2 Kings 14:23-29 ESV

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. 27 But the Lord had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

THE FAVOR OF GOD

The reign of Jeroboam II was marked with economic prosperity and and political expansion. According D. Guzik, “ Archaeology confirms the economic might of Jeroboam II. In the age prior to Jeroboam II, the houses in Israel’s cities were roughly the same size. But archaeologists find a change starting in the eighth century b.c. – ancient cities like Tirzah have a neighborhood of large, expensive houses and another neighborhood of small, crowded structures, smaller than the houses from previous years. The larger houses are filled with the marks of prosperity, and the oppressive rich of Israel thought they could find safety there – but God’s judgment came against those houses as well (Amos 3:13-15).”

This prosperity was brought about not by their own merit and ability. It was because of God, who had been merciful to the nation. “He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. ” There was a re-establishment of the ideal borders of the Northern Israel that existed under Solomon’s reign.[1 Kings 8:65]

Sadly, there was no moral and spiritual revival during these economic and prosperous times. The prophecy of Amos and Hosea during this time did reveal the spiritual decadence within. Sooner, the nation would be destroyed by the corruption as termites destroy a building from within.

Let’s not be fooled to equate material prosperity equals spiritual blessings always. When man becomes self-sufficient, his spirituality also will decline in most cases. Our sprituality is always associated with our dependence upon Him moment by moment.

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2 Kings 14:7-14 ESV

7 He struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela by storm, and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this day.

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.” 9 And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle. 10 You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”

11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria

THE PERIL OF ARROGANCE

After Amaziah had slaughtered 10,000 Edomites, he challenged the king of Israel Jehoahaz to battle. King Jehoahaz had thought it was a mismatch. He said to Amaziah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon.” He told Amaziah, “You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?” And Amaziah was right for the ten tribes was definitely stronger than Judah. But, Amaziah did not listen. Arrogance causes blindness to our vulnerabilities.

Let’s remember that Amaziah had started his reign well but he became proud. After he conquered the Edomites, he foolishly brought back their gods and sacrificed to them. This idolatry resulted in an unnamed prophet coming to him to rebuke him. Amaziah defiantly resisted, saying to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” (2 Chron 25:16). The prophet refused to be intimidated, however. He told bluntly the proud king, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” [Prov 16;18] Nothing can be further from the truth. Amaziah having been blinded by his glory had proceeded to fight against King Jehoahaz. He was defeated decisively. Thus, Jehoahaz went to Judah and looted “all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages including king Amaziah, and he returned to Samaria.”

Today, let us not be blinded by our arrogance. Lest we forget, everything that we have is not from us. God’s blessing if seen as God’s gifts won’t make as boastful but humble. Arrogant people are not teachable. Thus, let us check our hearts should we have the tendency to despise counsel from others today.

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2 Kings 14:1-6 ESV

In the second year of Joash the son of Joahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done. 4 But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5 And as soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand, he struck down his servants who had struck down the king his father. 6 But he did not put to death the children of the murderers, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.”

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22 Nang ikalawang taon ni Joas na anak ni Jehoahaz na hari ng Israel, si Amasias na anak ni Joas na hari ng Juda ay nagsimulang maghari. 2 Siya'y dalawampu't limang taon nang siya'y magsimulang maghari; at siya'y naghari ng dalawampu't siyam na taon sa Jerusalem. Ang pangalan ng kanyang ina ay Jehoaddin na taga-Jerusalem. 3 Siya'y gumawa ng matuwid sa paningin ng PANGINOON, gayunman ay hindi gaya ni David na kanyang magulang; kanyang ginawa ang ayon sa lahat ng ginawa ni Joas na kanyang ama. 4 Ngunit ang matataas na dako ay hindi inalis; ang taong-bayan ay nagpatuloy na nag-alay at nagsunog ng insenso sa matataas na dako. 5 Nang matatag na ang kaharian sa kanyang kamay, pinatay niya ang kanyang mga lingkod na pumatay sa kanyang amang hari. 6 Ngunit hindi niya pinatay ang mga anak ng mga mamamatay-tao ayon sa nasusulat sa aklat ng kautusan ni Moises, gaya ng iniutos ng PANGINOON, na sinasabi, “Ang mga ama ay hindi papatayin dahil sa mga anak, o ang mga anak man ay papatayin dahil sa mga ama; kundi ang bawat tao ay mamamatay dahil sa kanyang sariling kasalanan.”

DOING RIGHT BUT NOT COMPLETELY

Amaziah reigned in Judah after his father Joash for twenty nine years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. How right was he in following the Lord? What are the benchmarks? He reigned as good as his father Joash but not like David. According to 2 Chron 25:2, “And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.”

Both David and Joash were not perfect kings. They made wrong decisions in their kingship. Joash grew up and became king with Jehioada. But, when Jehoiada passed away, he listened to his new advisers, the ungodly princes, for the rest of his life. In the case of Amaziah, he had tolerated the people to worship in the high places. He executed the murderers of his father but the motive was wrong. It was more of a vengeance rather than doing the spirit of the law.

Likewise, David made horrible sins like getting Bathsebah and murdering Uriah and doing a census of his kingdom. However, David did not allow idolatry. Moreover, he became so remorseful when he was confronted later. Thus, he became the man after God’s heart. In other words, how they behave at the end had made the difference. In our lives, we may stumble and do commit mistakes. And, God is gracious to forgive and forget should we repent. He can give a new slate to begin with. Goodness, therefore, is not in not making mistakes. But, it is in coming out being hearts broken and renewed to love God more in a fresh way.

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2 Kings 13:22-23 ESV

22 Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.

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22 Pinahirapan naman ni Hazael na hari ng Siria ang Israel sa lahat ng mga araw ni Jehoahaz. 23 Ngunit ang PANGINOO'Y naging mapagpala sa kanila at nahabag sa kanila, at siya'y bumaling sa kanila, dahil sa kanyang tipan kina Abraham, Isaac, at Jacob; at ayaw niya silang lipulin, ni palayasin man sa kanyang harapan hanggang sa ngayon.

THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL.

In all the days of King Jehoahaz, Israel has experienced continual harassment from King Hazael, king of Syria. The Lord has permitted this not as a punishment but a chastisement to them because they were sinning against God. Punishment is done as an end in itself to those who are not related with Him. On the other hand, chastisement is to discipline an erring person who is related with God. God disciplines His children as a loving parent. Heb 12:7,8 says “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

The graciousness and mercies of God are results of God’s faithfulness to His covenant to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God’s dealings with them has been predominantly by His grace and mercies. Jeremiah said,

“ The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.” [Lam 3:22-23]

But, God’s greatest act of grace and mercy was at the cross. As Paul declared, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”[Rom 5:6-8]

Let’s always glory in God’s grace and mercy alone. We are nothing apart from Christ. “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”[Titus 3:5-7]

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2 Kings 13:20-21 ESV

20 So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

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20 Namatay si Eliseo at kanilang inilibing siya. Noon ang mga pulutong ng mga Moabita ay laging sumasalakay sa lupain sa panahon ng tagsibol. 21 At habang inililibing ang isang lalaki, kanilang natanaw ang isang sumasalakay na pulutong. At ang lalaki ay naihagis sa libingan ni Eliseo; at nang sumagi ang tao sa mga buto ni Eliseo, siya'y muling nabuhay at tumayo sa kanyang mga paa.

LIFE FROM DEATH.

Elisha had died for sometime. What was left in his grave was his bones. Since the graves were carved out of soft rock, it was possible that a dead man was thrown into his grave. This unknown man, perhaps, was mercilessly killed by the marauding band and in a hurry was thrown into Elisha’s grave.

Amazingly, as his dead body touched the bones of Elisha, he became alive again. Elisha though he died for sometime was still became a blessing. Was this because he has the double portion from Elijah. Elijah did not taste death but Elisha, though he died has given life to an unknown man. His name means “God saves”[2 Kings 2:19-25].

Elisha was mentioned only once in New Testament, particularly in Luke 4:27, “And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” Jesus did this analogy with Elisha in healing the sick, specially the lepers. Implicitly, he was a type of Jesus.

Bruce Waltke, writing in Ligonier Magazine about the parallels between Elisha and Jesus:

Both are designated by a prophet, whom the general populace recognized as a true prophet. Both receive the Spirit on the other side of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:7–15; John 1:28);

• are surrounded by more disciples than their predecessors;

• are itinerant miracle workers;

• give life in a land of death;

• cleanse lepers (2 Kings 5; Mark 1:40–45);

• heal the sick (2 Kings 4:34–35; Mark 8:22–25);

• defy gravity (2 Kings 6:6; Matt. 14:22–33);

• reverse death by raising dead sons and restoring them to their mothers (2 Kings 4: 1–7; Luke 7:11–17);

• help widows in desperate circumstances; are kinsman redeemers to save from slavery (2 Kings 4:1–7; Luke 4:19);

• feed the hungry (2 Kings 4:1–7; Mark 8:1–12);

• minister to the Gentiles (2 Kings 5:1–16);

• prepare (2 Kings 6:20–23) and sit at table with sinners (Luke 5:29);

• lead captives (2 Kings 6:18–20; Eph. 4:7–8);

• have a covetous disciple (Gehazi and Judas);

• end their lives in a life-giving tomb from which people flee (2 Kings 13:20–21; Mark 16:1–8).

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2 Kings 13:14-19 ESV

14 Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. 17 And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” 18 And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. 19 Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”

THE LORD’S ARROW OF VICTORY

When Elisha was sick and dying, King Joash of Israel came to him weeping. He felt pathetic about the dwindling chariots and armies of Israel. He cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen.” How could they fight against Syria if the prophet Elisha would be gone? He never had felt so helpless.

The ailing prophet commanded him to draw the bow, open the window. He has to shoot the arrow eastward to the direction of Syria. And he has to lay his hands to the king’s hand when he will shoot the arrow. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.”

Immediately after, he instructed Joash to grab the arrows and struck the ground with them. He was angry with Joash because he only did it three times. Why? He argued, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”

God never fails. Interestingly, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, that is: “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?[Jer 32:27] For His promises are backed up by His incomparable power to fulfill it. Thus, failure is always on our side in not taking His promises at face value. “God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”[Eph 3:20] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.[Heb 11:6]

Similarly, the Lord has promised Mary the unimaginable – to become a mother when she was a virgin. The only assurance is the word from the angel, that is, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”[Luke 1:37] Unlike king Joash she believed and yielded wholeheartedly to the Lord, saying, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”[Luke 1:38]

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2 Kings 13:1-9 ESV

In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them. 3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. 4 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 (Therefore the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly. 6 Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.) 7 For there was not left to Jehoahaz an army of more than fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 9 So Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son reigned in his place.

TAKING GOD’S GOODNESS FOR GRANTED

Jehoahaz assumed the throne of Israel after his father Jehu died. Previously, the Lord promised to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”[2 Kings 7:30] This was God’s favor to his clan. But his son Jehoahaz did evil. Thus, there was a divine punishment in the form of Syrian invasions. It was so severe that it reduces the army of Jehoahaz so insubstantial like ‘a dust at the threshing time’.

But, the Lord did not abandon Israel. Although, Jehoahaz was an idolater, he pleaded for God’s favor who saved them. This was out of desperation. And, God provided an unnamed savior. In other words, God was gracious to them. However, His graciousness had made no difference to Israel’s outlook. They continued in their sins and re-introduced the worship of Asherah which Jehu destroyed. Impliedly, they asked God’s help only when they needed help and only for their own selfish ends.

Certainly, he and the nation were hardened by sin to become unconscionable. For the evil they had done, they deserve judgment. But, God saw how they suffered from the Syrian’s oppression. Unlike them, you and I should not take God’s goodness for granted, should we? Paul said, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.”[Rom 2:4]

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2 Kings 12:17-21 ESV

17 At that time Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath and took it. But when Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem, 18 Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred gifts that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent these to Hazael king of Syria. Then Hazael went away from Jerusalem.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 20 His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. 21 It was Jozacar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, who struck him down, so that he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

A SAD END.

Clearly, King Joash was intimidated by the King of Syria, Hazael. He took all the sacred gifts that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent these to Hazael. Simply said, he changed.

A good start of one’s life does not guarantee a better ending all the time. The turning point in Joash’s life came after the death of Jehoiada: “Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention..” (2 Chr 24:17-19).

Why were they not able to influence him earlier? It is because when Jehoiada was still alive, he was a powerful and influential mentor to Joash. Thus, to have Joash listen to them probably would not work. But as soon as Jehoiada was gone, the leaders of Judah had led him to serve other gods, which was utterly against his beliefs. Their flattery had a profound influence on him that he “did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him” (2 Chr 24:22). All the guidance, care, and instruction that Joash had received from his beloved ‘father’ was forgotten for the remainder of his reign as king. And, ultimately he was murdered by one otf them in cold blood.

What we learn is that despite all the time he spent under Jehoiada’s instruction, he had not established a faith that could stand on its own. The insidious ploy done by the leaders of Judah does remind us of our temptations today. They don’t come at full package; they come piece by piece. Satan waits until you are all alone in your faith, when you let your guard down, desperate or lonely, unsure of yourself, It’s when when you are not close to God.

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2 Kings 12:9-16 ESV

9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the Lord. And the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord. 10 And whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king's secretary and the high priest came up and they bagged and counted the money that was found in the house of the Lord. 11 Then they would give the money that was weighed out into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the Lord. And they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the Lord, 12 and to the masons and the stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and quarried stone for making repairs on the house of the Lord, and for any outlay for the repairs of the house. 13 But there were not made for the house of the Lord basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold, or of silver, from the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, 14 for that was given to the workmen who were repairing the house of the Lord with it. 15 And they did not ask for an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen, for they dealt honestly. 16 The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the Lord; it belonged to the priests.

THE FAITHFUL AND HONEST WORKMEN

In obedience to the king, the High Priest Jehoiada placed “a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the Lord.” It was in a public place so that it was accessible and free from any suspicion of foul play. The priests guarded the chest. And, whenever the chest was almost full of money, the king's secretary and the high priest came up and they bagged and counted the money. Immediately, they would give the money that was weighed out into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the Lord. And they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the Lord, and to the masons and the stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and quarried stone for making repairs on the house of the Lord, and for any outlay for the repairs of the house. These money was spent purely for the building repair so that they did not but accessories, such as basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold, or of silver.

And it must be noted that they did not ask for an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen. Why? It is because they dealt honestly. Definitely, trust is given to honest people. People should not be given a task in order to make them faithful but because they were found earlier as faithful.

Thus, faithfulness is seen in the track record of the person. Did not Jesus say, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? [Luke 16:10-12].

The work progressed well because the job of the repair was given to the right people, that is, with carpentry and masonry skills. More than that, they were faithful and honest. Effective and efficient people of God has these two inseparable traits as the two wings of a plane needed in order to fly. Faithful and honest men are diligent.

2 Kings 12:4-8 ESV

4 Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the money that a man's heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord, 5 let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” 6 But by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests had made no repairs on the house. 7 Therefore King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing the house? Now therefore take no more money from your donors, but hand it over for the repair of the house.” 8 So the priests agreed that they should take no more money from the people, and that they should not repair the house.

WHY ARE YOU NOT REPAIRING THE HOUSE?

Most likely, the temple of the Lord was in disarray by some form of neglect during the reign of Athaliah. It was not totally abandoned but it needed repair. Thus, Jehoash encouraged the raising of funds for its repair. There were three sources of this sacred offering, namely, first, payments in relation to the census of male Israelites[Ex 30:11-16], payments connected to personal vows[Lev 27:1-25] and all the love offerings from the people. It is similar to the special fund raising campaign of Moses in Ex 35 with emphasis of the people’s willingness to give from their hearts.

He reminded and charged the priests to undertake this priority project. But, at his 23rd year, he found out that no repair was done. This was the reason he asked Jehoiada and the priests, “Why are you not repairing the house? They had the money but impliedly, the priests were not anxious to spend the money for the repair. Perhaps, it was divested. Thus, Jehoash took charge and directed them not to take the money from the donors themselves.

Should our altars are in desrepair, it is our priority to repair it is it not? Like the priests, we may neglect it. There could be no simple reasons. But definitely, it’s the problem of our hearts that is the heart of the problem. As the Lord has encouraged the churh at Ephesus, who lost their first love, saying, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”[Rev 3:5]

The returning Jews had similar experience too. For 16 years the continuance of building the temple was stalled. And the people became accustomed to it sight. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.” [Hag 1:2-5]

The repair of God’s temple, needless to say the altar, was of paramount importance. It’s where God said His presence be manifested. Thus, let’s guard our altars. Let’s not allow other things to crowd our hearts which may result to its neglect.

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