2 Kings 10
Bible Passage: 2 Kings 10
Today’s passage is rather violent. Jehu, the king who was anointed in Chapter 9 of 2 Kings systematically destroyed all those in the household of Ahab. It was a political culling and he made sure that there would be no one left to oppose him.
First he slew the seventy sons of Ahab. Seventy chopped-off heads at the city gate showed everyone Jehu meant business and served as a warning against anyone who would dare to stand up against him.
Second, while visiting Samaria, he ordered the deaths of forty-two innocent people who had not yet heard about the massacre of Ahab’s sons. (The prophet Hosea later foretold that Jehu’s dynasty would be punished for this senseless slaughter. See Hosea 1:4-5.)
Third, and this was almost something out of the movies, he schemed and engineered the destruction of all the priests of Baal. He threatened death to anyone who did not carry out his execution orders (verses 20-28).
Wow….
And to think when you started reading the chapter, you would have thought that Jehu was a decent guy.
Jehu knew of the true God. He was quite zealous in his destruction of all things Baal.
But there was one problem….
31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.
~ 2 Kings 10:31
Jehu was half hearted in his commitment.
Despite doing seemingly great things for God by destroying Ahab’s family and getting rid of Baal, he remained an idolator. He continued to allow the worship of golden calves even though he destroyed Baal.
What was the consequence of his half hearted commitment to God?
It affected and influenced those who followed him.
We read that during his reign “the Lord began to cut Israel short” (verse 32) and his children in successive generations continued in his idolatrous practices.
How is your commitment to God today?
Do we do many things that pleases God … and yet… our commitment to Him is not total and there are many areas where we still fall short… far short of what God wants from us?
Going half way is not enough!
All in!
That’s the only way. Because how we commit to God does not only impact us today but also those around us.
2 Kings 9
One Comment
Camelinaneedle
I apologize in advance for this long comment.
2 Kings 10 : 32
” In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel; and Hazael conquered them in all the territory of Israel ”
I felt that this verse was a reflection of Jehu’s half- hearted “good” and “godly” actions and intentions.
God will not give you His all if He knows that you don’t deserve it at all. Because then, He’s lost His trust in you, and He cannot share His everything with you until you have made good and worthy promise.
I think most of us Christians are pretty resolved to be a hundred percent dedicated to what and who we believe in.
Religion is a lifelong marathon.
There are moments when our hearts still are able to beat steadily to keep us moving, even if we’re merely jogging on the spot.
And then there are moments when our heart falters and grows weary, and suddenly makes us completely aware of our physical weaknesses, convincing us of and consuming us in our exhaustion.
This week, I really realized that us humans have to learn to get over ourselves.
We are too full of ourselves.
We can never be selfless enough to be committed to any cause.
Because this world was made for us, not us for the world.
And so we are the cause of everything in between.