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JUNE 22 - THE FIRST READING breski1 2nd book of Chronicles 24,17-25. After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and the king then listened to them. They forsook …More
JUNE 22 - THE FIRST READING
breski1

2nd book of Chronicles 24,17-25.
After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and the king then listened to them.
They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem.
Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD, the people would not listen to their warnings.
Then the spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: "God says, 'Why are you transgressing the LORD'S commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.'"
But they conspired against him, and at the king's order they stoned him to death in the court of the LORD'S temple.
Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, and slew his son. And as he was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge."
At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, did away with all the princes of the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.
Though the Aramean force came with few men, the LORD surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers. So punishment was meted out to Joash.
After the Arameans had departed from him, leaving him in grievous suffering, his servants conspired against him because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. They killed him on his sickbed. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Psalms 89(88),4-5.29-30.31-32.33-34.
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”

Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”
I will make his posterity endure forever
and his throne as the days of heaven."

"If his sons forsake my law
and walk not according to my ordinances,
If they violate my statutes
and keep not my commands."

"I will punish their crime with a rod
and their guilt with stripes.
Yet my mercy I will not take from him,
nor will I belie my faithfulness."