We keep moving through the kings of Judah as recorded in 2 Chronicles. It’s a miracle that Joash becomes king since his grandmother Athaliah tried kill the entire royal family. I wrote about that as told in 2 Kings 11. The story is repeated in 2 Chronicles 23. And we have this positive opening to Joash’s reign:

Joash was seven years old when he became king; he was king for forty years in Jerusalem… Taught and trained by Jehoiada the priest, Joash did what pleased GOD throughout Jehoiada’s lifetime. (2 Chronicles 24.1, 2, MSG)

Joash decides to renovate the temple, which had fallen into disrepair. For reasons not clear, it took two tries:

The time came when Joash determined to renovate The Temple of GOD. He got the priests and Levites together and said, “Circulate through the towns of Judah every year and collect money from the people to repair The Temple of your God. You are in charge of carrying this out.” But the Levites dragged their feet and didn’t do anything.

Then the king called in Jehoiada the chief priest and said, “Why haven’t you made the Levites bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax Moses, servant of GOD and the congregation, set for the upkeep of the place of worship? You can see how bad things are—wicked Queen Athaliah and her sons let The Temple of God go to ruin and took all its sacred artifacts for use in Baal worship.” Following the king’s orders, they made a chest and placed it at the entrance to The Temple of GOD. Then they sent out a tax notice throughout Judah and Jerusalem: “Pay the tax that Moses the servant of GOD set when Israel was in the wilderness.” The people and their leaders were glad to do it and cheerfully brought their money until the chest was full. (2 Chronicles 24.4 – 10, MSG)

A bit weird, but as an Air Force officer, I’ve had to give orders more than once. “Sgt Robinson, I really do want you to time stamp the messages when they come in, not wait until you get ready to work on them! Just like I told you before.” “Yes, sir.”

As I’ve written before, telling is not teaching, listening is not learning, sending is not receiving, and now we add, “Giving orders is not the same as having the orders executed!” A good leader follows up. A success for Joash and his mentor, Jehoiada, whom Joash had to light a fire under:

The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the managers of The Temple project; they in turn paid the masons and carpenters for the repair work on The Temple of GOD. The construction workers kept at their jobs steadily until the restoration was complete—the house of GOD as good as new! (2 Chronicles 24.12, 13, MSG)

Unfortunately, Joash doesn’t finish well. Stay tuned.

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder… (2 Peter 1.12, 13, ESV)