2 Kings 13:8

2 Kings 13:8 says, Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?  As with all the kings of Israel and Judah, we are told that all the acts of Jehoahaz were recorded in the chronicles of the kings.  The reign of the rulers of Israel was never sugar-coated, but both the good and the bad they did was recorded.  As Christians, we do not become perfect people and we should never profess to be.  God will always note both the good and the bad that we do, and the good won't get us into heaven and the bad won't keep us out.  Only our relationship with Jesus Christ will do so.  Verse nine adds, And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.  After Jehoahaz died and was buried with his ancestors, his son Joash began to reign.  One day, we are going to die, unless Jesus Christ returns first, and someone is going to take our place in the world.  Some people may believe that they are irreplaceable, either in their everyday job or their role in the church, but they are not.  Verse ten continues, In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.  Here, we are told that Joash had ruled Judah for thirty-seven years when Jehoahaz's son, here called Jehoash, began to rule in Israel.  Sometimes, the names of the rulers of Israel and Judah were very similar, and often seemed to be used interchangeably, but they were always two different people.  Jehoash ruled Israel for sixteen years.  The name of the people in charge in the church today isn't what is really important.  It is their character, their relationship with God, that is.  Verse eleven states, And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.  Jehoash followed after the ways of Jeroboam and led the people of Israel to sin.  We need ot pray that our leaders today will not lead Christians to sin, especially our religious leaders.  Verse twelve adds, And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?  Here, we are told that the rest of the acts of Joash, as he is once again referred to, are recorded in the chronicles of the kings, especially his war against Amaziah, who was now king of Judah.  In these times, we find that God's people were too often at war with each other, and we as the church, should never be at war with each other.  Verse thirteen continues, And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.  We are told that Joash died and was buried, and that Jeroboam replaced him.  Again, the names can sometimes be confusing, since earlier it was stated that Joash followed after the ways of Jeroboam, and here we are told Jeroboam followed after Joash, but this was a different Jeroboam.  Verse fourteen concludes, Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.  Elisha was old and died.  He was not transported straight to heaven as Elijah was.  Unless Jesus Christ returns first, we will all die before we go to heaven.  This was while Joash was still king, and he came and mourned for Elisha.  Matthew Henry says this was more out of fear for the loss of Elisha bringing protection from God than for a real respect for Elisha.  We should never look at the loss of a religious leader today only out of concern for how it may affect us personally but must always look at it from the point of view as to how it will affect the work in God's kingdom.