2 Kings 12

2 Kings 12:1

THE REIGN OF JEHOASH (JOASH)In the twelfth chapter we have the reign of Jehoash, and we will see that it is Jehoiada the high priest who is engineering it. This is the beginning of a great spiritual movement that I would call revival. At this juncture I would like to have a roll call of kings. There was a total of nineteen kings who reigned over the northern kingdom of Israel. There was a total of twenty kings who reigned over the southern kingdom of Judah. Among the nineteen kings who ruled over Israel, not one of them could be labeled a righteous king. Actually the only thing you could say about them was that every one of them was a bad kingthere was not a good one in the lot. In the southern kingdom of Judah there were twenty kings, and only ten of them could be considered good.

Five of the kings were exceptional, and during their reigns there were five periods of reformation and revival. All of the reformation and blessing was incubated in the nest of spiritual revival. These brief periods of respite kept the fires burning on the altars that were all but extinguished at other times. Five times revival flared up and swept through the nationnot a fire of destruction but of construction and instruction. God visited His people with the heaven-sent times of refreshing. There was a turning to the Word of God and a return to the worship of God.

There was power and prosperity. When a revival comes, my friend, there will be new joy in the church. There will be renewed power in the church. There will be a new love. First, however, there must be a return to the Bible. A return to the Word of God has brought about every great spiritual revival. I personally believe that we can have a true revival today.

Years ago Dr. Griffith Thomas said, “I cannot see anywhere in Scripture that revival of the true church is contrary to the will of God.” Dr. R. A. Torrey also said, “There is no such teaching in Scripture that revival is contrary to the will of God.” Dr. James M.

Gray said, “We recall nothing in the epistles justifying the conclusion that the experiences of the early church may not be repeated today.” My friend, let’s do our part in getting out the Word of God so that God will be able to do a real work of grace in our time. In chapter 12 we see Joash (also called Jehoash) as an adult. Joash (or Jehoash) began his reign as a child of seven and continued until he was forty-seven years old. His mother was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. Remember how the mother’s names are often given because mothers have a tremendous influence on their sons.

2 Kings 12:2

Joash was taught in the Word of God. My friend, what we need today are not empty-headed politicians who are everlastingly coming up with nostrums and criticizing all other parties and politicians, thinking only they have the answer. May I say to you, we need men today who are instructed in the Word of God and who know God today. We need a spiritual renewing in this land, and it can only come through the Word of God.

2 Kings 12:3

“Revival” did not mean that everyone had turned to God. Many were still sacrificing and offering incense in the high places. Even among the priests there were those who were not revived.

2 Kings 12:4

The temple was in disrepair. It needed to be repaired. The priests took the money that was supposed to be used to repair the breaches of the temple and used it for other things.

2 Kings 12:6

It is the same old story today. I think, very candidly, that you can test Christians and churches by their use or abuse of money. Many people in churches say, “Let’s make So-and-So the treasurer or put him on the board of deacons because he is a good business man.” May I say to you that you had better find out whether or not he is a spiritual man. That is the important thing. What did they do? They had to prepare a locked box so that the money would be safe and the priests could not get their hands on it.

2 Kings 12:9

I think this box was a good idea. Anyone can juggle figures, and I have seen officers who handle the money do just thatit is an absolute disgrace. “Joash’s chest” is used today by many organizations to raise money. I wonder sometimes if people who use it recognize its background. The chest was secured so that some deacons and preachers and other religious racketeers could not get their hands on the offerings. This was a good idea that you might want to use sometime.

2 Kings 12:17

TEMPLE TREASURES BUY OFF HAZAELAlthough there had been a great spiritual movement in the land, the nation was beginning to go downhill. In other words, Joash was buying time. He was trying to buy off Hazael, king of Syria.

2 Kings 12:19

We will talk more about revival when we get to the two Books of Chronicles. Joash was just forty-seven years old when he died. His servants killed him, and he was buried with his fathers in the city of David. Joash had been a good king. We will find that his son Amaziah will also be a good king. CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF THE KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM-102JUDAHISRAEL-102KingReignCharacterProphetKingReignCharacterProphet-1021.Rehoboam931-913 B.C.(17 yrs.)BadShemaiah1.Jeroboam I931-910 B.C.(22 yrs.)BadAhijah-1022.Abijah913-911(3 yrs.)Bad-1023.Asa911-870(41 yrs.)Good2.Nadab910-909(2 yrs.)Bad-1023.Baasha909-886(24 yrs.)Bad-1024.Elah886-885(2 yrs.)Bad-1025.Zimri885(7 days)Bad-1026.Omri885-874*(12 yrs.)Bad-1024.Jehoshaphat870-848*(25 yrs.)Good7.Ahab874-853(22 yrs.)BadElijah, Micaiah-1025.Jehoram848-841*(8 yrs.)Bad8.Ahaziah853-852(2 yrs.)Bad-1026.Ahaziah841(1 yrs.)Bad9.Joram852-841(12 yrs.)BadElisha-1027.Athaliah841-835(6 yrs.)Bad10.Jehu841-814(28 yrs.)Bad-1028.Joash835-796(40 yrs.)GoodJoel11.Jehoahaz814-798(17 yrs.)Bad-1029.Amaziah796-767(29 yrs.)Good12.Jehoash798-782(16 yrs.)Bad-10210.Azariah (or Uzziah)767-740*(52 yrs.)GoodIsaiah13.Jeroboam II782-753*(41 yrs.)BadJonah, Amos, Hosea-10214.Zechariah753-752(6 mo.)Bad-10215.Shallum752(1 mo.)Bad-10216.Menahem752-742(10 yrs.)Bad-10217.Pekahiah742-740(2 yrs.)Bad-10211.Jotham740-732*(16 yrs.)GoodMicah18.Pekah740-732*(20 yrs.)Bad-10212.Ahaz732-716(16 yrs.)Bad19.Hoshea732-721(9 yrs.)Bad-102-10213.Hezekiah716-687(29 yrs.)Good(Capture of Samaria and captivity of Israel)-10214.Manasseh687-642*(55 yrs.)BadNahum-10215.Amon642-640(2 yrs.)Bad-10216.Josiah640-608(31 yrs.)GoodHabakkuk, Zephaniah, Jeremiah-10217.Jehoahaz608(3 mo.)Bad-10218.Jehoiakim608-597(11 yrs.)Bad-10219.Jehoiachin597(3 mo.)Bad-10220.Zedekiah597-586(11 yrs.)Bad-102-102(Destruction of Jerusalem and captivity of Judah)