2 Kings 12 - 13, 2 Chronicles 24 (5th July)

2 Kings 12
Joash was king and he reign over 40 years. He did what was right in the eyes of God (v1,2). Joash ordered the priest to take all the collected money to repair the temple. It was not done so until Joash questioned the priest again on the 23rd year of his reigned. All the money was paid to the workmen and materials for the repair of the temple of the Lord.

2 Kings 13
On the 23rd year of King Joash reigned in Judah, Jehoahaz became king of Israel. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord (v1,2). He later sought God’s favor and God delivered them, but still sin (v4-6). After 17 years of Jehoahaz reigns, Jehoash succeeded him as king over Israel. He also did what is evil in the eyes of God (v11).

When Elisha was old and suffering from illness, King Jehoash visited him. Elisha asked Jehoash to shoot the arrow out of the window and Elisha proclaimed “The Lord’s Arrow of Victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Then Elisha asked Jehoash to strike the arrows on the ground and Jehoash only struck 3 times and Elisha was angry with him because he should strike more times to see Aram completely be destroyed. So Jehoash only defeated Aram 3 times but not completely destroyed.

One great miracle happened in verse 21, when they threw a dead body into Elisha’s tomb and when the body touched Elisha’s bone, the man came to life. The power and anointing of God on Elisha was so powerful even up to his death.

God was gracious to the Israelites and had compassion and show concern for them because of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (v23).

2 Chronicles 24
It is the same in 2 Kings 12 and 13, except in this chapter, verse 17 onwards, it shared about the wickedness of Judah and they forsaken the Lord.