(REFLECTIONS ON 2 Kings 12:1-21)

In today’s Scripture, Jehoash (also known as Joash) king of Judah wanted to make repairs to the house of the Lord. He instructed the priests, that collected the offerings dedicated for the temple, to encourage people they knew to contribute toward the temple repairs.

However, are good intentions enough? In Jehoash’s twenty-third year as king of Judah, meaning that significant time had passed since his proclamation, the king nor the priests had repaired the damages to the house of the Lord.

Good intentions, a heart to repair the house of the Lord, but nothing done. Jehoash was just a child when he became king of Judah, and he needed time and experience to realize that sometimes good intentions are not enough. The priests also needed a clearer process for collecting and distributing the funds so that the work could actually be completed.

A new system was established, faithful workers were found to complete the work, and finally the work to repair the house of the Lord began. We continue to see Jehoash growing into the role of king as a young man dealing with a difficult political situation regarding Hazael king of Aram.

In order to spare Judah from attack, Jehoash paid tribute to Hazael, emptying both the royal treasury and the treasures dedicated to the house of the Lord. While this brought temporary relief, it did not solve the deeper problem, which was spiritual rather than political (see 2 Chronicles 24). Jehoash still had much to learn.

Then again, so do we. We all have much to learn about walking by faith, following Jesus Christ faithfully, and living with an eternal perspective rather than merely a worldly one. We are all growing. We are all maturing. We all stumble along the way.

Thanks be to God for His mercy and grace, which give us opportunity after opportunity to repent, grow, mature, and continue walking faithfully with Him.

Are good intentions enough? Let’s learn, grow, and march with Christ together on this journey of discovery and faith.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: 2 Kings 12