2 Kings Chapter 10
We continue reading about Jehu in today’s chapter. What do you think of this king Jehu?
First of all, Jehu seemed consumed in his zeal for God to destroy the house of Ahab and all associated with him. We know that Ahab was one of the worst kings of Israel and led the people in disastrous ways away from God.
In the first part of this chapter from verses 1-17, we read about how Jehu slaughtered the 70 sons of Ahab. He did so by threatening those who were protecting the 70 sons of Ahab with war. As the city did not want to face this king who had been victorious in his past battles, they surrendered the heads of the 70 sons.
Then came his scheme to get rid of the big thorn in the religious life of the Israelites – the worship of Baal. So through great deception, he gathered all the prophets of Baal under the false pretext of a celebration of worship to Baal (10:18-19).
But when all of the prophets of Baal gathered in the room, there was a great slaughter of all the prophets.
Can we approve Jehu’s deception? Does the end justify the means?
It was a bit strange that in between destroying Ahab’s descendents and the worshippers of Baal, there was a short interlude where he now had Ahaziah’s 42 brothers killed! Ahaziah was the king of Judah and while the 2 nations were divided, it seems jarring for him to continue in his blood thirsty ‘zeal’.
Jehu was convinced he had the right zeal for God.
But he did not have the right and real relationship with God.
Why do I say it? Jehu obeyed God with great zeal and passion – as long as it benefited him. In fact he was so convinced and proud of his own zeal that when Jehonadab came to him, he invited him into his chariot and said…
“Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.”
2 Kings 10:16
Jehu was proud of his zeal and he wanted to be recognized for this. Everything he did was in a big scale.
It looks all good and grand but when we come to verse 29:
However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.
Despite his acts of zeal, Jehu had sin in his life. Jehu did not follow God with all of his heart.
In the Spiritual Meeting that was just passed, Pr Kong spoke about Resilience in our faith.
He spoke about how we may appear to be worshippers of God – still attending church services but our faith in God has waned and no longer true. We allow things in the world to become more important in our lives.
Jehu was like this. He seemed to have the zeal and got rid of evil. But he did not get rid of the evil in his own land and heart. While he destroyed Baal, he left some idolatry around still.
And in verse 31, it was a damning statement:
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.
Paul in Rom 10:1-3 tells us that zeal for the Lord is a good thing but it must be done according to knowledge.
So let us examine our zeal today.
Are we like Jehu – having the appearance of zeal but this was zeal without the knowledge of God. And such zeal is only fanaticism and often brings out the worst in people.
May God help us.