What can we learn from Jehoash's response to Hazael's attack in 2 Kings 12:17? Setting the Scene “At that time Hazael king of Aram went up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. So King Joash of Judah took all the sacred objects that had been dedicated by his fathers … as well as the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. And he sent them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.” (2 Kings 12:17-18) What Jehoash Actually Did • He faced a threatening enemy at Jerusalem’s gates. • Instead of seeking the LORD, he stripped the temple and palace of gold and sacred objects. • He paid off Hazael, buying temporary peace. Seeing Jehoash’s Heart Revealed • Outward Reformer, Inwardly Insecure: Earlier, Joash had overseen temple repairs (2 Kings 12:4-15), yet here he shows a lack of steady faith. • No Prayer Recorded: Contrast with Hezekiah, who later spreads Assyrian threats before the LORD (2 Kings 19:14-19). • Trading the Holy for the Worldly: Sacred gifts dedicated for worship became bargaining chips. Lessons on Faith and Trust • God Never Authorizes Compromise with the Enemy (Exodus 20:3). • Reliance on Human Strategy Breeds Further Weakness—see Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” • Fear Can Erase Earlier Devotion: A good start (2 Chronicles 24:1-14) means little without perseverance (Hebrews 10:35-36). Stewardship of God’s Resources • Offerings Dedicated to God Are Not Disposable Assets (Leviticus 27:28). • Spiritual Leaders Must Guard, Not Barter, Holy Things (1 Corinthians 4:2). Consequences of Compromise • Momentary Relief, Long-Term Decline: Hazael left, but Judah’s spiritual health deteriorated, and Joash was later assassinated (2 Kings 12:20-21). • Loss of Testimony: The temple that had just been repaired was stripped of its glory because fear outweighed faith. Personal Application Today • Pressure Reveals Where We Place Trust—finances, diplomacy, or the Lord? • Guard Devoted Things: Time set aside for worship, biblical convictions, and resources consecrated to God must not be surrendered for convenience. • Finish Well: Begin in obedience, continue in dependence, and end in faithfulness (2 Timothy 4:7). |
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