2 Kings 12: Do your best given the circumstances!

Verses 4-6: Joash said to the priests, "Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the Lord—the money collected in the census, the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily to the temple. Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, and let it be used to repair whatever damage is found in the temple." But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests had not repaired the temple.

◇ It is unclear exactly when King Joash ordered the temple repairs. However, the fact that the temple had not been properly repaired by the twenty-third year of his reign indicates that the work had been neglected for a long time. This was due to the priests not diligently and wholeheartedly performing the tasks entrusted to them.

Why, then, did King Joash not reprimand or punish the priests for neglecting their duties despite the abundant funds collected from the temple tax, the silver from those redeeming their firstborn sons, and voluntary offerings? Judah had been led into idolatry by Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab who became the queen of the kingdom of Judah. One can imagine the state of the Lord's temple at that time, as well as the treatment the priests serving the Lord might have received.

Could it be that the priests, who had lived a desolate life under the idolater Athaliah, had appropriated the offerings for their livelihood? Perhaps King Joash did not reprimand them because he had not first considered the priests' welfare and instead decided to hire workers for the temple repairs and encouraged new offerings.

Regardless, the fundamental reason for the priests' delay in repairing the temple was likely a lack of a sense of mission. It also appears that the king, despite issuing the command for temple repairs, did not pay much attention to it. Despite the dilapidated state of the temple, the abundance of materials available, and ample time, the repairs were not carried out due to a lack of commitment and strong will.

How much sense of mission do you have for the tasks entrusted to you? Do you possess a strong will? Are you living with a heart dedicated to the Lord, whether in life or death?

♧ God, prevent me from being dependent on circumstances, and help me to perform my duties with dedication, a sense of mission, and a strong will! Restore to me the initial heart I had when I received my calling! Holy Spirit, lead me in truth!