Repairing The Temple

II Kings 12:9-16

“And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD.” (II Chronicles 24:8) 

“But 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 cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.” (II Kings 12:8) 

For years, the priests and Levites had traveled acroos Israel taking up offerings and pledges to repair the damage that had been done to the temple, trying to get enough to do the job.  Finally Joash ordered them to stop collecting the money and forget about making the repairs because nothing had been done.

Instead, he had them place a large chest with a hole for dropping in money by the entrance to the temple where any money could be dropped in.

“And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. 

And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. 

Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.” (II Chronicles 24:9-11)


Instead of taking up the offering, They proclaimed that it would be up to the people to put it in themselves.  The people were thrilled, giving more than they had before.  It was so successful that they were still collecting the offerings that way in Jesus’ day as we see in Mark 12.

When I first started as pastor, the church was very small and many had very small incomes but one family had a good job and tithed faithfully.  One Sunday the lady asked me why the figure we had posted for the day’s offering was less than she had put in.  We started watching and learned that in the process of putting in a dollar, one girl was taking out a twenty dollar bill, and apparently she wasn’t the only one.  Having just recently taught on this story, I decided to do the same thing to prevent such theft.  Our offerings more than doubled almost immediately, so we continued and the church never again had a problem meeting it’s expenses.

In talking with our people, I found that many felt pressured to give when an offering basket was placed in front of them and resented it.  The box did not produce those feelings of resentment and they gave more as a result.  I have found the same thing in the other churches I have pastored.  People who give resentfully miss out on much of the blessing God has for them, so it would be worth doing even if it resulted in a smaller offering.  Tithing kiosks in some churches function the same way today.

“And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD. 

And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD, And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.” (II Kings 12:10-12)

“So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.” (II Chronicles 24:13)

When they had enough to make some of the repairs, they started, rather than waiting until they had enough to finish.  The people were excited to see work being done and  willingly gave more to see it completed.  The priests and Levites had wanted to wait until enough was collected, and people became discouraged because nothing was happening.  People today are no different.  

“Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD: But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.” (II Kings 12:13-14) 

“And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.” (II Chronicles 24:14) 

“Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.” (II Kings 12:15) 

Initially, all the offering was used to take care of the needed repairs.  Only when the repairs were complete did they use the money to obtain the decorative and luxury items.  This again encouraged the people that their money was being used wisely.  Many leaders have lost their people’s confidence because they insisted on redecorating the auditorium or putting up a new sign when the people knew the roof needed repairs or a new furnace was needed.  The old idea of listing the things you want done and then doing the most important one first builds confidence in one’s leadership because people see the important things are getting done.  They don’t mind waiting for the less important things.

When the basic work was accomplished, the extra money was spent on the nonessential items.  It was exciting to be able to have those things as well.

Because they had selected trustworthy men, it was not necessary to micromanage them or demand exact accounting for every penny spent.  If the men cannot be trusted, no amount of accounting and oversight can ensure they will not take advantage, and frequently it becomes a challenge to see if they can get by with it.  Our financial institutions have some of the strictest accounting systems anywhere, yet they were able to misuse and rip off millions of dollars.  

"The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'.” (II Kings 12:16)

There was no cut backs in the sacrifices or burnt offerings to pay for the building program, and the priests and Levites did not have to give up part of their salary.  If a church is forced to cut back or borrow money in order to take care of some program, they should probably look more closely at what they are doing.  God said he would supply our needs.  He didn’t promise to supply all the things we lusted after.