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October 20 - 2 Chronicles 21-24
One of the saddest statements that can be made about a person's life is, "He didn't end well." That description perfectly summarizes the life of King Joash in 2 Chronicles 24. Although he began his reign with great promise and accomplished much for the glory of God, he allowed compromise, pride, and ungodly influences to ruin what could have been a remarkable legacy. His story reminds every believer that it is not enough to begin well, we must also finish well.
Joash became king at the age of seven after being rescued from Athaliah's attempt to destroy the royal family. Raised under the care of Jehoiada the priest, Joash "did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest" (2 Chronicles 24:2). Under Jehoiada's leadership, the temple was repaired, worship was restored, and the people once again honored the Lord. It appeared that Judah had entered a season of genuine spiritual renewal.
Yet beneath the surface there was a weakness in Joash's character. His devotion to God was closely tied to the presence of Jehoiada rather than to a personal commitment to the Lord. When the elderly priest died, Joash quickly revealed where his heart truly was. Instead of seeking God's will, he listened to the flattering princes of Judah, abandoned the temple, and permitted the nation to return to idolatry. His spiritual decline was swift because his faith had never become his own.
In His mercy, God sent prophets to warn Joash and call the nation to repentance. Among them was Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada—the very man who had saved the king's life and guided him for many years. Filled with the Spirit of God, Zechariah boldly declared, "Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you" (2 Chronicles 24:20). Rather than repenting, Joash ordered that Zechariah be stoned to death in the court of the temple. The king repaid lifelong kindness with shocking cruelty and rejected the very truth that could have restored him.
God's judgment soon followed. A relatively small Syrian army defeated Judah because the Lord had withdrawn His blessing. Joash was left seriously wounded, and his own servants assassinated him because of the innocent blood he had shed. Though he had once restored the temple, he was denied the honor of burial among Judah's greatest kings. His final chapter stands in painful contrast to his hopeful beginning.
Joash teaches a timeless lesson: beginnings are important, but endings reveal the true course of a life. Many people start the Christian race with enthusiasm, only to drift through compromise, neglect God's Word, or abandon their first love for Christ. The Apostle Paul could say near the end of his life, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). That should be the desire of every believer.
King Joash had every opportunity to leave a legacy of unwavering faithfulness. Instead, he is remembered as a man who didn't end well. May his tragic story challenge us to remain humble, dependent upon the Lord, and faithful to Christ until our final breath, so that our lives will honor God not only at the beginning, but also at the end.