BUYING YOUR WAY OUT OF TROUBLE

PROCLAMATION

“Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it; and Hazael set his face to go up to war Jerusalem.  And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of The Lord, and in the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria; and he went away from Jerusalem.”  2 Kings 12:17-18 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  And Johash did that which was right in the sight of The Lord all of his days.  He had been instructed by Jehoiada the priest. (2 Kings 12:1-2)  Then Jehoash (Johash) said to the priest, take all of the money which is brought to the temple and given to the priest, and use it for the repair of the house of The Lord. (2 Kings 12:3-6)  Some time later the King Jehoash asked Jehoiada the priest why the repairs on the temple had not been done.  After a while the priest hired the men to do the repairs on the temple.  They hired carpenters, builders, masons, hewers of stone, men to oversee the work. (2 Kings 12:7-12)  About that time Hazael king of Syria went to war against Gath and captured it.  Hazael was set to go to war against Jerusalem.  So Jehoash king of Judah gathered up all of the hallowed treasures and gold which had been collected by Jehoshaphat, by Jehoram, and by Ahaziah, along with his own hallowed things and sent them to  Hazael king of Syria.  When Hazael received the treasures he turned away from Jerusalem.  All of the people were not happy that Jehoash had bankrupted the city to save his own skin.  Then the servants of Jehoash led a conspiracy against him and slew him. (2 Kings 12:13-21)

 

APPLICATION

Do not rely on wealth. (Psalm 62:10)  While money is a means of exchange it cannot buy everything.  Sometimes people can buy their way out of trouble with money.  However, when the money that they spend is not all theirs, the people that are negatively affected by their actions may become very unhappy with them.  The leaders of governments do this all the time.  Some of them get away with it, but others pay a pretty price for their actions.  It is better not to expect that your wealth will take care of all of your problems.  There are some things that money cannot buy.  Money cannot buy blessings from The Lord God. (Acts 8:20)