"And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him" (2 Kin 12:2).
Jehoash did right in the eyes of the Lord as long as Jehoiada the Priest was their to instruct him. But later in his life we learn the following from the word of God: "Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass" (2 Chron. 24:17-18). Jehoash followed the instructions of Jehoiada, but his faith in God was not passed on to the King. Jehoash followed the instructions of Jehoiada but it doesn't seem that he ever develop any intimacy with Jehovah. Jehoiada gave him instructions but he could not give him intimacy--he could give him rules but he could not give him a relationship with God. Therefore, when Jehoiada died, the King was easily influenced by those around him to turn away from God, who he didn't know personally, unto idols.
In order to influence the next generation for Christ, we must do more than teach them rules. We must encourage them to develop their own relationship with God. And in addition, if we desire to stay faithful to God, we must be sure that we are not simply following the instruction of a man, but we must grow in our intimacy with the father. If we desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus we must not only be under the preaching of God's word, but we need to get in the word, on our knees and pursue God for ourselves.
To do right in the eyes of the Lord and stay right, we need the help of others. Thank God for those who take time to teach us and encourage us in the Lord. But we need more than the instructions and encouragement of others who know the Lord. We need to know God for ourselves, we need to learn to preach to ourselves and encourage ourselves in the Lord. Do you know him?
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