Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.
2 Chronicles 24:17-18

Joash became king at the tender age of seven—hardly old enough to rule. Fortunately, there was a godly priest named Jehoiada who became a spiritual mentor and father figure in the lad’s life. Joash did good for many years under Jehoiada’s care, but eventually Jehoiada died (at 130 years!). And one the priest died, Joash did an about-face, listening to the ungodly people who were waiting in the wings. They steered Joash in the wrong way. He not only forsook the Lord, he had Jehoiada’s son killed.

Needless to say the nation of Judah entered into an immediate tailspin. They suffered at the hands of the Syrians. Joash became so wicked that his own servants, killed him, and his body was not even buried in the tombs of the kings.

Many people appear to follow the Lord as long as they are in a controlled environment, and accountable to godly people. But when that accountability ends (for whatever reason), the truth comes out. They disrespect those who led them in the ways of the Lord, and their former godly living was invalid and exposed as a farce.

Can people repent from such scenarios? Yes, but they rarely do.

Lord, may our outward devotion be more than outward—lest we follow in the footsteps of young king Joash.