Justin Houtz

2 Chronicles 24, Revelation 11, Zechariah 7, John 10

DateVersionReading Plan
December 20, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

2 Chronicles 24

2 Chronicles 24:1–2 (ESV) 24 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

Throughout this chapter, we see the effect that Jehoiada the priest had on Joash during his reign. Joash enjoyed a long and largely fruitful kingship while Johoiada was alive, restoring the house of God to its proper condition after the sons of Athaliah had broken into it and used the dedicated things for the Baals. However, when Johoiada died, Joash was suddenly without his guidance and listened to the princes of Judah who favored the old system, resulting in the abandonment of the house of the LORD. Joash even went so far as killing Johoiada’s son, Zechariah, after Zechariah confronted the people for their idolatry.

2 Chronicles 24:8–9 (ESV) 8 So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside the gate of the house of the LORD. 9 And proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.

“Jehoiada did not send the Levites from town to town to collect the money. Instead, he sent them out to require the people to come to Jerusalem and deposit money in a chest that Joash had placed at the gate of the temple. This plan worked.” (CSB Notes)

2 Chronicles 24:17–19 (ESV) 17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.

“When Jehoiada … died, after a long and fruitful life, he was honored by being buried with the kings, an unusual honor for one who was not of royalty. But with his godly influence gone, Joash turned to idolaters for advice, to the ruin of his kingdom. Jehovah sent prophets to warn him, but rather than repent, the leader of Judah rebelled.” (BBC)

Revelation 11

“11:1–14 These verses comprise the second interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments. Similar to ch. 7 during the seal judgments, ch. 10 and this episode in ch. 11 disrupt the sequence of events. John introduces the concept of measuring the temple to connote God’s protection and preservation of His people. He also presents two witnesses as God’s prophetic harbingers of impending wrath.” (FSB)

“11:15–19 At the sounding of the seventh trumpet, another violent outpouring of God’s wrath is expected. Instead, voices from heaven announce the arrival of God’s kingdom. A message of doom for the nations of the world is implied by this proclamation, but this is not initially accompanied by destruction. The result of the arrival of God’s kingdom is that He will once again dwell with His creation.” (FSB)

Zechariah 7

“7:1–14 This passage addresses the practical implications of Judah’s renewed faith in Yahweh. The occasion of the oracles in Zech 7:4–14 is the inquiry of a delegation from Bethel regarding the observance of fast days commemorating the siege and destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (vv. 1–3). Zechariah’s first message criticizes these fasts as inappropriate to the new beginning symbolized by the reestablished Jewish community (vv. 4–7). The second message emphasizes the importance of ethical living over empty religious observances (vv. 8–14).” (FSB)

John 10

John 10:1–5 (ESV) 10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

It is amazing to meditate on how Jesus is our Shepherd. We know the One we are to follow because He enters by the door. He has no need climb in any other way because He is our true Shepherd and to Him the gatekeeper opens. His sheep hear the voice of their Shepherd calling them by name, abiding in His presence and guidance as He leads them out. When all of His own are brought out—for none who are His are left without Him—He goes before them and they follow Him because they know His voice. His own do not follow any other but instead flee from the voice of strangers, exclusive to the calling of One to whom they belong. What a wondrous voice is our Lord’s! May we be ever adhere to it, steadfast to remain close to Him as He ushers us along the path of everlasting life with Himself.

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