Let's begin our worship now singing in Psalm 100.
Psalm 100, that's from the Scottish Psalter, the first version of it on page 362.
This is one of the great rousing psalms that calls upon us, along with all mankind, to give thanks to the Lord and to come before him with cheerful voice.
All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with mirth, his praise foretell, come ye before him and rejoice.
Sing to tune Old 100. We'll sing the whole psalm.
And if you're able to stand, please stand to sing.
All people that on earth do dwell.
All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with mirth, his praise foretell, come ye before him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed.
With God, I will be.
He did us make.
We are heads for, he doth us beat.
And for his sheep he doth us pay.
Oh, when turn in his gates with praise,
Approach with joy, his courts unto praise,
Lord and bless his name always.
For it is, for it is, for it is, for it is, for it is, for it did seemly so, to do.
For why the Lord our God is could, his mercy is, for ever should.
sure
his
truth that all
times firm
leads to
and shall
from age
to age
endure
Let's call upon the Lord now
in prayer. Let's join together
as we pray to God.
O Lord,
how gracious God,
we give thanks for these great
words that have encouraged
us to come before you with
thanksgiving and even
come before you with rejoicing.
And we give thanks, Lord,
for the many truths contained
in these few verses of this psalm.
And we bless you
for the many people down through
the years that have found their consolation
and guidance and support
from such great words
as these.
And we thank you for the relevance
to our own circumstances
today,
for the way that your word
retains that relevance,
however many changes
may take place
in ourselves
and in our own lives
immediately
or in the environment
of the
nation in which we live
or even in our local communities.
Lord, help us,
we pray,
to prize your word
again this evening,
enable us to come
before you
knowing that your word
is given to us
so that we may learn
more of yourself,
that we may indeed
appreciate
the extent to which
you have revealed
yourself to us
and the glorious
truths that you have
set out before us.
Lord,
you know each one of us
here tonight.
you know what is lying
deep within our hearts,
you know the thoughts
that are on our mind,
you know each and every
aspect of the life
we live,
and so we come to you
and ask that you
would meet with us
as we seek to draw
near to you.
And we thank you,
Lord,
whatever variety
of need
is evident
in this congregation
tonight,
that your word
is adequate
and always ready
to meet us
at the depth
of that need.
and at the detail
of that need.
And we pray
that we may come,
Lord,
to this place
each time we come
with that conviction
about your own
word of truth
and about the privilege
that is ours
in drawing near to you.
We have sung about you
as our creator,
the creator of heaven
and earth.
We sing about you
as the redeemer
of your people.
And we ask,
Lord,
tonight that this may be
our experience of you,
that we may marvel
once again
that our great God
and creator
has come to draw near
to us
in the person of Christ,
the person of your son
by which you have come
to reveal yourself
supremely to us
in a way that causes us
to marvel at the extent
of your love
to your people.
Help us,
Lord,
we pray,
to learn from
every aspect
of your word.
Give us,
we pray,
to delight
and to have a relish
and to have an appetite
for your word
and all that it comes
to us with
to teach us.
Help us to love
the history
that your word
brings to us
even though
we may not readily
have such a subject
foremost in our thoughts
or in our likings.
We thank you
for the way
that your word
brings to us
the history
of your people
and for the way
that your people
have been encouraged
down through the years
from that history
that records
from the earliest times
how you spoke
to your people,
how you guided them,
how you rebuked them,
how you led them
even through difficult
and dangerous times
and how your promises
were fulfilled
as the years went by.
We thank you too,
O Lord,
for the many passages
in your word
that form such wonderful
poetic teaching
in regard to the love
of God
and we thank you
for the great epistles
that we find
in terms of our
New Testament times
and of the way
in which
you gave such apostles
to write these
under the direction
of your word
and we thank you
for the psalms
from which we sing
your praise.
We thank you,
Lord,
for the breadth
and the depth
and the height
of experience in them
and we thank you
that whatever things
we do experience
in this life,
your psalms always
go before us.
This book always
comes to us
with a ready experience
already lived
by those who went
before us
and so that we can gain
from their experience
and their conclusions
as they were guided
by the Lord.
We thank you
for the presence
of the Lord Jesus Christ
in your word
and we thank you
for the way
that from the very
beginning of time
since you began
to reveal yourself
to people.
They were always
directed to think
of the coming one,
the Messiah,
the King,
who would come
to be in God's time,
the one who would
fulfill the many
prophecies about him
and who would come
to take our human nature
and be in our place
as our substitute.
O Lord,
we thank you
for the rich variety
of teaching
that your word brings us.
Bless us then,
we pray,
here before you
this evening.
We pray for the
power of your Spirit
to open our minds
and our understanding
to give us
a further appetite
for your truth.
Remember us,
we pray,
with relevance
to our own place
in the society
we occupy.
Help us to be
a faithful living
witness and light
to the world around us.
Enable us,
Lord,
to show that we
are your people
and enable us
to be burdened
to show
that this is indeed
so with us.
We ask that you
would bless us
as a congregation.
Thank you for all
that takes place
in this congregation
from week to week.
We thank you,
O Lord,
for the services
of worship
that we hold
and we pray
that these will
continue to be
blessed to us.
Bless the preaching
of your word,
the testimony
of your people.
Bless every activity,
Lord,
that's designed
to further
our knowledge of you
and to appreciate
the gospel
and the ways
of Christ.
We pray for the
forthcoming
holiday club.
We give thanks
for the effort
that has gone
into all the preparations
and we bless you
for the dedication
of those
who will lead the club
and we pray for them.
We pray for all
the children
who are expected.
Lord,
we pray that it
will be of
lasting benefit
to them
and that it
will be a means
by which they
themselves
will be brought
up further
in the knowledge
of the Lord
and will be
garrisoned
against the many
efforts that
are made
around us
to draw us
away from the gospel,
away from your truth,
away from those
basic matters
to do
with our
spiritual integrity
and morality.
gracious Lord,
bless,
we pray,
these coming
days to the
children
and enable us
to be truly
thankful
that there has
been such a
positive,
encouraging
response
to the
invitations
to come.
And so we ask
that your blessing
now will be
with those in
need.
Lord,
again we think
of those
belonging to us
who are ill
at this time,
those with
serious illness,
those who have
issues of
mental health,
whether it be
in old age
or middle years
or even
in young days
as well.
We commend
them to you.
We ask for
every effort
made,
O Lord,
to help them
that they will
prove successful.
And we do pray
for thankful
hearts when we
have so many
agencies that
are able
to attend
to our needs
from time
to time.
So we pray
your blessing
upon our
community,
upon our
schools,
upon our
teachers,
upon the
staff,
and all
the ways
in which
we are
helped,
both in
the health
service and
other ways,
Lord,
each day we
live.
Make us
thankful,
we pray,
that you
have provided
us with
such rich
blessings and
enable us
to return
to you
not only
a verbal
thanksgiving,
but also a
dedication of
life.
So we pray
these things
and seek
your blessing
in forgiving
our sins.
For Jesus'
sake,
Amen.
Now we're
going to sing
again to
God's praise.
This time we're
singing Psalm
119.
Psalm 119,
page 163,
from verse
97 to
verse 104.
The tune this
time is
even tied.
O Lord,
how much I
love your
holy law.
I meditate
upon it all
the day.
It makes me
wiser than
my enemies,
for your
commandments
ever with
me stay.
To verse 104,
how pleasing
to my taste
are all your
words.
More sweet
they are than
honey on my
tongue.
From your
commands I
gain enlightenment,
so I reject
and hate each
path that's
wrong.
These verses
to God's
praise.
Amen.
O Lord,
how much I
love your
holy law.
I meditate
upon it
all the day.
It makes me
wiser than
my enemies.
For your
commandments
ever with
me stay.
I have
more in sight
than my
teacher's
have.
But on
your
laws I
meditated
each
day.
I
for
discernment
than the
elders
have.
because
your
righteous
respects
I
obey.
I've
kept
my feet
from
every
world
path
that
I may
be
obedient
into
your
heart
and
I
have
not
departed
from
your
laws
for
you
yourself
have
taught me
this
O
Lord
how
pleasing
to
my
taste
God
all
your
words
more
sweet
they
are
than
honey
on
my
tongue
from
your
commands
I
gain
enlightenment
so
I
reject
and
hate
each
heart
that
all
now we
turn to
read God's
word as we
find that in
the second
book of
the
chronicles
the
old
testament
the
second
book of
the
chronicles
and
chapter
24
we'll
read
verses
1 to
22
should
be
around
page
448
or
thereabouts
in your
pew
bibles
second
chronicles
and
chapter
24
joash
was
seven
years
old
when
he
began
to
reign
and
he
reigned
for
forty
years
in
jerusalem
his
mother's
name
was
zubiah
of
be
she
and
joash
did
what
was
right
in
the
eyes
of
the
lord
all
the
days
of
jehoiada
the
priest
jehoiada
got
for him
two
wives
and yet
sons
and
daughters
after
this
joash
decided
to
restore
the
house
of
the
lord
and
he
gathered
the
priests
and
the
levites
and
said
to
them
go
out
to
the
cities
of
judah
and
gather
from
all
israel
money
to
repair
the
house
of
your
god
from
year
to
year
and
see
that
you
act
quickly
but
the
levites
did
not
act
quickly
so
the
king
summoned
jehoiada
the
chief
and
said
to
him
why
have
you
not
required
the
levites
to
bring
in
from
judah
and
jerusalem
the
tax
levied
by
moses
the
servant
of
the
lord
and
the
congregation
of
israel
for
the
tent
of
testimony
for
the
sons
of
athaliah
that
wicked
woman
had
broken
into
the
house
of
god
and
had
also
used
all
the
dedicated
things
of
the
house
of
the
lord
for
the
bales
so
the
lord
the
king
commanded
and
they
made
a
chest
and
set
it
outside
the
gate
of
the
house
of
the
lord
and
proclamation
was
made
throughout
judah
and
jerusalem
to
bring
in
for
the
lord
the
tax
that
moses
the
servant
of
god
laid
on
israel
in
the
wilderness
until
they
had
finished
and
whenever
the
chest
was
brought
to
the
king's
officers
by
the
levites
when
they
saw
that
there
was
much
money
in
it
the
king's
secretary
and
the
officer
of
the
chief
priest
would
come
and
empty
the
chest
and
take
it
and
return
it
to
its
place
thus
they
did
day
after
day
and
collected
money
in
abundance
and
the
king
and
Jehoiada
gave
it
to
those
who
had
charge
of
the
work
of
the
house
of
the
lord
and
they
hired
masons
and
carpenters
to
restore
the
house
of
the
lord
and
also
workers
of
iron
and
bronze
to
repair
the
house
of
the
lord
so
those
who
were
engaged
in
the
work
labored
and
the
repairing
went
forward
in
their
hands
and
they
restored
the
house
of
God
to
its
proper
condition
and
strengthened
it
and
when
they
had
finished
they
brought
the
rest
of
the
money
before
the
king
and
Jehoiada
and
with
it
were
made
utensils
for
the
house
of
the
lord
both
for
the
service
and
for
the
burnt
offerings
and
dishes
for
incense
and
vessels
of
gold
and
silver
and
they
offered
burnt
offerings
in
the
house
of
the
lord
regularly
all
the
days
of
Jehoiada
but
Jehoiada
grew
old
and
full
of
days
and
died
he
was
a hundred
and
thirty
years
old
at
his
death
and
they
buried
him
in
the
city
of
David
among
the
kings
because
he
had
done
good
in
Israel
and
towards
God
and
his
house
now
after
the
death
of
Jehoiada
the
princes
of
Judah
came
and
paid
homage
to
the
king
then
the
king
listened
to
them
and
they
abandoned
the
house
of
the
lord
the
god
of
their
fathers
came
upon
Judah
and
Jerusalem
for
this
guilt
of
theirs
yet
he
sent
prophets
among
them
to
bring
them
back
to
the
lord
these
testified
against
them
but
they
would
not
pay
attention
then
the
spirit
of
the
lord
clothed
Zechariah
the son
of
Jehoiada
the
priest
and
he
stood
above
the
people
and
said
to
them
thus
says
God
why
do
you
break
the
commandments
of
the
Lord
so
that
you
cannot
prosper
because
you
have
forsaken
the
lord
he
has
forsaken
you
but
they
conspired
against
him
and
by
command
of
the
king
they
stoned
him
with
stones
in
the
court
of
the
house
of
the
lord
thus
Joash
the
king
did
not
remember
the
kindness
that
Jehoiada
Zechariah's
father
had shown
him
but
killed
his
son
and
when
he
was
dying
he
said
may
the
Lord
see
and
avenge
and
may
God
follow
again
with
this
blessing
this
reading
of
his
own
word
let's
sing
once
again
in
Psalm
106
this
time
Psalm
106
from
the
sing
Psalms
page
142
verse
34
to
43
and
the
tune
this
time
is
Ottawa
they
did
not
destroy
the
peoples
in
accords
with
God's
command
but
they
mixed
with
them
and
followed
all
the
customs
of
the
land
worshipping
the
idols
there
which
to
them
became
a
snare
sons
they
sacrificed
and
daughters
to
a
Canaanitish
god
thus
the
land
was
desecrated
by the
stain
of
guiltless
blood
by their
acts
they were
defiled
into
filthiness
beguiled
so
the
lord
was
angry
with
them
and
his
people
he
abhorred
gave
them
over
to
the
nations
and
their
foe
became
their
lord
subject
to
their
enemy
they
were
treated
cruelly
many
times
he
showed
his
power
by
delivering
his
own
but
they
set
their
heart
on
sinning
and
rebelled
against
his
throne
in
their
sin
they
chose
to
stay
and
they
wasted
quite
away
these
very
solemn
words
going
over
part
of
the
history
of
Israel
and
rebelling
against
the
lord
and
choosing
for
themselves
the
ways
of
the
nations
around
them
the
ways
of
idolatry
so
to
Tsunotawa
from
34
they
did
not
destroy
the
peoples
in
accord
with
God's
command
they
did
not
destroy
the
peoples
in
accord
with
God's
command
but
they
mixed
with
them
and
followed
all
the
customs
of
the
land
worshipping
the
idols
there
which
to
them
became
a
snare
sons
they
sacrificed
and
daughters
to
our
king
and
knighted
God
thus
their
blood
was
desecrated
by
their
sting
of
guiltless
blood
by
their
hearts
they
were
defiled
into
filthiness
they
killed
so
the
lord
was
angry
with
them
and
his
people
he
abhorred
gave
them
over
to
the
nations
and
therefore
became
their
lord
subject
to
their
enemy
they
were
treated
cruelly
they
were
treated
cruelly
many
times he
showed his
power
by
delivering
his
own
but
they
set
their
heart
on
sinning
and
repelt
against
his
throne
in
their
sin
they
chose
to
stay
they
chose
to
stay
and
they
wasted
quite
away
please
turn with me now to 2nd
chronicles
chapter 24
and we'll read again at verse 15
but Jehoiada grew old and full of days and died
he was a hundred and thirty years old at his death and they buried him in the city of David among the kings because he had done good in Israel and towards God and his house
after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king
then the king listened to them and they abandoned the house of the Lord the God of their fathers and served the Asherim and the idols and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord these testified against them but they would not pay attention.
following the death of Jehoshaphat
following the death of Jehoshaphat where you find a reference to that in chapter 20
the following years after that were very turbulent years in Israel
turbulent because they were
years when
relatively short rains
and bad rains
bad kings
followed Jehoshaphat
and indeed that was
generally true of this northern kingdom
that had been set up
after the death
of Solomon
when
Rehoboam
took over
and caused the division of the kingdoms
into the north
and the south
that remained like that with
the south
the tribe of Judah especially prominent
in that
and as you come to
these references here
in these chapters
you'll find a reference there to Jehoram
that he reigned for eight years
they were bad years
if you go back to chapter 21
and verse 20 there
describes
in very short compass
what
he was 32 years
when he began to reign
he reigned for eight years
in Jerusalem
and he departed
with no one's regret
they buried him
in the city of David
but not
in the tombs
of the kings
well that's
telling its own story
isn't it
the kind of king
that he turned out to be
and then you have
Ahaziah for a year
he was then killed by Jehu
and following that
Athaliah for six years
who ended up killing
most of the Davidic family
as you find there apart from
Joash
who was hidden
in the temple of the Lord
who was hidden
so as he was
he was actually saved
from the slaughter that happened
at that particular moment
you find that at
the previous chapters there
especially
when you find a reference there
in chapter 22
where Jehoshabeath
the daughter of King Jehoram
and wife of Jehoiada
the priest
because she was a sister
of Ahaziah
she hid him
from Athaliah
Ahaziah the mother of Ahaziah
all these names
are a bit confusing
but she hid him
from Athaliah
so that she did not
put him to death
and he remained with them
for six years
hidden in the house of God
while Athaliah reigned
over the land
so he was spared
he was not just spared
but he was brought up
in such a way
as to be brought up
in the ways of the Lord
brought up by this
by this couple
but particularly
under the teaching
of Jehoiada
the priest
who while he was priest
remained as a priest
down through these
turbulent years
until as we read there
in chapter 24
and verse 15
at 130 years old
he died
and then after he died
as we'll see tonight
the nation basically returned
to what it had been beforehand
and it's a very sad story
because under the care
of Jehoiashabeath
and Jehoiada
Joash was brought up
in these ways of the Lord
and gave his time
and attention to them
and in fact
as he was hidden there
by them
he came to know
something of the ways
of the Lord
so that's going to be
our first point tonight
that Joash was brought up
in the way
of the Lord
and then secondly
our second point
is that Joash abandoned
the ways of the Lord
especially following
Jehoiada's death
if you turn your mind
back to
chapter 22
and verse 12
he was brought up
in the way
of the Lord
you can see in verse 12
there of chapter 22
how he remained with them
for six years
hidden in the house of God
while Athaliah reigned
over the land
in other words
this really effectively
was six years
of good teaching
and good training
given by Jehoiashabeath
and the priest Jehoiada
to this young man Joash
who was destined
to take over the throne
so this was his grounding
in the teaching
of the ways of the Lord
they obviously taught him
the ways of the Lord
they would have gone over
many of the ways
in which the Lord
had dealt with his people
had given his people
the privilege
of a covenant with them
how they had abandoned that
how they had left
in previous times
the ways of the Lord
and so on
and you can see from that
that this in fact
itself is an example
of God actually overcoming
the attempts of those
who wanted to take
the nation away
altogether from their roots
in covenant theology
and in covenant teaching
and in covenant relationship
with God
but God here provided
this measure for Joash
so that he would be brought up
in the ways of the Lord
when he began to reign
we're thankful for that
whenever you find attempts made
to wipe out the church
whenever you find
attempts made
such as in the
New Testament itself
to the days of the apostle
or the days of Jesus
you'll find that
so often
you'll find the Lord
providing a means
by which his church
if they're not altogether
preserved
then they're certainly
protected in a measure
against them being
completely
annihilated
and he was hidden
therefore
in the house
of the Lord
and you know
that's a reminder
to us
just in passing
it's not going to be
the main point
this evening
but it is a reminder
to us
because it's
we're going to see
how they abandoned
again the ways
of the Lord
and how Joash
abandoned the ways
of the Lord
despite his upbringing
but here he was
for these six years
brought up
in the ways
of the Lord
being taught
by Jehoiada
the faithful priest
of the Lord
and in Ephesians
chapter 6
as you know
verse 4
fathers especially
are given instruction
as to how to bring up
their children
and not to cause them
to rebel against the Lord
by treating them
harshly or whatever
they are to actually
bring them up
in what's called
the nurture
and discipline
of the Lord
or to put it another way
in the training
and discipline
of the Lord
because that's what
the word means
it's really
a training
it's a shaping
and it was the same
for Joash
as he was brought up
by Jehoiada
for these years
these early years
of his life
he was being trained
in the ways of the Lord
his life was being shaped
by the truth of God
by the ways of the Lord
by the word of the Lord
and that's why
in our own setting
especially
and many others
like us as well
are concerned
to actually have
our children
under the teaching
of the word of God
under the teaching
of God's word
in our homes
in church
in Sunday school
and brought
under the way
in which the word
of God
can shape
their lives positively
because there's
so many influences
out there
that will shape
their lives
in the wrong way
and for you young people
tonight
be thankful
that you have
tonight
not us just here
in church
but wherever you come
under the word
of the Lord
if you're taught
the word of the Lord
at home
if you're brought
by your parents
or grandparents
or whoever
to be familiar
with the gospel
with the Bible
with the teachings
of the Bible
all that is designed
to shape your life
in a good way
to bring about
the kind of shape
to your life
and lifestyle
and your thinking
and your behavior
and your way of life
that will be approved
of by God
that will itself
be a means
by which you will
honor the Lord
and find in turn
that he will honor you
the training
the shaping
by the word of God
of our lives
and of course
that's happening
not just in terms
of our Sunday school
and church services
such as these
and in our homes
as well
all the other things
that we engage in as well
with our young folks
with our children
even the youngest children
take for example
the holiday club
this coming week
God willing
that's going to be
all built around
the teaching of
Mark's gospel
about the Lord
himself
and the life
of Christ
as Mark's gospel
presents that to us
and our prayer is
that these young folks
will add that
to whatever else
they receive
of teaching
in their lives
and even if there are
some as there will be
that aren't familiar
with a church setting
aren't familiar
with coming to church
or to Sunday school
that they will actually
themselves see
something of the
importance
of Jesus
the importance
of living
by faith in Christ
and coming to
dedicate their life
to the Lord
all of that
is really together
how we try
and in all that
amalgamation
of means
and of efforts
to have our young
children
and our older
children shaped
like ourselves
as adults
in the ways
of the Lord
shaped by
the truth
of God
so there is
Joash
he was hidden
and brought up
in the ways
of the Lord
hidden in the temple
for these years
and we're applying
that to the importance
of training up
our children
as well as we're able
to in the ways
of the Lord
in the nurture
and training
and discipline
of the Lord
but then secondly
Joash came to
abandon the ways
of the Lord
and this is from
chapter 24
and verse 17
also
you'll find
first of all
it mentions
that from verse 15
after Jehoiada died
he was 130 years old
and they buried him
in the city of David
among the kings
now Joash
followed the ways
of the Lord
while Jehoiada
lived
and as soon as
Jehoiada had died
the princes
of the nation
came
and influenced
Joash
in a bad way
but you notice
what it says
there in verses 24
chapter 24
all the way through
from verse 1
onwards
Joash did what was right
in the days of the Lord
in the eyes of the Lord
all the days
of Jehoiada the priest
and then it goes on
to describe
how Joash
dedicated himself
to restore
the house of the Lord
the temple of the Lord
that had fallen
into serious disrepair
and you can see
all the way through there
that he is actually
engaged in obedience
to the Lord
outwardly
he is following
the ways of the Lord
in his own life
he is engaged in
following the teaching
that he was given
by Jehoiada
to the extent
even of
arranging the repair
and setting up again
of the temple
and the ways
of the temple
of the Lord
that had fallen
into neglect
why had it fallen
into neglect
well it had fallen
into neglect
not just because
people had just
forgotten about
its influence
or somehow or other
just ambled in
or casually drifted away
into that sort of
neglect of the temple
of the Lord
the neglect of the temple
of the Lord
is an indication
of their spiritual
neglect
of their spiritual
abandonment
of the ways
of the Lord
they neglected
the temple
of the Lord
because they lost
interest in the Lord
they lost interest
in the Lord
because they replaced
the Lord
with these idols
the Baals
as they are called
the gods of the Canaanites
the idols
of the Canaanites
these people
who had come to know
the Lord's ways
who had come to know
so much
of the benefit
of being rescued
by the Lord
from Egypt
led by the Lord
through years
in the wilderness
established by the Lord
in the land of Canaan
and here they are
and what are they doing
they're saying
let's just follow
the Baals
let's just follow
the ways of the idolaters
the Canaanites
and let's just leave
the temple
it's no use to us
anymore
and the neglect
came from
spiritual decline
but in the days
of Joash
there was gladness
there was actually
rejoicing
in the repairing
of the temple
as you find it there
described
those who were engaged
in the work
labored
repairing
what went forward
in their hands
and they were actually
glad to be able
to contribute
to the repair
of the temple
of the house
of the Lord
now you remember
that the books
of the Chronicles
are very late
composition
in the history
of Judah
they're actually
books written
for the encouragement
of those who came
back from Babylon
having been there
for many years
in captivity
under the Babylonians
and the many references
to the temple
that you find
in the books
of the Chronicles
are themselves
a way of
encouraging the people
as they come back
to Jerusalem
having been in Babylon
to get on with
rebuilding the temple
and rebuilding the ways
and the worship
of the Lord there
that's by the way
but that's important
to remember
that that's the message
of the Chronicler
of the books
of the Chronicles
the people were glad
to be able
to restore the temple
in the days
of Joash
because they read
about things
that had happened
in the past
and in the future
the same thing happened
with those who came back
from Babylon
so it's important
for us
always to frequent
ourselves
with the history
of God's people
especially the history
of God's people
that you find
written in the Bible
itself
maybe for some of us
history is not really
our favorite subject
it's maybe something
that we found boring
while we were in school
maybe the teaching
of history
was just something
that went through
a whole series of dates
and important events
in our own nation
or whatever
but the history
you find in the Bible
is crucially important
it sets out for you
the way that God
dealt with his people
the way that God
actually came
to rescue his people
the way that God
dealt them
as they turned
their back on him
all of these things
are so important
as the years went by
and the people
through the prophets
were reminded
again and again
of the importance
of their history
as God's covenant people
by the way
so Jehoiada
while Jehoiada lived
Joash was faithful
to the Lord
once he died
he actually
abandoned the ways
of the Lord
Jehoiada was a great
leader
and when you see
what's spoken about him
here in verse 15
he grew old
and was full of days
and died
he was 130
when he died
and they buried him
in the city of David
among the kings
very unusual
for a priest
to be buried
among the kings
but they did that
as it says
because he had done
so much good
in Israel
and towards God
and his house
Jehoiada's
lifespan
130 years
was the longest
recorded lifespan
since the life
of Jacob
many many many
years before
and that itself
is an indicator
of his faithfulness
to the Lord
and how vital
he was
in his own place
in the nation
at the time
but here
the people
after the death
of Jehoiada
the princes
came
and paid homage
to the king
and the king
listened to them
and they abandoned
the house of the Lord
the God
of their fathers
in other words
they followed
bad advice
they followed
the advice
of the princes
rather than
just give heed
to the teaching
that Jehoiada
and the example
that he had left them
and Jehoash
especially
was involved
in leading
that abandonment
of the ways
of the Lord
now that is a serious
and solemn point
just imagine
remember what
is spoken of
in the earlier
part of the chapter
about Jehoash's
leadership
in repairing
the temple
the house
of the Lord
and how that
in fact was something
that he made
provision for
and yet here he is
and what's he doing
he's now in the leadership
of abandoning
the house of the Lord
of leaving
the house of the Lord
the God of their fathers
why did that happen
how could such a thing
take place
a young man
in his youth
brought up
in the ways
of the Lord
and here he is
now that he's
gone on in years
and he's coming
to abandon
the ways of the Lord
because he followed
the bad advice
given by the princes
of the nation
well it seems
that one thing
that you can read
into that
is that
Jehoash had not
really learned
to apply his own mind
to his life
and to his leadership
and it's always important
for you and for me
even if we follow
the teaching of others
like Jehoiada was
to Jehoash
that we don't just
follow what Jehoiada
or anybody else says
just for the sake of it
you don't follow
the Lord
just out of your respect
for human beings
you don't follow
the Lord
just automatically
giving a place
to whatever teaching
you've been given
good though it might have been
on the part of whoever it is
gives you that teaching
if you're following
the ways of the Lord
tonight
during the different ministries
in this congregation
and in the ministries
God willing
that may follow
our ministry here
you don't follow
the ways of the Lord
for the sake of those
that have taught you
the word of God
you do it
by applying your own mind
to the truth of God
as revealed to you
in the Bible
you learn to think
for yourself
you learn to think
your way through
the teaching of the Bible
you learn to ask yourself
what does Jesus mean
to me
why did Jesus
come into the world
why did Jesus
die the death he did
why was he resurrected
from the dead
why does the Bible
tell me
he's at the right hand
of God
why does the Bible
tell me he's coming again
you learn to think
through the teaching
of the Bible
about the church of Christ
all the way through
from the Old Testament
into the New Testament church
learning about how
in fact the church
in the days of the apostles
came to multiply
why did they multiply
what is at work there
what sort of power
was at work
you see you apply
your own minds to it
you don't just rely
on somebody else's thinking
similar to what Joash did
he relied upon Jehoiada
and as long as Jehoiada lived
he went by the word
of Jehoiada
who gave him
the word of the Lord
he had never really
considered the word
of the Lord
really deep in his own
heart and mind
for himself
so when these princes
came
he was very quickly
turned aside
and led
this abandonment
of the house
of the Lord
you know it's important
for you tonight
to think
for yourself
because the Christian faith
is not an
unthinking faith
it's not by any means
a faith
void of emotion
void of that sort of thing
there's plenty of that
but you have to use
your own mind
you have to use a mind
that is fueled
by the word
and by the spirit of God
you have to ask the Lord
as your life goes on
Lord
teach me your laws
teach me your ways
lead me into the avenues
of your truth
help me to exercise
my mind
for my own sake
whatever else
anybody says
help me to use
my mind
as it's designed
to be
to come to a right
conclusion
so that they are
my conclusions
not the conclusions
of somebody
who's taught me things
I remember
the people of
the woman of Samaria
the place there
Saichar
where she lived
when she went back
to speak of
having come to know
the Lord
that she met
at the well
and inviting them
to come
and hear this man
who had told her
all things
that she ever did
can this not be
must this not be
the Christ
what does it say
later in the chapter
they were going out
to him in streams
from the city
they were going out
to him
in hordes
multitudes
to hear him
and what did they
then say
now we believe
not for your word
for we have heard
him
ourselves
and know that
this is indeed
the Christ
why do you believe
in Christ
tonight
not because some
minister told you
even though some
minister
whoever individual
might have led you
to Christ
might have
persuaded you
to think seriously
about Christ
you believe in Christ
because you exercise
your own mind
in regard to what
you were taught
what the Bible
itself presented
to you
what the person
that led you
to Christ
was saying to you
you don't do it
for their sake
you're doing it
because your mind
was occupied
in thinking
through the truth
of God
I know if you want
and if you and I
want to remain
in the ways
of being faithful
to the Lord
the way to do it
is to exercise
your own mind
constantly
as your life
goes on
ask yourself
the proper questions
put the truth
of God
to your own
situation
and don't be
like Joash
who was led
away
by the
princes
of Israel
and
I want to say
this to the
young folk
especially
because many
of you will
be leaving
home
some of you
have already
left home
and are
expecting to
go back
either to
work or
to college
or university
and there's
a lot of
benefit in
doing that
but as you
know very well
I'm sure
there's a lot
of danger
attached to it
as well
because
they're not
necessarily
different influences
that you're
going to meet
compared to
the influences
you have
here in the
town
or on the
island
but it'll
be a
different
setting
you are
brought up
in the ways
of the Lord
that's what
leaving you
here
that's why
you went
through Sunday
school
that's why
you went
to youth
fellowship
that's why
all of
these ways
the ways
of the Lord
came to
be lodged
in your
heart
well I say
this to you
tonight
don't
be taken
in
by those
who want
you to
abandon
the ways
of the
Lord
look what
happened
in the days
of Joash
he listened
to these
princes
of Judah
and they
led him
away
from a
life that
would be
good and
beneficial
to him
into the
ways of
the Canaanites
that world
out there
friends
is waiting
for you
to embrace
it
it will do
everything
possible
to persuade
you that
that's the
way of life
really that's
best for
you
the way
of life
that lives
by the
ways of
the world
by what
the world
calls its
own values
not the
ways of
God's
truth
not the
ways you
learn
as you're
brought up
in the
church of
God
not the
ways that
you learn
under the
gospel
but the
ways of
sin
the ways
of sinful
behavior
the ways
of turning
against the
Lord
the ways
of being
opposed
to God
and what
he's saying
to you
don't listen
to any
of those
influences
because their
design is
that you
will leave
the ways
of the
Lord
and follow
the ways
of the
world
don't
let
Satan
persuade
you to
do that
follow
the God
of your
fathers
of your
mothers
of your
grandfathers
the God
of this
Bible
the God
of this
church
the God
and Father
of our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
so he
left
the Lord
after the
ways of
the Lord
because he
followed
bad advice
and along
with that
he rejected
God's
word
look at
verse 19
because it's a very
interesting verse
yet as it says
their wrath
came upon
Judah and
Jerusalem
for this guilt
of theirs
yet he sent
prophets among
them to bring
them back
to the Lord
he sent
prophets among
them
even though it
says their wrath
came upon
Judah
whose wrath
God's wrath
came upon
them yet
he sent
prophets
among them
to bring
them back
to the
Lord
now that
tells you
a lot
tonight
about the
Lord
about this
God
whom we
worship
because despite
all that he
knew had
happened
and all that
he saw
that he
detested
and the
idolatry
to which
they had
turned
and despite
the fact
that wrath
came upon
them
he didn't
stop
speaking
to them
he didn't
say to
them
go your
own way
have it
your way
see how
you get
on
he could
have done
that
they
deserved
that
but that's
not how
this God
operates
instead of
doing that
what did
he do
he sent
prophets
to them
he sent
prophets
among them
why
to bring
them
back
to the
Lord
and that
says so
much
about
God
you know
if you want
to abandon
the ways
of the
Lord
the Lord
will tell
you
that's
not
what I
want
you
to do
but if
you do
that my
word is
still going
to chase
you
because I
want you
to come
back to
the Lord
and tonight
let's think
and pray
for those
who once
used to be
here
or once
used to
be in
other
churches
but are
not there
tonight
who are
brought up
in the
ways of
the Lord
who are
persuaded
for whatever
reason
to turn
away from
the ways
of the
Lord
to go
back into
the ways
of the
world
have we
neglected
them
perhaps
sadly
we have
have we
been faithful
in trying
to persuade
them back
perhaps not
but one
thing's for
sure
God
has not
let them
out of
his sight
and this
really encourages
you and
I tonight
that even
as you
find people
turning away
from the
Lord
turning their
back upon
the Lord
you can
come to
this God
and say
Lord
were you
not the
God
in the
day of
Joash
that still
sent your
word
and sent
your word
with a
specific
purpose
of bringing
them back
to the
Lord
will you
not speak
to them
will you
not bring
them back
will you
not bring
them into
the ways
of the
Lord
again
here is
a great
encouragement
that God
did not
abandon
these people
and allow
them just
to go
their own
way
he sent
prophets
they
testified
against
them
they brought
the mind
of the
Lord
to them
and then
what does
it say
but they
would not
pay attention
do you
not find
these among
the saddest
words you
could read
even in
the Bible
that here
was God
burdened to
bring them
back if you
like and
sent prophets
specifically to
preach his
word to
them to
bring his
judgment to
them to
testify against
them as to
the seriousness
of what they
had done
but they
would not
pay attention
you see
when you
leave the
ways of
the Lord
you're
entering a
very very
dangerous
path
when anyone
leaves the
ways of
the Lord
they ought
never to
persuade
themselves
I can
come back
in the
future
when I
choose to
that may
never happen
because when
you come to
harden your
heart against
the Lord
to close
your mind
against the
Lord
you have
absolutely
no guarantee
even if the
Lord keeps
speaking to
you
and keeps
speaking into
your conscience
you have
no guarantee
that you
will pay
attention
that you
will listen
seriously to
God
please
whatever you
do
listen
seriously
whenever God
is speaking
to you
don't be like
these people
who would not
pay attention
even though
God went to
such effort
as to bring
these prophets
to them
to bring his
word to bring
his will to
them
and tonight
we pray
that those
who have
gone away
from the
Lord for
whatever
reason
and especially
those who
maybe were
following the
Lord before
the dreadful
days of
COVID and
all that's
associated
with COVID
and the
complications
that that
caused in
people's lives
and undoubtedly
many people
did fall
away
spiritually
but let's
pray
friends
that God
will keep
sending his
word
and that he
will keep
sending us
as well
to bring his
word to them
to persuade
them
that God
has not
changed
that God
is still
willing to
have them
back
that the
reason God
still speaks
to them
through his
word
is because
they will
not have
him
to be
abandoned
altogether
they
rejected
God's
word
and so
they brought
destruction
upon
themselves
I'm not
going to
go into
it tonight
because
our time
is largely
gone
but from
verse 20
there
you find
how
the Lord
used
Zechariah
interesting
words
the spirit
of the
Lord
clothed
Zechariah
the son
of Jehoiada
here is
Jehoiada
present as
it were
through his
son
and the
Lord is
using
Zechariah
the son
of Jehoiada
to speak
to the
people
to appeal
to them
why do
you break
the commandments
of the
Lord
so that
you cannot
prosper
because you
have forsaken
the Lord
he has
forsaken
you
this is not
a call
to vengeance
even though
it finishes
there
may the
Lord
see and
avenge
the words
there really
literally mean
may the
Lord
see and
seek
it doesn't
necessarily
mean
God's
vengeance
and judgment
brought upon
them
but may
the Lord
seek them
out
may the
Lord
seek them
to do
with them
as he
sees best
but obviously
burdened for
their return
as the Lord
himself is
and then
you find
the account
there of
the destruction
that came
upon them
the Syrians
came upon
them
all the
things that
happened
as you
read it
down
from that
point
onwards
in the
chapter
and then
you find
there in
verse 16
how the
burial of
Jehoiada
was amongst
the kings
of Israel
because he
had done
good in
Israel
and towards
God
and his
house
and what a
contrast that
is to
what you
find elsewhere
and the
burial and
the contrast
of others
before then
who were not
buried with
the kings
because they
had done
evil against
the Lord
even though
they had
been kings
so what is
this really
saying to us
if we can
conclude
briefly with
a word
about the
summary basically
of why do
we have all
these portraits
in this
gallery of
portraits of
kings that
you find in
the books of
the chronicles
what's the
reason for
this
how can we
actually use
the books of
the chronicles
tonight in
our own
situation
in your own
life
in our own
day
in our own
circumstances
well I like
to look at
the regard
the books of
the chronicles
as a gallery
of paintings
a gallery of
paintings of
these kings
because it's
largely taking
you through
the history
in a way
that specifies
the various
kings the
one that
followed on
from the
other all
the way
through right
through to
the end
when the
captivity
happened in
Judah in
Babylon
why do you
have that
what is
there in
this gallery
well there's
one thing
that's missing
and I like
to think of
this as a
gallery of
pictures of
these kings
but there's
one at the
end of the
collection
that's blank
there's no
portrait in
it
why is that
because the
perfect king
is still
being awaited
the Messiah
is not yet
here as you
read these
verses
and the
perfect king
will come
and did
come
and was
revealed in
Jesus
who is the
king of kings
and the
lord of
lords
and the
last word
in the
scriptures of
the old
testament
I may have
mentioned this
on another
occasion
but 2nd
chronicles
if you have
a Hebrew
bible
Hebrew text
2nd
chronicles
is the
last book
in the
Hebrew
bible
and that's
interesting
because when
you read
the last
words of
2nd
chronicles
and think
of them
as the
very last
words of
the Hebrew
old testament
scriptures
it says
this
verse 23
thus says
Cyrus king
of Persia
the lord
the god
of heaven
has given
me all
the kingdoms
of the
earth
and he
has charged
me to
build him
a house
at Jerusalem
which is
in Judah
whoever is
among you
of all his
people
may the
lord his
god be
with him
let him
go up
now that was
spoken to
people still
in Babylon
by the
king
Cyrus of
Persia
to go
from
Babylonians
and opened
up the
way for
the Jews
to return
from
captivity
in Babylon
but think
of them
spiritually
here are
the last
words of
the old
testament
scriptures
in the
Hebrew
of the
text
and what's
the next
thing you
find
you find
the new
testament
and so
when you
find these
last words
let him
go up
it's really
in a sense
an anticipation
of that
king
that has
not arrived
by the
time
second
chronicles
closes
but came
to be
born in
Bethlehem
in the
city of
David
a savior
who is
Christ
the Lord
and tonight
this is
saying to
me
and it's
saying to
you
god is
saying
one reason
i've given
you
these
scriptures
in the
books of
chronicles
is that
you too
will go
up
that you
too
will examine
these kings
and say
now i
understand
why jesus
came
who jesus
is
why he
is perfect
why i need
him
and how i
must trust
in him
because i've
examined all
of these kings
you might say
and although
this is a
time of
preparation
obviously
the king
of kings
has not
yet arrived
but he
has now
so
go up
to him
ascend
to where
he is
in your
thoughts
in your
faith
in your
lifestyle
because that's
really what
this is
saying to
us
and if
you do
that you
arrive
at jesus
and when
you arrive
at jesus
you realize
that's what
this whole
bible is
intended
to bring
me to
to trust
in the
savior
for myself
let's pray
lord our
god
we thank
you for
these
scriptures
for the
way that
we find
them so
meaningful
in relation
to the
coming of
the messiah
the king
who is
himself
perfect
in contrast
to all
who came
before him
and all
who succeeded
him also
and we
thank you
that he
came into
this world
not in
the splendor
of kingly
majesty
but dressed
as a
servant
and came
to give
his life
a ransom
for many
and that
he came
to fulfill
those things
that were
predicted of
him over
many centuries
that he
would
indeed
come
to be
the
sacrifice
that
would
forever
deal
with
sin
lord we
confess
our
sins
to you
as the
one who
has come
to deal
with our
sin
and to
take them
to yourself
and so we
pray tonight
that our
heart may
know you
as this
king
as this
altogether
lovely
king
as this
great
king
the
saving
king
the
spiritual
warrior
bless us
we pray
in jesus name
amen
we're going
to conclude
our service
now singing
to god's
praise in
psalm 17
this is in
the scottish
psalter
page 217
and we're
singing
verses 5
to 9
tune this
time is
salzburg
hold up
my goings
lord me
guide
in those
thy paths
divine
so that
my footsteps
may not
slide
out of
those ways
of thine
psalm 17
verses 5
to 9
hold up
my
goings
lord
me
guide
in
and
those
thy
paths
divine
so that
my
footsteps
may
not
slide
out of
those
ways
of
thine
IZ
they
need
i call
in
�
May'st hearken to my speech, To me incline thy ear.
Thy wondrous loving kindness show, Thou that by thy bright hand
Saves them, Thou trust in thee, From those that up against them stand.
As the apple of the ivy keep, In thy wings shed me close,
From these oppressors compassing, May my heart have deadly foes.
I'll go to the door to my left after the benediction.
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore.
Amen.
Thank you.
Amen.