore they left the house of the Lord
God of their fathers,
and served wooden images and idols;
and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem
because of their trespass.
2 Chronicles 24:17-18

What a sad state of affairs
for this entire nation of Judah.
But the Lord was not ready to let them go.

Yet He sent prophets to them,
to bring them back to the Lord;
and they testified against them,
but they would not listen.
2 Chronicles 24:19

In fact, Jehoiada's son, Zechariah
stood before the people of Judah.
He also a man of God, spoke for the Lord, saying...
'Because you have forsaken the Lord,
He also has forsaken you.’
Begging them to repent.

And for this... the people of Judah
stoned him in the courthouse of the Lord.

Half expecting the next line to read
of the sadness of King Joash for this loss of life,
I sadly found, that he didn't even remember
the kindness of Jehoiada, the very priest
who spent his life protecting, raising, mentoring him.

How saddened I am
for this once seven year old King.

The safety of the king's
circumference fell that day.
When Jehoiada left this earth, heavenward.
But Joash, like we, had a choice.
As those elders, those leaders of Judah
bowed before him,
drawing a new circle 'round,
surely he noticed
a darker, heavier hue.

Once radiant, light and gleaming holy...
lifting his eyes toward God,
Jehoiada was an influence so good,
so long, so righteous, filled with grace.

These men though, so easily drew him away,
to darker circles, where idols cast shadows
and intentions were easily masked.

What a short distance to fall...
just tipping, tilting ever so slightly at first,
sliding off the slippery slope which took
an entire kingdom down with it.

Where was the stability...
that foundation needed for this King
who seemed so set on
repairing the house of the Lord?

Gone the day his Jehoiada died.
Gone and never replaced.

I thank God for the Jehoiada's in my life.
For God has be gracious
to share them with me...
one after another.

They may not have been consecutive...
one replacing the other immediately.
Nor have any stayed with me
as long as this one was with Joash,
but I certainly have found my share.

Their names spelled much different,
but their influence just as important!
Because they brought to me...
Je-hoi'-e-da!
Which spoken aloud sounds like
JOY of the Day!

And they certainly...
hold me accountable,
encourage me to right standing with God,
pick me up when I am down,
and let me know when I am wrong.

Word of God,
train me, today...
to always seek and keep
a Jehoiada in my life,
to always seek to be
a Jehoiada for someone else!

Lord, let me never
be without
the godly influence
of my Jehoiada.

Lord, let me never
listen to those
that bow down to me.

For I am not a god,
nor should
I pridefully accept the flattery
that buys them that much
influence in my life!

Let me never be one,
nor spend time with those,
who bow to any other
than You...
our mighty
Lord God, and King.

_______________
Meaning of the name
Jehoiada:
Jehovah knows,
knowledge of the Lord