How does 2 Chronicles 24:22 illustrate the consequences of forgetting God's faithfulness? Verse at a Glance “Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Jehoiada his father had shown him, but killed his son. And as Zechariah lay dying, he said, ‘May the LORD see this and call you to account.’” (2 Chronicles 24:22) Backdrop: A King Raised in Covenant Grace • Joash was rescued as an infant from queen Athaliah’s massacre (2 Chronicles 22:10-12). • He was mentored by the priest Jehoiada, who restored true worship and covenant obedience (2 Chronicles 24:1-14). • Joash “did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:2). • God’s faithfulness was tangible: a saved life, a secured throne, and a renewed temple. The Moment of Forgetting • After Jehoiada’s death, Joash abandoned the house of the LORD and served idols (2 Chronicles 24:17-18). • Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, prophetically called the nation back to covenant loyalty (2 Chronicles 24:20). • Instead of heeding the warning, Joash ordered Zechariah’s execution “in the courtyard of the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 24:21). • By killing the son of the man who had saved him, Joash displayed wholesale amnesia toward God’s faithfulness. Consequences Unfolded 1. Ingratitude became injustice – Forgetting grace produced violence against its very messenger. 2. Moral decay led to covenant indictment – Zechariah’s dying cry, “May the LORD see this and call you to account,” placed Joash under divine lawsuit. 3. Swift retribution followed – The Arameans defeated Judah, leaving Joash severely wounded (2 Chronicles 24:23-24). – His own servants assassinated him “because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:25). 4. Legacy tarnished – Joash was denied burial in the royal tombs (2 Chronicles 24:25), contrasting the honor given Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:16). Tracing the Pattern through Scripture • Deuteronomy 8:11-14 — Forgetting God after blessing leads to pride and destruction. • Judges 8:34 — Israel “did not remember the LORD” or Gideon’s kindness; chaos ensued. • Hosea 13:6 — “They forgot Me; therefore they became proud.” • Psalm 103:2 — “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” • Galatians 6:7-8 — “God is not mocked… whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” • Hebrews 10:30 — “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” says the Lord. Lessons for Today • Remembering God’s past faithfulness guards the heart against idolatry and ingratitude. • Reverence for spiritual mentors protects us from dismissing prophetic correction. • Sin against covenant grace carries inevitable consequences—often mirroring the very offense committed. • A grateful memory fuels persevering obedience; a forgetful heart invites judgment. |
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