2 Chronicles 23:16-21

There is a beautiful order in the account here given. The first object of reform is to show that God graciously looks upon his people and remembers his covenant. The covenant that is said to be made, is between him, and between all the people, and between the king. Him means, no doubt, the Lord, and Jehoiada, as his priest, might be supposed to represent him. Sweetly suggesting to us Jesus, our glorious Head and Mediator, whom Jehoiada typified. Hence, what a beautiful portion of gospel comes in, in the midst of this history? And where we expected to find nothing but a simple narrative concerning Judah, here we find a lovely shadow of the Lord Jesus! The next object in this revolution of Judah is the destruction of Baal and his images. When the hearts of the people are turned back again to the Lord, then immediately follows the destruction of idolatry. Reader! how precious a part of our holy faith is it, when we so love the Lord as to hate his enemies, David makes this the subject of appeal in proof of his sincerity, Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? Psalms 139:21. The third step in the reform of Judah, is the arrangement of the temple service. During the usurpation and tyranny of Athaliah all had gone to disorder. But now the Lord shall be again worshipped in the beauty of holiness. And lastly, all the departments of government were brought into regularity and order. So that when God is honored, in his house of prayer, and true religion prevails through the land, all ranks of the people are made happy; there is no leading into captivity, no complaining in the streets. Well might the Psalmist, in the view of such a nation, cry out; Happy is that people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord. Psalms 144:15.