The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 206

HOMILETICS. Ver. 2.-Weakness in a monarch almost as bad as wickedness. The most prominent trait in the character of Joash was his lack of independence aud moral weakness. He had no strength of will, no stamina; in the expressive, if inelegant, languao-o of our t.imes, "no bar.kbone." He must always lean upon some one. Let us look at°Joash- 1. IN ms YOUTH. At this time he was so fortun11te as to have a natural prop and support in Jehoiada, his uncle by marriage, and his guardian during the years of his minority. Jehoiada's was a strong character, and the life of Joash, while Jehoiada guided his steps; if not marked by any strikingly great actions, was correct., exemplary, worthy of praise. There was piety and right feeling in the pains which he took to promote the restoration of the temple, and prudence iu the measures whereby he suc- ceeded in effecting his purpose. The measures may have been-probably were-sug- gested by Jehoiada; but the king deserves some credit for adopting them. o&-ros "'£" ,ra.,,d.p1.tT'TOS, 8s a.llTOs 1r4v'Tc& VOE'iTa,, il>pat1t7&µ,vos .-.£ .-' nrE1.-a. 1ta.l is .-JAos lt7.-lv ltp,d,,.,_ 'Ecr8Aos li' .. ~ ,,,,,...,.s, 6s Eli .i...&n, 1J'l871.-a.1. As the writer of Kings says, "Joash did that which was right in the sight of_ the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him" (ver. 2). But Jeho1ada could not live for ever. He reached a very advanced age; but at last he "waxed old and died" (2 Chron. xxiv. 15), and Joash was left to manage as he might without him. Let us look at him now- IL IN HIS MIDDLE AGE, AFTER THE DEATH OF JEHOIADA. Apparentl.v his weakness is known, and it is at once assumed that he must put himself under directors. The "princes of Judah" go to him, pay him court, flatter him pr~bably, at. nny r~te_ offer him unusual honours. And at once he succumbs, and places himself unaer t~e1r mflu- cnce. We cannot suppose him not to have been aware of what he was do_rng. He must have known the leanings of the "princes," and have understood that, m adopt- ing them as his advisers, he was giving up all the traditions of bis. e:i,rlie_r iife, and taking a new departure. Snch lightness would not have been eurpnsrng 1i:i, a mere youth; but Joash was now at least thirty years of age, probably more, and ~1ght hav:e been expected to have formed and settled his principles and bis character. Still, experi- ence shows that even thirty years of a pious life, if it has been passed "under tutors nnd governors," docs not fix a man's future in the salll:e line-nay, ofte~ leads him to 11,n almost irrepres~ible desire for revolt, and for departing widely fr?:11 his antecedent~. The desire is a temptation of the devil, and, if yielded to, has dev1hsh results; but it is very often yielded to. Nero's outbreak after he had got rid of 8cncca is the most palpable historical example; but the experience of most_ persons must ba_ve s~own them scores of instances of men, trained and brought up 10 good courses_ till ~1~dle life and then su<ldenll• set free to take their own line, who have plunged mto d1ss1pa• t10~, impiety, and wickedness of all kinds. 'l'he case of Joash is extraordinary, not in ita general feature~, but in the lengths to which he went. Under the _influence of the "irincee," he allowed the Baal-worship to be reintroduced, and gave 1t free tolerance. on. xn. 1-21.) THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 240