King Jehoash (Joash) began to rule in Judah at age seven, after his grandmother Athaliah had killed all the other sons of his father Ahaziah, and took the throne at Ahaziah’s death. As an infant he had escaped the fate of the other royal heirs, because he was hidden by his aunt when the murders took place. Athaliah ruled Judah for six years before she was killed by a coup led by the priest Jehoiada.
Obviously a seven year old could not reign without help. The priest was his advisor for much of his reign of forty years. But not all of it. In the majority of his reign he was a good king. He is noted especially for the repair and restoration of the temple (originally built by Solomon) which had been neglected. The two histories of Jehoash in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles had this to say:
“Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him” (2 Kings 12:2).
“Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:2).
But eventually the priest died at the age of 130 years, and we are told that Jehoash began to listen to the leaders of Judah and renewed idolatrous worship. He also gave all of the sacred things of the temple together with the treasuries of the temple to a rival king of Syria to avoid conflict. He even killed the son of Jehoiada the priest who tried to bring him to repentance. His servants finally killed him, and he was buried separately from the kings in disgrace at the age of 47.
It is apparent from the annals that Jehoash was too easily influenced by others. Before we dismiss him simply as a weak personality, we should emphasize the importance of good advice and influence on us all!
The Bible replete with calls for us to listen to good advice. For example, we are to learn from and obey our fathers in the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). We are to heed the counsel of elders who look our for our spiritual welfare (Hebrews 13:7, 17). We are to imitate those who live godly lives (Hebrews 6:11-12).
The wise man of Proverbs warned his son, “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent” and “My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood” (Proverbs 1:10, 15-16).
In truth, we all are in danger if we refuse to receive righteous instruction. God has given us His word to guide our lives. We need to listen to instruction from that word, and refuse to be influenced by the ungodly. We all can be vulnerable to evil influences. “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
