Dealing with Good and Evil

All those who watch movies inherently end up clapping our hands for the hero/heroine who has taken revenge over evil forces.  One difficult teaching of the Bible however is to love enemies and to overcome evil by doing good. Strangely we see in our daily lives the reversal attitude of repaying evil for good happening often. My recent reading of the lives of kings of Judah in the Old Testament, who lived during the fading years of Israel’s monarchy, taught me some valuable lessons. Here is one on Joash, a king of Judah who repaid evil for good (2 Chronicles: chapters 22-24)

Joash was the grandson of Queen Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.  Athaliah was a wicked queen who for her craving for power killed her own grandsons and possible heirs to the throne after the death of her son Ahaziah. Jehosheba, who was the wife of Jehoida, the priest daringly stole Joash the infant son of Ahaziah from the murdering spree of Athaliah. She hid little Joash and his nurse in the temple for six years. Jehoida, the priest then acted wisely and courageously and made Joash king at an appropriate time and murdered wicked Athaliah whe had by then replaced Yahweh and made Baal as God for her nation. The Scripture says, “So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed.” (2 Chronicles 23:21)

Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoida arranged the marriage of Joash. He also helped the young king in his effort  to renovate the Jerusalem temple which was ruined by Athaliah.  Jehoiada then died.  The Scripture says  that, he was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his Temple (2 Chronicles 24:16). But after his death, the king succumbed to the pressures of the leaders of Israel and went back to worshipping Baal and led the nation to idolatry.  He did not heed to the many prophets God sent to warn him. The climax of his unfaithful act happened when he murdered Zechariah, the son of Jehoida who was trying to warn the nation of their wicked ways. The Scripture puts it like this: That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his love and loyalty – by killing his son. Zechariah's last words as he died were, "May the LORD see what they are doing and hold them accountable!"

At the beginning of the year, the Aramean army marched against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the nation. Although the Arameans attacked with only a small army, the LORD helped them conquer the much larger army of Judah. The people of Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, so judgment was executed against Joash. The Arameans withdrew, leaving Joash severely wounded. But his own officials decided to kill him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest. They assassinated him as he lay in bed. Then he was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery. (2 Chronicles 24: 22-25)

The natural human tendency is to repay evil for evil like what we see in movies. It is also easy to repay good with evil for some reason, like how Joash did. But it is hard to choose to repay evil with good. The Joseph and Jesus model of repaying good for evil needs a divine strength by which we put our trust in a God who is just and simply leave the rest to Him. Sometimes now, if not eternity will reveal this truth, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Joseph said to his brothers: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50: 20-21

When they hurled their insults at him (Jesus), he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23)

As children of a God who is just, we are called therefore not to repay good with evil, but repay evil with good.

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