READING FOR NOVEMBER 25, 2025: 2 KINGS 12, 1 JOHN 3, PSALM 119:81-88 2 KING 12 Joash had a reign of 40 years as King of Judah. That’s five times the length of a two-term US president. Often the later years of such presidents are not so successful. Nixon was toppled by Watergate; Reagan was entangled with Iran-Contra; and G. W. Bush experienced a great recession. Although he achieved some good, King Joash apparently was no exception. The text states that Joash was “right in the sight of the Lord all his days that Jehoiada the priest instructed him” (vs. 2). Unfortunately, Jehoiada died before Joash’s term was over. We are all given a term of life on this earth. How can we do right in the sight of the Lord to the very end of our term.
Joash identified three revenue streams generated by the Temple that could be used to finance its repair. Yet in year 23 of his reign, he noticed nothing had been repaired. It seems the money was not getting to the workmen in order to make the repairs. Joash ordered the priests to stop taking this money and stay out of the whole repair process. Jehoiada the priest launched a capital campaign where the money went directly to this repair fund, which the high priest and king’s scribe handed over personally to the workmen. This new system eliminated waste and allowed the honest workers to make the needed repairs. Thus, in this sense Joash’s reforms were successful.
A second major challenge developed that may not have been resolved so well related to the temple. King Hazael of Aram signaled his intent to attack Jerusalem. Joash paid Hazael off in order to avoid conflict. The payoff was the accumulated sacred offerings of four kings of Judah and all the other gold found in the temple and palace. This prevented Hazael’s invasion, but was the price too high? The text doesn’t tell us. Instead, it says Joash’s servants assassinated him and installed his son Amaziah king in his place. Not a great ending.
Given the greater context of the Old Testament, it seems whenever a king under threat turns to the Lord, the result is much better than the loss of offerings given for the Lord’s work by His people. Joash was wise to correctly identify the threat but did not seek God’s plan to counter it. What might be a threat Yorktown Methodist Church currently faces? Are we actively seeking God to understand and counter it? “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).
1 JOHN 3 In the first two verses we see two different groups. One group is called the “children of God;” the other group is called the “world” (kosmos). John states the world does not know God. One constantly hears the cliche that we are all children of God. The Bible usually reserves the designation “children of God” for those comparatively few who have received Jesus: “He
READING FOR NOVEMBER 25, 2025 CONTINUE: 1 JOHN 3, PSALM 119:81-88 was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:10-12). Everyone in the world is not a child of God, at least not in this sense. We were all born into the group known as the world (kosmos): not know- ing God. We become children of God only by receiving Him as our Lord and Savior. This is a point of great misunderstanding even for those who have attended church for a lifetime.
The New American Standard Bible renders verse six as follows: “No one who remains in Him sins continually; no one who sins continually has seen Him or knows Him.” This does not seem to suggest that Christians will all be perfect in thought and deed now. It does mean, though, that those who practice sin as part of their normal lifestyle have not experienced salvation. Other passages such as 1 John 4:16-18 relate more to the concept of Christian perfection or entire sanctification. Verse ten again differentiates between the two major categories of people we previously observed: “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother and sister.”
Much of the remainder of the chapter focuses on the idea of knowing if we are Christians due to our love or lack of love for other Christians. A particularly convicting thought is that love that does not show itself in action for another believer does not meet God’s standard. Remember Jesus did not just say He loved us, but He bore our sins and gave his life for us while we were “children of the devil.” It is so easy for us to have the right intentions toward someone in need, but not actually meet those needs, even though we have the means to do so. John links this “follow-through love” for our fellow believers to answered prayer.
PSALM 119:81-88 This section looks at God’s word from the perspective of being in distress. This seems to be an increasing position for those of us getting older and experiencing chronic physical problems. The Psalmist implies that this situation drives him to the Bible with questions, seeking hope and comfort. This is such a wiser strategy than either relying totally on medical solutions or sinking into self-pity, understandable as that might be. The Psalmist confesses he feels like “a wineskin in the smoke.” This expression may have conveyed more meaning in earlier cultures, but at least we can say being in smoke was not the purpose of a wineskin. Perhaps it means feeling far away from what one intended to be and do at this present time of life. Despite this disappointment, he clings to the word, while asking God for timely relief from his persecutors. One can and should do both at the same time. Ever hear anyone say they especially like a certain verse? We know they mean a certain verse really resonates with them, but the Psalmist has it right: ALL GOD’S COMMANDS ARE FAITHFUL!
