Jehoash, sometimes called Joash (v. 19), was faithful to the Lord while this priest lived. Jehoash seemed to rely on the priest Jehoiada more than on the Lord. We make a great mistake when we look up to men. We will always be disappointed if we do. Remember, we are now reading about the kingdom of Judah. Not one of the kings of Israel after the division had really turned back to the Lord but some of the kings of Judah did. This was one of them.
V.4-6 This faithful priest is lovely to read about. When he died he was so well thought of that he was buried among the kings of Judah in Jerusalem (2 Chron. 24:16). Now the temple is repaired. Notice how bad the condition of it was. When we turn back to the Lord, we realize how far away we have been. But it is a happy time when we realize that coming back to the Lord surely makes us notice the condition of His house. Only then do we have the energy to “repair it.”