We pick up the story today with Joash crowned at just 7 years old. His reign is really summed up as doing ‘what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest’ (vs. 2). He would have needed guidance at the very least. Certainly, he would have been looking for a father-figure as his own father was killed when he was a baby. Jehoiada the priest steps into the role courageously, faithfully, and endeavours to train Joash. What an incredible turnaround there is in the Kingdom of Judah! ‘Joash sets his heart on repairing the house of the Lord’ (vs. 4). A regular collection is taken and so much money brought in that ‘they restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it’ (vs. 13). Jehoiada has trained Joash to do all the right things and the kingdom is secure.

Then Jehoiada dies at the incredible age of 130, a very full life. The watchful father-figure is no more. For the first time, Joash steps out from the shadows and is immediately tested. ‘The leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them’ (vs. 17). Suddenly, Joash decides he doesn’t want to follow the Lord anymore. Instead, he chose idols. How could this be? After so many faithful years of being trained by the Jehoiada?

There is a time in our lives when suddenly we realise our parent’s faith is not our own faith. We need to work out our salvation before the Lord with fear and trembling. We need to grab hold of the Word for ourselves. We need to learn how to pray.  Make it personal. We all have that choice before us, and so did Joash. I cannot praise the Lord enough that my parents were bold enough to let go and hand me over to God. It is in the wrestling with God that Jacob was blessed and his identity changed.

Joash chose idols. But the Lord sent prophets to bring him to his senses. He would not listen. Yet in the kindness of God, ‘the Spirit of the God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest …and [he] said to them, “Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandment of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you”’ (vs. 20). Joash never learned that who the Lord loves, He corrects. He could not see God’s love but was blinded by pride and anger and met a swift downfall.

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The Lord can train us to WANT to do the right things. Let’s declare ‘All our children shall be taught by the Lord and great shall be their peace’ (Is 54:13).