Brenda Speaks

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1 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.Joash is now king at 7 years old.2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.Joah had an instructor.  His instructor carried the heart of God.  When we have instructors, parents, guides, or anyone who is leadership that teaches us the ways of God, we will make the right choices if we obey.3 But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.Although he manages well, there were noticeable things that were not approved by God that remained untouched.  The high places in my study show that man-made religious practices dominated certain areas.  Religion has always been an enemy of God.4 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,5 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.Josiah gave an order. His order was clear.  All money is to be used to repair the temple. 6 But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.Years went by and the king's order was not carried out. No matter the age, he is king.  Even if you are older and have more experience than the one who is leading, the final word is the one in charge.  What he gave orders to is to be carried out.7 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.The king calls a meeting.  Why have you not obeyed my voice.  He used direct words.  Don't spend another dime on yourselves of the money collected in the house of God, repair the temple.8 And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.The priest did not take any more money.  They also were not the ones who will repair the temple.  They are instructed to hire someone else to carry out the construction work needed.9 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.Jehoiada, Joash's instructor as a child, prepared a place for the offerings to be taken.10 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.The money collected was accounted for. No one person was accountable for managing the finance.  They collected and placed the money into its proper place. This should be in all businesses.  Do not set any one person in a position that will allow him to be tempted.11 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,12 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.They bought the materials and paid the workers as agreed.13 Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD:They did not use any of the money for anything other than repair.14 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.Pay people when they complete the work.15 Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.Once they gave the money to the proper person over the work, they allowed these honest men to make sure each one was paid rightly. They hired the company and had nothing to do with how the company dispersed wages.16 The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'.Certain offerings did not go into the building fund.  That money was allocated specifically for the priest.  When people see how the money they are giving is used,they will give.  God loves a cheerful giver.  A cheerful giver is one who sees how his money is being used.17 Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.In the meantime, Hazael is making war with Israel and winning.  God hired him to do that.  Israel refused to obey.  God refused to bless.  Hazael made war with the tribe of Gath and took it.  Next, he headed toward Jerusalem.18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.Jehoash did not get this advice from the priest who advised him as a child.  He paid off his enemy.  When we are confronted with an enemy, seek God's advice through his word. It is God the enemy hates.  God does not need us to pay a hostage wage to save him.  He has full view of everything going on.  Let him avenge his own adversaries.19 And 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?Joash's life was short-lived. He died at an early age.  20 And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.He was killed by some of those who worked for him.  More details will be read in the book of Chronicles.21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead. 

Two men killed him.  They buried him in the city of David.  His son took his place.