12:2ff Joash didn’t go far enough in removing sin from the nation, but he did much that was good and right. When we aren’t sure if we’ve gone far enough in correcting our actions, we can ask: (1) Does the Bible expressly prohibit this action? (2) Does this action take me away from loving, worshiping, or serving God? (3) Does it make me its slave? (4) Is it bringing out the best in me, consistent with God’s purpose? (5) Does it benefit other believers?
12:2 God’s input yields good output. Joash had a good teacher in Jehoiada, the high priest. As long as he lived, Jehoiada’s faith in God influenced Joash for good. Good intent must be fortified with good content. As long as Joash heeded Jehoiada’s good instruction, he fulfilled God’s plan for his life. All our plans and actions must be guided by God, and his counsel is made clear to us in his Word. Our lives will be productive if we heed God’s counsel.
12:3 The Israelites were supposed to offer sacrifices to God only in designated areas under supervision of the priests, not just anywhere (Deuteronomy 12:13, 14). Making sacrifices on the hilltops copied pagan customs and encouraged other pagan practices to enter into their worship. By blending in these beliefs, people were custom-making their religion, and it led them far away from God. (For more information on these pagan shrines, see the note on 1 Kings 22:43.)
12:4, 5 The Temple needed repair because it had been damaged and neglected by previous evil leaders, especially Athaliah (2 Chronicles 24:7). The Temple was to be a holy place, set apart for worship of God. Thanks to Joash’s fund-raising program, it could be restored. The dirt and filth that had collected inside over the years were cleaned out; joints were remortared; pagan idols and other traces of idol worship were removed; and the gold and bronze were polished. The neglected condition of the Temple reveals how far the people had strayed from God.
12:15 What a contrast between the construction supervisors, who needed no accounting of their use of the money, and the priests, who couldn’t be trusted to handle their funds well enough to set some aside for the Temple (12:7, 8). As trained men of God, the Levites should have been responsible and concerned. After all, the Temple was their life’s work. Though the priests were not dishonest, they did not have the commitment or energy needed to finish the work. Sometimes God’s work is better accomplished by devoted laypeople. Don’t let your lack of training or position stop you from contributing to God’s Kingdom. Everyone’s energy is needed to carry out God’s work.
12:16 To read more about trespass and sin offerings, see Leviticus 4–5; 6:24–7:10.
12:20 The reasons for the officers’ plot against Joash are listed in 2 Chronicles 24:17-26. Joash had begun to worship idols, had killed the prophet Zechariah, and had been conquered by the Syrians. When Joash turned away from God, his life began to unravel. The officers didn’t kill Joash because he turned from God; they killed him because his kingdom was out of control. In the end he became an evil man and was killed by evil people.