revived. Jehovah kept sending prophets to call the people to their senses, encouraging them to repent. But neither the king nor his princes paid any attention.​—2 Chron. 24:17-19.

Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, was divinely inspired to proclaim: “This is what the true God has said, ‘Why are you overstepping the commandments of Jehovah, so that you cannot prove successful? Because you have left Jehovah, he will, in turn, leave you.’”​—2 Chron. 24:20.

Did Jehoash respond appreciatively to the word of Jehovah through his cousin? To the contrary, he did not even consider the kindness that had been rendered to him by his cousin’s father Jehoiada. Jehoash gave the command for Zechariah to be stoned to death in the temple courtyard. When at the point of dying, Zechariah cried out: “Let Jehovah see to it and ask it back.”​—2 Chron. 24:21, 22.

Centuries later Jesus Christ evidently referred to this incident, saying: “The wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send forth to them prophets and apostles, and they will kill and persecute some of them, so that the blood of all the prophets spilled from the founding of the world may be required from this generation, from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah, who was slain between the altar and the house.’”​—Luke 11:49-51.

Retribution did catch up with Jehoash just as it did later with the unfaithful generation of Jews in the first century C.E. Jehovah God withdrew his blessing and protection from this unappreciative king. A small Syrian military force under the command of Hazael successfully invaded Judah, forcing Jehoash to hand over treasures from the sanctuary. When the Syrian army withdrew, the king was a sick and broken man. Finally, two of his own servants assassinated him.​—2 Ki. 12:17-21; 2 Chron. 24:23-27.

How different life could have been for Jehoash if he had remained an appreciative servant of Jehovah and had continued to experience divine favor and protection! Life can also be different for us, provided we maintain appreciation for God’s righteous requirements. A spirit of ingratitude can bring only ruin, as it did in the case of Jehoash. May we, therefore, strive to maintain keen appreciation for divine direction.

The Mysterious Beasts of Revelation

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