Hezekiah’s Leadership

Hezekiah had chosen to go in the opposite direction of that taken by his father.  Where Ahaz had tried to discourage the people from serving god, closing the Temple and scattering the priests, Hezekiah reopened the Temple, cleaning it out and putting the priests back to work.  He chose to celebrate the Passover as God had commanded, and led the people to get right with God.  Israel and Judah had not celebrated God’s blessings in such a way since Solomon’s time.  They did not stop with the Passover, however, as II Chronicles 31:1-3 tells us. 

“Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.  He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.” 

Hezekiah had set the example by cleaning out the Temple and th people followed by cleaning out the idols and places of false worship throughout the land.  Hezekiah continued to develop qualified men to take the different positions in the Temple and worship service.  Still leading by example, he took responsibility for seeing that the needed sacrifices for the daily offerings, the special Sabbath offerings, the special offerings on the first of the month and those for special events were provided from his own wealth.  Only after he had done his share did he ask others to give as well, as II Chronicles 31:4-5 explains. 

“Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.  And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.” 

While Hezekiah was covering the costs of the day to day ministry, he asked the people to pay the priest’s wages.  He recognized the importance of the people paying their pastor’s wages, because it encourages the people who give, making them understand they play a an important role in the ministry, while encouraging the pastors that the people appreciate the work they do.  As a result, the people grew spiritually, and also gave abundantly.  They could understand that the priests and Levites needed to be paid for their work.  Even people who had not been requested to give began to give, according to II Chronicles 31:5-10.

“And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.  In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.  Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.  And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.” 

When people feel something is worthwhile, and that their efforts to help are appreciated and valuable, they have no qualms about getting involved in the work or contributing.  They tend to devote themselves to whatever cause is involved.  If they begin to feel that their input and efforts are not of much importance however, or fail to see the value of the cause itself, they have little incentive to become more involved, either in learning and participation, or in giving to support the cause.  These principles apply whether one is talking about building a church, or some other kind of organization. 

Whether or not the application of these principles will result in spiritual growth depends largely on the attitudes of the leaders.  A leader who is focused on developing a closer relationship with the Lord can use these principles to help his people draw closer to the Lord, while one who is focused on enhancing his reputation by building a larger organization will focus attention on the organization rather than the spiritual walk.   Superficially, the two may appear almost the same, but closer examination shows they are very different. 

Hezekiah was focused on pleasing his God, in every area, as we see in II Chronicles 31:20-21.  “And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.  And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.”  Other kings had devoted their efforts to expanding the kingdom, or destroying their enemies, but Hezekiah focused on doing what God wanted with his whole heart.  As a result, God blessed him, so that he prospered in everything he did.   

Hezekiah’s Obedience

Hezekiah chose to do exactly the opposite of what his father had done, following God to a degree none of the other Kings of Judah since David had done.  Exodus 12 described the institution of the Passover and feast of unleavened bread.  As Exodus 12:14-15 tells us, the Jews were to celebrate it every year.   “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.   Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.”  Anyone who refused to partake of it was to be cut off from Israel, literally to lose their citizenship.  For many years, Judah had not bothered to keep the Passover.  Hezekiah determined to keep the Passover, as II Chronicles 30:1-3 describes.

“And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.  For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.  For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.  And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.

Leviticus 23:5 was very specific about the date of the Passover.  “In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.”  Fortunately, God had made on exception to this date, as Numbers 9:9-11 tells us.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.  The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.”  If a person had come into contact with a dead body, or was otherwise unclean and unfit to take the Passover on the proper date, he could take it a month later.  Because the temple had been closed during Ahaz’s reign, neither the priest, nor the people had kept the necessary sacrifices to be clean according to the law.  Hezekiah and the priests decided they should all spend the extra month making sure everyone was clean and celebrate the Passover on that alternate date.   Hezekiah sent out notices to that effect throughout all Israel and Judah, as II Chronicles 30:5-9 tells us. 

“So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.  So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.  And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.  

Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.  For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.” 

Hezekiah encouraged everyone in both Israel and Judah to keep the Passover so they could receive the blessings God had promised.  Most of the people in Israel blew them off, clinging to Jeroboam’s teachings but a few listened to Hezekiah’s warning.   The people of Judah got behind the idea and committed to serve God as II Chronicles 30:10-12 tells us.  “So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.  Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.  Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.”

As a result of Hezekiah’s choice to follow God completely huge numbers turned to God, according to II Chronicles 30:13-20.  “And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.  And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.  Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.

And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.  For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.  For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.   And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.  And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.  For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.   So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.  Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.”  There had not been such a concerted effort to worship God and remember his blessings since Solomon’s dedication of the Temple, almost three hundred years before. 

Hezekiah didn’t stop with just praying and worshipping God,  He went back in the Law to find out what God had commanded and kept it because he truly loved God, as John 14:21 tells us.  “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”   If we want to experience God’s blessings to the fullest, we will have find out what he wants and obey him fully, instead of just doing what we think is right.  

Hezekiah Renews Judah’s Commitment to God

One of the things we learn from history is that people tend to follow the example of their parents and the culture around them, simply because it is what they are familiar with.  Jehoash’s descendants were no exception with his son, grandson, and great grandson following God’s teaching part of the time.  His great great grandson, Ahaz chose not to follow that pattern, following every false religion around, as described in II Chronicles 28:1-4.   “Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.  He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.” 

Fortunately children have the ability to choose whether to follow their parents example or not.  Ahaz’s son, Hezekiah was exactly the opposite of his father, according to II Chronicles 29:1-2.  “Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.” 

Hezekiah would prove to be one of the best Kings Israel ever had, doing his best to follow God’s laws like his ancestor David.  Under his father, the temple had been closed up and allowed to deteriorate, and the worship of God had largely been forgotten.  Hezekiah reopened the temple, and reinstituted the worship of God, renewing the covenant Israel had made with God. II Chronicles 19:3-11 describes his explanation to the people. 

“He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.  And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.  For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs.  Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.

Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.  For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.  Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.  My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.”

The Levites and priests rallied around Hezekiah, getting right with God themselves and reestablishing the worship of God as the covenant specified.  II Chronicles 29:12-23 describes the efforts.  “Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah: And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.

And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.  And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.  Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.

Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the showbread table, with all the vessels thereof.  Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.

Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.  And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.  So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.  And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.  And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.  And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.  And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.  Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.”

Where Jehoash had half-heartedly served the Lord because Jehoiada was guiding him, Hezekiah was serving god because he wanted to.  As a result, the people turned to God fully, unlike they had done for Jehoash.  They no longer worshipped other Gods or sacrificed in the high places. 

If we are to have a serious impact on those around us for God, we will have to be like Hezekiah, devoting ourselves completely to God and his commands, and correcting the things our predecessors have done wrong, rather than just following their footsteps.  God willing, tomorrow we will look at some of the other things Hezekiah did.  

Jehoash Turns Away From God

II Chronicles 24:2 tells us. “And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”  As long as Jehoida was there to guide him, Joash or Jehoash served the Lord.  Unfortunately, like everyone else, Jehoiada died, as II Chronicles 25:15-16 tells us.  “But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.  And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.”

When Jehoiada died, the people that had not turned to God during his life approached Jehoash about making some changes II Chronicles 24:17-19 describes this.  “Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.  And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.  Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.” 

Like many people who have attended Christian schools or churches where there was a stron personality to lead, Jehoash did the right things as long as Jehoiada was there.  As soon as Jehoiada was gone, however, he began following the advice of others who were less dedicated to God, and doing things that were contrary to God’s word.  They ignored the warnings of God’s prophets.  Finally God sent Jehoiada’s son to warn them, in II Chronicles 24:20-22.

“And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.  And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.  Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.

When Jehoiada’s son warned them that God was not pleased with what Judah and Jehoash were doing, they killed him, completely ignoring what Jehoiada had done for Jehoash, in preserving his life from his grandmother, and in teaching him how to serve God.    Judah and Jehoash were like a lot of people in modern churches.  They were following God’s man, rather than God.   Because their focus is not on God, when the man dies, they follow somebody else, instead of the Lord, even turning against the doctrines they originally believed.  As a result, churches that once stood strongly for scriptural principles may turn completely against them, a few years after the founders die.  They frequently try to destroy any reminders of the founder’s beliefs and work, even rebuilding buildings and

Their rejection of God cost Judah dearly.  II Chronicles 24:23-24 describes the results.  “And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.  For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.” Just a small Syrian army was able to defeat all the army of Judah.  They executed most of the Jewish leaders, and took all the people’s personal property to Damascus. 

Jehoash himself was seriously wounded during the fighting, and his own servants turned on him, murdering him in his own bed for his part in killing Jehoiada’s son.  They had lost so much respect for him they wouldn’t even allow him to be buried with the other kings, according to II Chronicles 24:25.  “And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.”

It is troubling to watch various churches and religious organizations turning away from what they once stood for to go along with what is popular, or is considered politically correct, rather than what God’s word says.  

Jehoiada’s Impact

Ahab had a half-sister named Athaliah, who married Joram or jehoram, king of Judah, and had a son named Ahaziah.  He married one of Ahab’s daughters, and ascended the throne of Judah on Joram’s death.  II Kings 8:26-27 describes his reign.  “Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.  And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab.”  Like his cousin Ahaziah of Israel, Ahaziah of Judah copied Ahab’s early lifestyle and reign completely, and his reign was even shorter than that of his cousin.   He was killed by Jehu when he went to visit Ahab’s son Jehoram in Samaria. 

When he was killed, his mother had all Ahaziah’s half brothers and children killed so she could proclaim herself queen.  Fortunately, she missed one of her Grandsons.  II Kings 11:1-3 describes the events.  “And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.  But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.  And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.” 

One of his aunts saved Jehoash from his grandmother, taking his to Jehoiada the High Priest for protection.  A little over six years later, Athaliah was executed for murdering the rightful heirs of the throne, and Jehoash was crowned as king.  He was only seven, and Jehoiada served as his advisor until he came of age.  Under Jehoiada’s tutelage, Jehoash followed the Lord, rather than the example set by his father and grandmother.  II Kings 12:1-8 describes his reign. 

“In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.  And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.  But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.” (II Kings 12:1-3)

As long as Jehoiada was there to guide him, Jehoash followed God, although he was unable to get the people to follow the Lord completely.  One of his early projects was the restoration of the temple, which was needing repairs after a hundred fifty years.  They were to use the donations of the people to make those repairs as described in II Kings 12:4-5.  “And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,  Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.

Unfortunately, many of the priests were not very dependable, using the money for other things instead.  As a result, twenty three years after he became king, the repairs still had not been made.    He ordered the priests to stop taking offerings for the repairs and let it be given to treasurers who would hire various contractors to make the needed repairs.  II Kings 12:6-12 describes his decision.  “But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.  Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.  And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.

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.  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.

As a result of Jehoiada’s teaching and guidance, Jehoash did what was right, even going beyond what many of the priests and Levites were willing to do.  He provides a clear example of what a good teacher can accomplish, despite a person’s family background.  Without Jehoiada’s guidance, he probably would have turned out much like Ahab’s sons Ahaziah and Jehoram, following his family traditions.    

Jehoram’s Half Hearted Reforms

! Kings 22:52 tells us Ahaziah “…did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin: For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.”   When he died, his brother, Jehoram assumed the throne.  II Kings 3:2-3 tells us, “…he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.  Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.” 

Jehoram still clung to the traditions of the people around him, but he did not rebel against God to the same degree as his parents had.   Although he continued to worship the idols Jeroboam had set up, he rejected the Baal worship his parents had followed.   

Elijah began to prophesy during Jehoram’s reign, performing many miracles and warning him to turn back to God.  He saw God’s miraculous victory over the Moabites in II Kings 3:4-27, but made no change after seeing the victory.  When Naaman came to be healed, Jehoram was panicked,, but God healed him in II Kings 5.  In the siege of Samaria in II Kings 6:24-7:20, he saw God provide food and drive away the Syrian army when everyone had given up hope. Jehoram had seen His father, Ahab repent of his sin and turn to God, and had also seen what happened to Ahaziah as a result of his rejection of God.   In spite of these things, Jehoram clung to the traditions Jeroboam started, never turning to God fully. 

In a later battle with Syria, Jehoram was wounded and forced to return to Samaria to recover.  While he was incapacitated, one of his captains, Jehu rebelled, executing Jehoram and fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy about Ahab’s family.  His rebellion is described in II Kings 9.   Jehoram had been give twelve years to turn to God, but just stopping certain sins was not enough.    God wants complete obedience.

Both Ahaziah and Jehoram provide important reminders of the impact parents have on their children when they are young.  Although Ahab repented and changed later in life, neither of his sons turned to God.   Ahaziah followed the example completely, while Jehoram chose to follow the traditions of Jeroboam.    The fact of Ahab’s repentance was not enough to overcome either of the boy’s early training.   God forgave Ahab, and would have forgiven either of the boys, but neither chose to turn to him.  Though the judgment was pronounced against them because of Ahab’s sin, it was their own sin that resulted in their deaths.        

Ahaziah’s Rejection of God

“Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.  And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin: For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.” (I Kings 22:51-53)

Ahab and Jezebel had actively sought to turn the Jews away from worshipping God during most of Ahab’s reign.  Late in life he repented and God forgave him.  As we have already seen, however, that did not eliminate the effects of Ahab’s sin, or the consequences.  He had taught his children not to serve God, and they continued to practice what he had taught them, even after he repented.  Ahaziah knew what Elijah had told his father, but paid no attention.

After about two years, Ahaziah accidentally fell through a lattice or screen designed to allow airflow in his upstaiers rooms and was seriously injured, according to II Kings 2:2.  “And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.”  Ahaziah had so thoroughly indoctrinated against the Jewish religion, he did not even consider praying to God.  Instead he sent messengers to the Philistine God, Baalzebub’s temple to pray and see if he would recover.  II Kings 1:3-8 describes the result. 

“But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?  Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

By sending to the Philistine god for direction, Ahaziah had implied that God was powerless and was not really a god at all.  The prophet Elijah met the messengers and told them that because that was Ahaziah’s attitude, he would not recover, but would die of his injuries.  When the messengers describe the prophet, Ahaziah realized who it was, and ordered his arrest.  Apparently, he thought that he could force Elijah to change his prophecy.  After two of the groups sent to arrest him were destroyed, the third officer forgot about arresting him and asked him to go voluntarily. 

And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.  So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken…” (II Kings 1:15-17)

Ahaziah’s attempt to intimidate Elijah did not change what God said at all.  He died in his hospital bed just as Elijah had prophesied, after only two years as king, and his brother became king.   He died because he refused to turn to God.  It was his decision to follow what Ahab had originally taught rather than what he learned later.

Today, many Americans, like Ahaziah, have abandoned the God of their fathers, turning to other religions instead, because their parents have failed to teach them to serve God, and they attempt to intimidate Christians into changing their message.  Just as God destroyed the first two forces sent against Elijah, he is able to protect us from those who attempt to intimidate or destroy us.  God is not going to change his message because government officials tell us it is no longer acceptable or threaten to arrest us or take away our tax exemption if we do not comply with their orders.