2 Chronicles 24:15-19: a reflection

15But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died. He was one hundred thirty years old when he died. 16They buried him in David’s city among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house. 17Now after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols, so wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness. 19Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them again to the LORD, and they testified against them; but they would not listen.

As long as the godly priest Jehoiada lived, King Joash did what was right. But when Jehoiada died, everything changed. The princes of Judah came and flattered the king, and he listened to them; and under their influence he and the people abandoned the house of the LORD and turned to idols. The steadying influence of one godly man was gone, and Joash, who had seemed faithful, was quickly swayed by flatterers into abandoning God.

Notice how quickly Joash drifts once the godly influence is removed. While Jehoiada lived, Joash held to what was right; but Jehoiada's faithfulness, it seems, had been propping up a devotion that was not deeply Joash's own. As soon as that steadying voice was gone, and flattering voices took its place, Joash was swayed, and abandoned God. His faithfulness had leaned on another's, and could not stand once that support was removed.

That is a sobering pattern to watch for in ourselves. We may be held to faithfulness, in part, by the steadying influence of godly people around us, a mentor, a friend, a community; and that is a real gift. But if our devotion leans wholly on theirs, without becoming truly our own, we may drift when that influence is removed, and be swayed by other voices, as Joash was swayed by flatterers. Give thanks for the godly influences that steady you; but do not let your faithfulness rest only on theirs. Let your devotion to God become truly your own, rooted in your own heart, so that it does not collapse when a steadying voice is gone, or bend to flatterers when they come. Joash drifted when Jehoiada died; root your own faithfulness in God himself, so that it stands even when the human supports are removed.

Lord, as long as the godly priest Jehoiada lived, Joash did right; but when Jehoiada died, flattering princes swayed the king, and he abandoned your house for idols; his faithfulness had leaned on another's, and could not stand once that support was gone. Let that sobering pattern warn me. I may be held to faithfulness, in part, by the steadying influence of godly people around me, a mentor, a friend, a community; and that is a real gift. But if my devotion leans wholly on theirs, without becoming truly my own, I may drift when that influence is removed, and be swayed by other voices, as Joash was swayed by flatterers. Help me give thanks for the godly influences that steady me; but keep my faithfulness from resting only on theirs. Let my devotion to you become truly my own, rooted in my own heart, so that it does not collapse when a steadying voice is gone, or bend to flatterers when they come. Joash drifted when Jehoiada died; root my faithfulness in you yourself, Lord, so that it stands even when the human supports are removed.