The Restoration of the Temple

Father, speak to our hearts from your word by your Spirit & change us for Jesus’ sake, Amen. Well do turn to 2 Kings 12 on p382 of the Bibles as we look at this chapter under the heading The Restoration of the Temple.

Introduction & Context
In 2 Kings 11 we see how we’re to thank God for the lady who saved Christmas. How the baby Joash, the future king, was snuck away from the murderous Queen Mother Athaliah, by his plucky aunt – the wife of the godly high priest, Jehoiada. If the evil Athaliah had had her way there would’ve been no angels or shepherds or swaddling clothes or good news of great joy. But God’s hand is at work long before Luke chapter 2. In the providence of God, one little boy was rescued and protected for seven years, and thus God fulfilled his promise to keep David’s seed on the throne of Judah. Satan’s seed tried to exterminate God’s seed, but God won the battle. So 2 Kings 11 forbids us to despair in spite of the hatred those in authority can show Christ’s Kingdom. Why? Because the big truth here is that Christ will never allow his kingdom to suffer eclipse.
We also see from chapter 11 that there was religious revival following Athaliah’s demise. V17&18:

17Jehoiada [the high priest] then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people that they would be the LORD's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars… [v19-20] The king then took his place on the royal throne, 20and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet…

Reform and revival have aspects of judgment as well as steps of dedication. And it begins with God working in and through his people, through humbled and surrendered people and in and through godly leaders. Sometimes in dramatic ways but often in subtle, hidden ways. God is at work. We shouldn’t despair but rather turn away from any idolatry and trust in and dedicate ourselves to him. King Jesus has won the victory through his death and resurrection and will come again as Judge.
But that faith in Jesus must be real, rooted and ongoing and not a shallow faith as in the parable of the sower or a second hand faith tied to another leader or relative rather than to the Lord directly, which brings us to 2 Kings 12 and to king Joash and his forty year reign in Jerusalem. It’s a reign which starts well. Indeed we see

1. GOD’S GRACIOUS GIFT OF KINGDOM CONTINUITY v1-3

1In the seventh year of Jehu [the king of Israel], Joash became king [of Judah], and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother's name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

It all appears routine but as we’ve seen in the light of chapter 11 it’s actually a kingdom victory because the Davidic kingship has been stabilised. Joash reigned and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. As Dale Ralph Davis mentions in his excellent commentary it’s a bit like thinking the morning routine of showering, shaving and brushing teeth is just pure tedium until you think of the alternative: corpses don’t shower and shave. All of a sudden the tedium takes on a bit of a glow as does the start of this chapter.

Joash’s reign itself doesn’t finish well. He’s ruined by sin and assassinated (v20-21) and we’ll come back to that later. But although the Davidic line is under attack it remains intact because Joash’s son Amaziah then reigns.

In both cases the dynasty is placed on a regular footing. And that should be so thrilling especially v1-3 in the post Athaliah Judah. Some may think such simple continuity tedious, but it’s nothing less than the steady faithfulness of God.

Colonel Frost’s 2nd Battalion were being battered by the German barrage as they defended the Arnhem bridge in WW2. Ammunition was almost gone, the casualties were high, and they’d been fighting for 50 hours continuously. One of the battalion chaplains met Frost coming out of a toilet. The colonel smiled, “Father, the window is shattered, there’s a hole in the wall and the roof’s gone. But it does have a chain and it works!” Amid ruin and racket, devastation and death, there was a welcome bit of consistency: the toilet still works. And out of the bloodshed of Athaliah’s regime there is a 7 year old of the Davidic line who begins to reign. The covenant still works. God does keep his promises.

And we need to grasp this today. Otherwise we can so easily become ungrateful and grumpy rather than overflowing with thankfulness as Paul puts it in Colossians 2:7. You see we need to recognise that many of God’s gifts come wrapped in brown paper packages – but they’re still gifts! Mundane mercies are still mercies and prosaic provisions are still provisions. If God has granted us a civil order where “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2), that is a major boon for all that it may seem ordinary day to day. Now, such a civil order is being eroded in this country, as the rights of Christians are trumped by the rights of others in law. We need to pray and act as Paul says in 1 Timothy 2. But while we do still have a good deal of freedom let’s not take it for granted but gratefully make the most of it.

2. RESTORING THE TEMPLE

Joash’s reign continued to go well. Baal worshipping Athaliah had allowed the Temple to fall into disrepair. So v4:

4Joash said to the priests, "Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the LORD - the money collected in the census [that was money from the tax of half a shekel per head due from every adult of military age], the money received from personal vows [money from those who vowed service in the temple but who chose to give the value of their services in cash – a principle which can apply today to some who, for example, are away with work a great deal but can give to fund ministry instead] and the money brought voluntarily to the temple. 5Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, and let it be used to repair whatever damage is found in the temple.

Now I know some of you think that sometimes the wheels of JPC turn slowly - well look at v6:

6But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple. 7Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and asked them [and wouldn’t you have loved to have been a fly on a wall at that meeting!], "Why aren't you repairing the damage done to the temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for repairing the temple." 8The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.

It doesn’t appear that the priests had been dishonest – just very slow in getting round to the work. Surely if they’d been dishonest they wouldn’t have remained involved with the money given at all, but they are in v9-12. No King Joash simply wants the job done. It’s an important job which can’t be left. He’s now in the twenty third year of his reign and still the priests had done nothing. Decisive leadership is called for and a change of plan and to some extent personnel to ensure the work happens. As can be the case today when important areas of ministry are being neglected. So Joash intervenes and orders Plan B. And in doing so he helps everyone and the project move forward. No doubt the priests would have been relieved – they can now get on with their particular ministry rather than with repairs – and a simple way forward in helping people to give generously to restoring the temple is devised, which works. Look at v9. What did they do? They installed a box marked ‘Temple Repair Project’. Very simple but it helped. It permitted the giver to divide his offering for the temple from the offering for the priests, and to see for himself that it was at once put where it could not be applied otherwise than as he intended. Further confidence was given to the givers because the counting and distribution of the money given was handled jointly by representatives of the king and the high priest (v10). Joash was already putting into practice a principle laid down later by the Apostle Paul – of involving the people and making sure everything was kept open and above board (2 Cor 8:16-24), just as is the practice here at JPC.

And what happened as a result of all this and what do we learn about giving? The people gave generously (v10&12). So today we need to keep the methods by which people can give to God’s work simple and clear – SO, DD, through the internet, simple Gift Aid forms and no doubt iphone and android apps in the future! As far as is possible people should be clear about the need and where their giving is going. Here at JPC there’s a giving review every year in January, full audited accounts are available at the annual AGM and the aim is to send out a finance update every quarter so that the need is known simply and clearly. Of course giving itself is not necessarily easy – biblical giving involves sacrifice, which is why all who call JPC their church are encouraged to be part of the giving scheme to help us give prayerfully, generously and cheerfully to the building of Christ’s church on Tyneside and around the world. And there are details about that at the back of the church. Also as a result of Joash’s actions the people believe something might now happen with regard to the restoration of the temple as a result of what they do give. Collections for projects which never seem to happen don’t encourage people to give. Note also v16 – the giving for the restoration of the temple didn’t mean the funding of the rest of the work suffered. The priests, for example, retained their customary income.

Now Christian believers know that the Lord doesn’t live in church buildings or in any other kind of building (John 4:23-24; Acts 7:48-50 & 17:24). But this doesn’t mean it’s wrong to dedicate structures to his service and glory. The early churches didn’t have their own buildings but met in homes and in accessible public places. It wasn’t until the fourth century that the law permitted them to construct and meet in their own buildings. Some believers today oppose church buildings and say they’re a waste of God’s money. Others almost worship their buildings and get their priorities confused. One writer clarifies the issue with this warning:

Whereas the house of God today is no longer material but spiritual, the material is still a very real symbol of the spiritual. When the Church of God in any locality is careless about the material place of assembly, the place of its worship and work, it’s a sign and evidence that its life is at a low ebb.

So we thank God for the recent refurbishment of this church and over the summer of Eslington House. Do get to see Eslington House if you can.

But what happens next in 2 Kings 12? Soon after the refurbishing of the temple v17&18 report the emptying of the temple. Suddenly the reign of Joash falls apart. When Hazael, king of Syria, threatens Jerusalem Joash prefers bribery to battle.

17About this time Hazael king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. 18But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in the treasuries of the temple of the LORD and of the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.

Now let’s be clear, the writer is not commending Joash for a smart move. Rather he’s bemoaning Joash’s disappointing response. One writer says:

It’s no light thing that Joash is pressed to such an extent that he takes everything from the store of holy objects. These riches are conventional signs of a king’s piety and of his kingdom’s favour with God. Despite Joash’s provision for regular repairs to the temple, a grave question mark hangs over his reign.

2 Kings 12 highlights the disappointment of Joash. Yes he restores the temple but note once under pressure he abandons it and the one true God. He gives in, sells up and sells out to a pagan king without a fight. He certainly doesn’t finish well and in the end he’s finished off. V20:

20His officials conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo, on the road down to Silla.

WHY DID JOASH FALL? WHAT CHANGED? AND WHAT DOES IT TEACH US? V2

Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

2 Chronicles 24, which also records the reign of king Joash and emphasises his wickedness, tells us that Jehoiada died at the age of 130. He was so beloved of the people that he was buried with the kings. But without Jehoiada Joash crumbles. He caves in under pressure, bows to flattery and peer pressure, shows his true colours and abandons the faith. His prop had gone and he fell. The problem was his shallow faith and his desire to please the leaders of the land rather than God. 2 Chronicles 24:17:

17After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. 18They abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and worshipped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God's anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem. 19Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen. 20Then the Spirit of God came upon 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.' " 21But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD's temple. 22King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah's father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son [imagine murdering the son of the very people who saved your life!], Zechariah said as he lay dying, "May the LORD see this and call you to account." [And the Lord did – v23]23At 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…Because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash. 25When 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.

Joash is ruined by sin, by willful rebellion against God, for he knew what the Law taught about idolatry. It was also a sin of ingratitude for all that Jehoiada had done for him. But the king had never taken the truth of God’s Word into his heart and allowed it to take root. In the parable of the sower Jesus says that shallow hearted people receive the word but provide no room for it to take root, so the shoots grow up but don’t last.The soil of Joash’s heart was shallow and he’d obeyed God’s law only because Jehoiada was watching.

And Joash is a warning to us today. It isn’t enough to know God’s truth; we must put our trust in him and obey his truth from the heart. The Joash tragedy still happens today. A godly wife dies and the widower soon drops out of church and starts to live a worldly life. Sons and daughters who go off to university or to work and away from the supportive home can gradually leave the faith if they’re not rooted and built up in Christ, if they’re not trusting in Christ for themselves.

You see unless we’re kept by God’s power what will prevent our falling away? So the failure of Joash should only lift our eyes to the descendant of David who does not disappoint – the Lord Jesus himself. We’re not to put our faith in human leaders. Yes we’re to pray for them (1 Timothy 2), but we’re not to put our faith in them, rather we’re to crave and enjoy the fullness and faithfulness of Jesus.