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{{DOD-April}}
Today's chapters are filled with violence and blood. In them we see the [[Lord]] executing His wrath on those who had long despised Him and disobeyed His Word. We may cringe as we read these chapters, but we must remember that [[God]] had given the house of Ahab many opportunities to repent and escape [[judgment]]. While Jehu may have been over zealn5# and while his motives may not have always been spiritual, we must recognize the fact that he was [[God]]'s instrument of wrath against a sinful people.
[[God]] waited many years, and His [[judgment]] slumbered while His mercy was extended to an undeserving nation. Sinners must also take heed today, lest they try the patience of [[God]] and [[sin]] away their day of [[grace]]!
In chapters 11 and 12 we read of Joash, the boy king. We see how [[God]] protected the seed of [[David]], through which the [[Lord]] [[Jesus]] Christ was to be born. [[Satan]]'s seed tried to exterminate [[God]]'s seed, but [[God]] won the battle. Through the queen mother, Athaliah, [[Satan]] tried to wipe out the royal family but, in [[God]]'s providence, Joash was rescued and protected for seven years. He was then proclaimed king and was blessed of [[God]], because he was not willing to be a Baal worshipper.
II Chronicles 24:15-27 tells us that when [[God]]ly Jehoiada died, King Joash began to backslide and actually went into idolatry. It is sad when a man's [[faith]] is tied to another man, rather than to the [[Lord]]. [[God]] sent prophets to warn the king; but instead of listening and heeding their words, he actually had [[Zechariah]] stoned in the Temple court. Because of this murder (referred to by [[Jesus]] in [[Matthew]] 23:34,35) Joash was unable to cope with the Syrian invasion, and was later murdered by some of his own servants as they sought to avenge the innocent deaths of Jehoiada's sons. Joash had a good beginning and good training, but he failed; very likely because his [[faith]] was more in Jehoiada than the [[Lord]].
