The term one-hit wonder is often used to describe an artist who has a popular hit at the beginning of their career but fails to follow up with anything significant. In many ways, Joash was a one hit wonder. He came to the throne and began his reign under the tutelage of Jehoiada, the righteous priest. He made a splash when he decided to restore the Temple and reform. But the rest of his career did not live up to the early hype.

Recall that Joash was saved from Athaliah’s murderous purge by his aunt Jehosheba. Along with her husband Jehoiada, Jehosheba concealed Joash for seven years until the circumstances were right for him to be revealed as heir to the throne. Too young to rule, he spent his early years following Jehoiada’s lead. Since Jehoiada was loyal to God, Joash was also loyal to Him. He even initiated a campaign to restore the Temple in Jerusalem (vv. 4–5).

The shame of his defection, however, is revealed when he decided to loot the Temple and royal treasury to pay off the foreign king Hazael to prevent him from invading (v. 18). By doing this he revealed that he preferred to trust his riches more than his God (see Deut. 17:14–21, 2 Chron. 24:17–19). His people were so disapproving that he was assassinated in a coup d’état! Why would a faithful king who seemed committed to the God of Israel suddenly doubt Him? A detail from 2 Chronicles 24 reveals that Joash’s commitment to God lasted only as long his mentor was alive! As soon as Jehoiada died, Joash was persuaded by the princes of Judah to abandon the God of Israel and worship idols! Despite the potential seen in him at the beginning of his reign, he failed to commit to finishing well.

The term one-hit wonder is often used to describe an artist who has a popular hit at the beginning of their career but fails to follow up with anything significant. In many ways, Joash was a one hit wonder. He came to the throne and began his reign under the tutelage of Jehoiada, the righteous priest. He made a splash when he decided to restore the Temple and reform. But the rest of his career did not live up to the early hype.

Recall that Joash was saved from Athaliah’s murderous purge by his aunt Jehosheba. Along with her husband Jehoiada, Jehosheba concealed Joash for seven years until the circumstances were right for him to be revealed as heir to the throne. Too young to rule, he spent his early years following Jehoiada’s lead. Since Jehoiada was loyal to God, Joash was also loyal to Him. He even initiated a campaign to restore the Temple in Jerusalem (vv. 4–5).

The shame of his defection, however, is revealed when he decided to loot the Temple and royal treasury to pay off the foreign king Hazael to prevent him from invading (v. 18). By doing this he revealed that he preferred to trust his riches more than his God (see Deut. 17:14–21, 2 Chron. 24:17–19). His people were so disapproving that he was assassinated in a coup d’état! Why would a faithful king who seemed committed to the God of Israel suddenly doubt Him? A detail from 2 Chronicles 24 reveals that Joash’s commitment to God lasted only as long his mentor was alive! As soon as Jehoiada died, Joash was persuaded by the princes of Judah to abandon the God of Israel and worship idols! Despite the potential seen in him at the beginning of his reign, he failed to commit to finishing well.

On a day-to-day basis there are situations where, without a specific person’s contribution, things might happen in very different ways. Chapter 11 highlights one such person by the name of Jehosheba. She was the sister of the assassinated king of Judah, Ahaziah. When her brother was killed by Jehu, Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, set out to destroy all the heirs to the throne including her grandson, Joash (or Jehoash) (v. 2). But Jehosheba, his aunt, risked her life to save the boy and the Davidic line. He was the sole remaining heir! She, along with her husband, Jehoiada, a priest, sheltered the boy for seven years. Athaliah ruled as queen over Judah and continued her son’s idolatrous behavior. She was, after all, a daughter of Ahab.

But when the time was right, Joash was revealed to the nation (v. 4) who overthrew Athaliah and restored the young heir to the throne of David (v. 21). While he was young, Joash followed the lead of his mentor, Jehoiada who restored Judah’s commitment to their covenant with God, and to the eradication of Baal worship in the country. Later, Joash called for a restoration of the Temple which by now was over 100 years old (12:4–5). All this began with one person risking her life to save a child.

Jehosheba’s courageous act preserved the line of David, the line from which the Messiah would descend and through whom the kingdom of God will be restored! It is not hard to imagine what it cost her. The years of sheltering the child in seclusion. The years of fearing the secret would get out. Did she have children of her own that she cared for? Yet she took the risk, and her courage places her among the heroes of the Old Testament!

We live in a world that celebrates inclusion. But sometimes this represents a rejection of reality. For example, how many gods are there exactly? And is it possible for all these gods to be equals? While our society may tell us to accept them all, the writer of 2 Kings would disagree.

In the ancient Near East, a god would fight for, defend, and take care of the people within the boundaries of that country. So, it was disturbing to read that Naaman had achieved success at the hand of Yahweh (v. 1)! The Israelites believed there was only one God. His sovereignty extended over every nation, and Israel would only succeed if and when He willed it.

Naaman was “commander of the army of the king of Aram.” Although he was “a great man” (v. 1), he suffered from leprosy, an incurable disease. A girl, whom Naaman had enslaved, knew there was a prophet in Israel through whom wonders were taking place (v. 3)! Naaman, in an act of faith, requested leave to visit this prophet. He planned to appeal to the god of an enemy nation for help. So, he sent gifts to the king of Israel hoping to win the favor of this god. Little did he know that the king of Israel was wicked; the god of Israel was against him. “When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: ‘Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel’” (v. 8).

Elisha issued a simple command: Go and wash in the river Jordan (v. 10). Naaman returned clean! God’s miracle convinced Naaman that Yahweh was God of the whole earth.

We live in a world that celebrates inclusion. But sometimes this represents a rejection of reality. For example, how many gods are there exactly? And is it possible for all these gods to be equals? While our society may tell us to accept them all, the writer of 2 Kings would disagree.

In the ancient Near East, a god would fight for, defend, and take care of the people within the boundaries of that country. So, it was disturbing to read that Naaman had achieved success at the hand of Yahweh (v. 1)! The Israelites believed there was only one God. His sovereignty extended over every nation, and Israel would only succeed if and when He willed it.

Naaman was “commander of the army of the king of Aram.” Although he was “a great man” (v. 1), he suffered from leprosy, an incurable disease. A girl, whom Naaman had enslaved, knew there was a prophet in Israel through whom wonders were taking place (v. 3)! Naaman, in an act of faith, requested leave to visit this prophet. He planned to appeal to the god of an enemy nation for help. So, he sent gifts to the king of Israel hoping to win the favor of this god. Little did he know that the king of Israel was wicked; the god of Israel was against him. “When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: ‘Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel’” (v. 8).

Elisha issued a simple command: Go and wash in the river Jordan (v. 10). Naaman returned clean! God’s miracle convinced Naaman that Yahweh was God of the whole earth.