Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He summoned his courage and made a pact with five army commanders: 

All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3Yet even so, he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.

“Why haven’t you repaired the Temple? Don’t use any more money for your own needs. From now on, it must all be spent on Temple repairs.” 8So the priests agreed not to accept any more money from the people, and they also agreed to let others take responsibility for repairing the Temple.

They restored the Temple of God according to its original design and strengthened it.

But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. 18They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors,

, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”

Lord God my Father,

Give me courage to do your will in the darkness, I wish to only act in a way that is pleasing to you. Give me a strength and determination to only do your will and move away from my own. I want all my efforts to glorify you. Lord God, give discernment to your people and keep us on the path of your desire and expose the darkness for what it is so we may prosper.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen