How does this verse connect with the commandment to honor God's prophets? A snapshot of the verse “Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but killed his son. As he lay dying, he said, ‘May the LORD see this and call you to account.’” The command to honor God’s prophets • 1 Chronicles 16:22 / Psalm 105:15 – “Do not touch My anointed ones; do My prophets no harm.” • Deuteronomy 18:19 – “And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.” • 2 Chronicles 20:20 – “Believe His prophets, and you will prosper.” God repeatedly identifies His prophets as His own representatives and warns against mistreating or disregarding them. How Joash violated that command • He “failed to remember the kindness” of Jehoiada, the priest who had protected him and guided him to the throne. • He silenced Zechariah—Jehoiada’s son—whose only “crime” was declaring God’s warning (2 Chronicles 24:20). • By shedding prophetic blood “between the temple and the altar” (Matthew 23:35), Joash rejected both the messenger and the God who sent the message. Immediate and long-term consequences • Zechariah’s dying cry: “May the LORD see this and call you to account.” God hears. • Within a year the Arameans invade; Joash’s own servants assassinate him (24:23-25). • The king who dishonored a prophet ends in dishonor, fulfilling the principle of divine retribution (Galatians 6:7). New-Testament echoes • Luke 10:16 – “Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me.” • Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who must give an account.” • Matthew 23:34-36 – Jesus links Zechariah’s murder with the guilt of all who spurn God’s spokesmen. Practical takeaways • Take prophetic warnings seriously; they are God’s gracious attempts to steer us back. • Gratitude matters—forgetting past spiritual mentors can lead to callousness toward God Himself. • Mistreating or ignoring faithful leaders invites discipline; honoring them positions us for blessing and spiritual prosperity. |
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