2 Kings

2 Kings 12: The LORD's house is repaired

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the repairs to the Lord's house, let us come to Him together. Ask Him to show us how to care for what is holy, and to show us Jesus, the Builder of His church.

Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

Psalm 147:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You see what is right, and that You build up Your people. Help us to be faithful with what You give us, and to trust Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Joash reigns forty years in Jerusalem, and he does what is right while Jehoiada the priest teaches him. The high places remain, and the people still sacrifice there. Joash tells the priests to collect money for the LORD's house and use it to repair the damage. After twenty-three years, the priests have not repaired the house, so the king calls for Jehoiada and asks why. Jehoiada makes a hole in the lid of a chest, sets it by the altar, and the money is counted and paid to the workers. The money is not used for silver cups, but for workers who dealt faithfully. Hazael of Syria threatens Jerusalem, so Joash sends him the holy gifts, and later Joash dies in a plot of his servants.

As you read 2 Kings 12, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

Joash did right in the LORD's eyes while Jehoiada taught him, and the LORD's house was repaired.

Joash became king at seven years old, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem (verse 1 and 2 Kings 11 verse 21). He did what was right in the LORD's eyes all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him (verse 2). Even so, the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed there (verse 3). Joash told the priests to use the money brought to the LORD's house for repairs (verses 4 and 5). In his twenty-third year the priests had not done it, so he called Jehoiada to account (verses 6 and 7). Jehoiada set a chest by the altar, and the money was counted and paid to the workers (verses 9 to 12). The workers dealt faithfully, and the LORD's house was repaired (verses 14 and 15). Later Joash gave the temple's gold to Hazael of Syria, and his servants killed him (verses 17 to 21). The LORD saw what Joash did, and the chapter shows both the right he did and the high places he left standing.

How does 2 Kings 12 show us that Joash did right in the LORD's eyes while Jehoiada taught him, and that the LORD's house was repaired?

Joash does right while Jehoiada teaches him.

Joash did what was right in the LORD's eyes all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him (verse 2). The high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed there (verse 3). Joash told the priests to collect money for the LORD's house (verses 4 and 5). When the priests had not repaired it, the king called Jehoiada to account (verses 6 and 7).

Faithful workers repaired the LORD's house.

The money went into a chest by the altar, and it was counted (verses 9 and 10). It was paid to the builders and the stone cutters who did the work (verses 11 and 12). The workers dealt faithfully, so no money was wasted on silver cups (verses 13 to 15). Peter says that those who come to Jesus are built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2 verse 5).

Joash gives the LORD's treasures to Syria.

Hazael king of Syria fought against Gath and set his face to go up to Jerusalem (verse 17). Joash took the holy things and the gold in the treasures of the LORD's house and sent them to Hazael (verse 18). Hazael went away from Jerusalem (verse 18). Later Joash's own servants struck him down (verses 20 and 21).

Memorise

Jehoash did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

2 Kings 12:2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I faithful with what the LORD gave me, and do I come to Jesus?

The king asked the priests, “Why don't you repair the damage to the house?” Joash and the priest Jehoiada saw that the LORD's house was repaired. Jesus is the faithful Builder, and He builds His church.

Sin ruins the heart, and no repairs of our own can make it whole. Joash needed a teacher to keep him right, but every sinner needs a Savior. So Jesus gave Himself for His people on the cross, and nothing is missing from His work. He rose from the dead, and He sits at the right hand of God.

So turn from your sin, and come to Jesus in trust. In Him there is redemption, and forgiveness of trespasses for everyone who trusts Him (Ephesians 1 verse 7).

Parent's note

Tell your children that Joash did right while Jehoiada taught him, and that Jesus builds His church. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He sees what is right and builds His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

“This is my resting place forever. Here I will live, for I have desired it.

Psalm 132:14

Father, thank You that You see what is right, and that Your house was repaired in the days of Joash. Thank You for Jesus, the Builder of His church, who gave Himself for His people. Draw each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus. Help us to be faithful this week. Amen.