Category: Advice

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). Continue reading “Receiving Instruction” →

“Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9). Men have always understood and benefitted from the advice of others. That is, if it is good advice. You may remember Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, who inherited the reign of his father in Israel. When he ascended the throne, he was told by the “whole assembly of Israel” to “lighten the burdensome service of your father” with the promise if he did so, “we will serve you” (1 Kings 12:1-4).

Rehoboam asked his father’s advisors what to do. They told him to grant the people’s request, telling him if he did, “then they will be your servants forever” (7). Instead of following their sage advice, he instead listened to his peers, who lacked the wisdom the elders supplied.  The young men suggested he say, “And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” (11). This was a direct cause of the northern tribes rejecting him in favor of Jeroboam. It led the chronicler of the Kings to write, “So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day” (19). Continue reading “(10 of 13) The Sweet Counsel of a Friend” →