2 Chronicles 24:22

New International Version

King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”

For Meditation

How soon we forget!

He owed his life to the old priest, Jehoiada, and his wife, Jehosheba, who saved him from the carnage of his grandmother Athaliah.

At the tender age of seven years, Jehoiada moved to install Joash as king of Judah and killed Athaliah, who had ruled for six years. The priest guided the young king to establish his rule and led him to repair the temple and renew Judah’s covenant with God.

But the old priest died, and King Joash became a monster. God sent Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, to rebuke Joash. Enraged, the king ordered his death, and they stoned Zechariah to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.  

King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”

A plethora of evil and egotism, wickedness, and ungratefulness to the core!

That is how many of us are. Not long after we have indulged the delicacies from the table of our benefactor, we move to stab him in the back.

The worst of it all is when we do it to God. Every time we disobey His word, we become like King Joash.

Thankfully, God is on His throne, and He rewards justly. Therefore, we will not give up doing good. We should not allow the ungrateful acts of people we help deter us, because primarily we do it for God. By His grace, we will continue to do the right thing—to rescue and help as much as God enables us. As the Apostle Paul admonishes us in Galatians 6:9,

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 

May the Lord help you as you nurse your wounds from a situation of ungratefulness that has cut through your heart. Receive His healing and strength to continue doing good for the glory of the Father in Christ Jesus.

His bounteous reward follows you and your children.

It is well.