When Jehoiada was old and full of years, he died at the age of 130. Sermons
I. A NOBLE CHARACTER. And this: 1. Was based upon true piety. Jehoiada was the man he was because he was a faithful servant of Jehovah. He was rich "toward God." His mind and heart were turned toward him, to worship in his house, to study and to do his will, to promote his glory. Everything else that was good in him rested on his religious conviction and practice as on a sure foundation; every other virtue took its root and found its source and spring in that. 2. Acquired great strength. By the exercise and cultivation of his piety and moral worth, by his confidence in God, and by all that he daily gained from God in response to his devotion, he acquired great force of goodness. He was a man that "seemed to be a pillar," and who was such; a strong stay, which no antagonism could remove, no treachery undermine. He "stood foursquare to all the winds that blew." Men felt that in him they would find a determined and powerful enemy to whatever evil thing they might propose. 3. Shone forth in unselfish service. He fearlessly and nobly risked everything in order to rid his country of a vile usurper, and place upon the throne one that would rule in righteousness. And though he certainly lent all the weight of his influence to the support of the sovereign, he does not appear to have arrogated any undue authority (see ver. 6). He was actuated by a pure, magnanimous devotion to the highest interests of his country. So he lived - II. A USEFUL LIFE. 1. He effected a most desirable and salutary revolution; overturning a dynasty that had no right to the throne, and restoring the family of David; exchanging an idolatrous ruler for one that reigned in the fear of God. 2. He solemnly pledged the people to the service of Jehovah, and arranged for systematic services in his temple (2 Chronicles 23:16-18). 3. He sustained the hand of Joash in his work of repairing the temple. This we might assume, but this the words of the text, "toward his house," clearly indicate. 4. He did much (as the following verses show) to maintain the worship of God in the land, against all reactionary influences, whether at court or among the princes or the people. He "did good to Israel" indeed. If we except the judges and kings as those whose official positions gave them quite exceptional opportunities, we may safely say that there are not more than three or four men who rendered such distinguished service to their country as Jehoiada the priest. He was well worthy, when he died in an honoured old age, to be "buried among the kings." Probably few kinglier men than he have been "gathered to their fathers." We learn: 1. That honour rests upon faithful service, on true usefulness - such honour as is worth possessing. 2. That usefulness is the product of excellency of character. Men may be eloquent, ambitious, capable, endowed with large administrative abilities, but if they are not unselfish, if they do not know how to subordinate their own aims and interests to the public weal, they are as likely to be harmful as helpful in their course. Only solid worth of character, rectitude allied with patriotism and philanthropy, is any security for substantial usefulness. 3. That character is only sound when it is sacred; that it is only the man who reveres God, and who places himself and his life under Divine guidance, on whom we can thoroughly rely. All other defences and inspirations fail. "The fear of God" of which the devout Israelite spoke, the love and service of Jesus Christ of which we speak, - this is the rock on which to build a noble character and a useful life. - C.
Jehoiada waxed old. I. EXAMINE THE NAME OF THIS AGED PRIEST. "Jehoiada" — "one who has knowledge of Jehovah."1. He had been experimentally acquainted with Jehovah in His fatherly and merciful character. 2. He had as priest special opportunities of gaining acquaintance with God. II. CONSIDER HIS BENEFICENT INFLUENCE in — 1. Instructing the youthful king. 2. Acting as regent of the kingdom. 3. Patriotically serving his country and promoting the well-being of her people. 4. Doing good to, and in connection with, the house of God. III. CONTEMPLATE THE HONOURED CLOSE OF A LONG AND USEFUL LIFE. (Fairfax Goodall, M.A.) I. THE COMMON OPINION OF MANKIND RESPECTING THE USEFULNESS OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTORS IN CIVIL SOCIETY. The opinion of the world upon this subject is evidenced by their uniform and immemorial practice. Jews, Christians, and heathen have universally agreed to support religious teachers. II. THIS COMMON OPINION OF MANKIND RESPECTING RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTORS IS WELL FOUNDED. 1. The common opinion of the world is generally just. Men seldom form a wrong judgment of those things which come under their own observation and experience. 2. Another argument is drawn —(1) From the duties which the ministers of religion ought to teach. (a) (b) (c) (a) (b) (c) (d) III. SUGGESTIONS. 1. Since men in all ages have generally and justly agreed in the opinion that religious instructors are useful in civil society, it discovers no less ignorance than presumption in those who adopt and endeavour to propagate the opposite sentiment. (1) (2) 2. None are fit for civil rulers who would exclude religious instructors from civil society. 3. A people ought to consider the gift of wise and faithful ministers as a great public blessing. 4. It is the wisdom and duty of civil rulers to favour the cause of religion and employ every proper method to promote the general diffusion of religious knowledge. 5. It argues a great degree of infatuation in those who govern to oppose or restrain religious instruction. 6. It is extremely difficult for civil rulers to subvert a good government while religious teachers faithfully discharge their duty. 7. Ministers of the gospel ought to exert all the power and influence which their sacred office gives them to prevent the ruin of the nation. 8. We have great reason to fear the displeasure of God for neglecting and abusing the ministrations of His Word. (N. Emmons, D.D.) People Amaziah, Aram, Athaliah, David, Jehoiada, Jehozabad, Joash, Levites, Shimeath, Shimrith, Syrians, Zabad, Zechariah, ZibiahPlaces Beersheba, Damascus, JerusalemTopics Age, Aged, Death, Died, Dieth, Full, Grew, Hundred, Jehoiada, Jehoi'ada, Reached, Ripe, Satisfied, Thirty, WaxedOutline 1. Joash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada4. He gives order for the repair of the temple 15. Jehoiada's death and honorable burial 17. Joash, falling into idolatry, slays Zechariah the son of Jehoiada 23. Joash is spoiled by the Syrians, and slain by Zabad and Jehozabad 27. Amaziah succeeds him Dictionary of Bible Themes 2 Chronicles 24:15 1655 hundreds and thousands Library The King's Farewell'Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30. And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Joash Glad Givers and Faithful Workers The Channel of Power. The Prophet Joel. Conclusion The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close. Chronicles Links 2 Chronicles 24:15 NIV2 Chronicles 24:15 NLT 2 Chronicles 24:15 ESV 2 Chronicles 24:15 NASB 2 Chronicles 24:15 KJV 2 Chronicles 24:15 Bible Apps 2 Chronicles 24:15 Parallel 2 Chronicles 24:15 Biblia Paralela 2 Chronicles 24:15 Chinese Bible 2 Chronicles 24:15 French Bible 2 Chronicles 24:15 German Bible 2 Chronicles 24:15 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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