TOPIC: Tragedies of the Wicked

TEXT: 2 Chronicles 24:23-27

Key Verse: “And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of
Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in
the sepulchres of the kings.” (2 Chronicles 24:25).

John Flavel said, “They that know God will be humble; they that know themselves cannot be proud. That person is the
greatest in God’s sight who is least aware of his spiritual stature and who is least in his own sight. When the Spirit exalts a
person, he hides him in such a beautiful naturalness that the person is unconscious
of his own spiritual greatness and is unconscious of his own humility.”

Our text today centres on the judgment of God which came upon Joash for his
aggravated wickedness. He had a good beginning but ended up as an arrogant and an ungrateful king. A small army of Syrians
made themselves masters of Jerusalem, destroyed the princes, plundered the city
and sent the spoils of it to Damascus. God smote Joash with a great disease; his own
servants conspired against him and slew him on his bed for the blood of the sons of
Jehoiada. Finally, his people denied him the privilege of being buried in the sepulchres
of the kings, because he had stained his honour in his wicked reign.

The purpose of our living here on earth is to do the will of God. Our emphasis in life must be on the most essential things which
include being saved, living a life of holiness and preparing for the coming of the LORD.
We are not to be preoccupied with the momentary and transient things such as
our position in life or the influence we have on others. As we wait for the coming of the
LORD, we need to daily examine our lives whether or not we remain humble before
God. We must ensure that we do not use our privileges or exalted positions to afflict those who are less privileged.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The wicked shall not go unpunished.