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Jehoiada the priest died and was buried with the kings in Jerusalem. Even some kings were not buried there (21:20), but Jehoiada was honored in his death as one who had done good for God and for the temple. He left a great spiritual legacy.
Without a spiritual mentor to give him godly counsel, Joash began to listen to the officials of Judah. Perhaps out of a desire to have more influence in the royal court, they turned Joash’s heart away from God and toward Asherah poles and idols. The LORD became angry and sent prophets to warn them, but they would not listen. The strongest voice of opposition was from Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, who warned them that they would not prosper. They had forsaken the LORD and so the LORD forsook them. Instead of heeding the warning, the people plotted to kill Zechariah. Joash did nothing to stop it because he had forgotten Jehoida’s kindness. Pray earnestly to remember God’s kindness to us!
When the Arameans invaded, God allowed their much smaller army to defeat Judah. Joash was also wounded in battle. Then Joash’s officials assassinated him for murdering Zechariah. He was buried in Jerusalem but not as Jehoiada had been.
Nov 28, 2025
WHEN PEOPLE FORSAKE THE LORD
Passage: 2 Chronicles 24:15-27
Key verse: 20
NIV
chapter 24
15. Now Jehoiada was old and full of years, and he died at the age of a hundred and thirty.
16. He was buried with the kings in the City of David, because of the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple.
17. After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them.
18. They abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem.
19. Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.
20. Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, "This is what God says: ’Why do you disobey the LORD’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’"
21. But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD’s temple.
22. King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, "May the LORD see this and call you to account."
23. At the turn of the year, the army of Aram marched against Joash; it invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the people. They sent all the plunder to their king in Damascus.
24. Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the LORD delivered into their hands a much larger army. Because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash.
25. When the Arameans withdrew, they left Joash severely wounded. His officials conspired against him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
26. Those who conspired against him were Zabad, son of Shimeath an Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith a Moabite woman.
27. The account of his sons, the many prophecies about him, and the record of the restoration of the temple of God are written in the annotations on the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for so easily forsaking you for idols. Help me to remember your grace in Jesus Christ and worship you alone.
One Word: Do not forsake the LORD!