The youngest king, Joash

King Joash (or Jehoash) was the eighth king of Judah, reigning from approximately 835–796 BC. His story is recorded in 2 Kings 11–12 and 2 Chronicles 22–24, and he is a particularly intriguing biblical figure because his life exemplifies both God’s providential care and the dangers of superficial faith.

Joash’s very survival was an act of divine providence. After the death of King Ahaziah, his mother, the wicked Queen Athaliah, sought to destroy the entire royal line of David. This was not just a political move but a direct attack on God’s covenant promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. However, God sovereignly preserved Joash through Jehosheba, the wife of the high priest Jehoiada, who hid the infant in the temple for six years. This underscores God's faithfulness in preserving the Davidic lineage, ultimately leading to the Messiah.

At age seven, Joash was crowned king and Athaliah was executed. Under the guidance of Jehoiada, Joash initiated religious reforms, restoring the temple and calling the people back to proper worship (2 Kings 12:1-16). This period of his reign illustrates the importance of godly leadership and the impact of covenant renewal in the life of Israel.

The true nature of Joash’s commitment to God was revealed after Jehoiada’s death. Without the priest’s influence, Joash quickly abandoned the Lord and turned to idol worship, leading Judah into corruption (2 Chronicles 24:17-18). This shift highlights a crucial theological theme: outward religious conformity does not necessarily indicate inward regeneration. As Romans 2:28-29 teaches, true faith is a matter of the heart, not mere external obedience. Joash's apostasy warns against relying on external influences rather than a genuine, Spirit-wrought transformation.

Joash’s betrayal reached its peak when he ordered the execution of Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, who had rebuked him for his unfaithfulness (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). This act demonstrated his hardened heart and disregard for God's Word. In response, God raised up enemies against him, leading to a humiliating defeat by the Arameans and ultimately his assassination by his own servants (2 Kings 12:19-21). His tragic end serves as a sobering reminder of Galatians 6:7: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap."