Jehoash Inscription - a list of repairs done to the First Temple. Some experts debunk this find, others find the patina and the spelling similarities to other artifacts to be correct. Just like the James Ossuary, it is a matter of faith.
2 Chronicles 24:17-25
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.
20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” 21 But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”
23 At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.
25 When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.
Like Saul, Joash has killed a Priest. Unlike Jesus, or Stephen, Zechariah has called for the LORD to avenge his murder. We could say this is another example of the cruelties of the Old Testament. Jesus knew HIS sacrifice took away sin, it was the highest purpose. Stephen knew Grace abounded. Why did Zechariah ask for this as his last request? He knew the people would not learn unless the incorrect ways were pointed out to them. Judah would continue in sin.
We are always faced with injustices in life. Sometimes we are asked to look the other way, to forgive and forgive 77 times. What shall we do when the 77 times are up? And when the hatred becomes intense. It is matter for private prayer. When turning the other cheek has not worked. When you have tried and tried to overcome evil with good.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Luke 6:28
bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you
Praying for someone blesses them.
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
And the Scriptures don't say to be passive aggressive, but to discuss the situation.
Matthew 18:15-16
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
It has been said that happier people bounce. They just don't let it get to them. Forgiveness brings that joy. Not the joy of burying it, but discussing it and continuing down the journey of life God gives us. Paul has said life is an adventure. And he had people who gave him trouble, we all do.
Psalm 37:8
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.
Deuteronomy 28:6
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
It has been said that happier people bounce. They just don't let it get to them. Forgiveness brings that joy. Not the joy of burying it, but discussing it and continuing down the journey of life God gives us. Paul has said life is an adventure. And he had people who gave him trouble, we all do.
Psalm 37:8
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.
Deuteronomy 28:6
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
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