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Thus Joash the king did not remember the lovingkindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he killed his son. And as he died he said, “May Yahweh see and avenge!”

2 Chronicles 24:22, LSB

When confronted with sin, a person whose heart is hardened against God will not respond well. The difficulty of a hardened heart is that passions and anger can easily overtake reason, and harm will result. Joash did not remember the mercies shown to Him by the elder priest, Jehoiada, but when Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, confronted him instead of remembering and repenting, he killed Zechariah. As we walk, we are reminded to be careful of anger and offense, but to always remember the mercy of our Lord and turn away from the paths of unrighteous action to seek to glorify God. God does not forget, and He seeks to protect His own. If someone does harm and blasphemes God, there will be consequences as long as their heart remains hard. We seek God’s mercy and ask that He soften hearts and bring them into His glory, and are desire is that no one receive the full wrath of God. In this, we can remember our own indiscretions and find our peace in our Lord’s merciful nature.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.