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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