January 28, 2016
Life of King Jehu
2 Kings describes the anointing and rise to power of Jehu who would become King of Israel following the slaying of King Ahab. King Jehu would be responsible for wiping out King Ahab's family and associates as well as bringing the worship of Baal to a conclusion. In that regard, he fulfilled exactly what he was asked to do. He was a commander of soldiers in Ahab's army and he would usurp the throne of Ahab. Jehu would reign for 28 years over Israel.
Most people, Christians included, perceive God as an eternal being who would never authorize death or command someone to take the life of another. Indeed, murder is a form of death which God does not and would not authorize. However, not all killing is murder even though murder is a form of killing. Jehu had a God-ordained task of killing anyone associated with Ahab. He did follow through on that responsibility and he and his descendants were rewarded for his faithfulness (even though he failed in numerous other areas as far as not coming into obedience to God).
Jehu first killed Ahab's wife, Jezebel. Her life was tossed upon the ground, trampled under and eaten by ravenous dogs. 2 Kings 9:30-37. He then quickly turns his attention to killing all 70 of Ahab's sons. 2 Kings 10:1-11. Those 70 sons were slaughtered and beheaded. There was no honor in their deaths. He also killed all who remained in Ahab's house in the City of Jezreel and all of Ahab's great men, close acquaintances and priests. If you were connected to Ahab, you fell to your death courtesy of Jehu.
Jehu did not stop there. He created a deception whereby anyone in the kingdom who worshiped Baal was gathered for a great sacrifice in honor of Baal. All the prophets, servants, priests and worshipers were to come and those who did not come to worship were to die. Those who did worship also were to die and if anyone did not die, to the extent Jehu's soldiers who allowed anyone to live would be forced to die in the "his life for the life of another" manner. 2 Kings 10. Ultimately, God was pleased with Jehu's complete destruction of thousands of lives. Baal had threatened to blow up God's vision and God's vision will bow to no man and no ideology. None.
Though Jehu was far from perfect in the sight of God, at least with how he handled the situations involving Ahab's family and the worshipers of Baal, Jehu managed to obtain favor from God. Jehu received 28 years of time to reign before he was provided with an honorable burial noting again of course that Jehu largely reigned by not taking heed to walk in the law of God with all his heart. Jehu gave God 'some' of his heart but certainly not what God wanted. He wants 100% of us.
Much can be derived from the life of Jehu. To me, two particular considerations stand out: (1) Jehu was called of God to do something that most people would consider 'immoral' or 'unconscionable'. He obeyed God regardless of perception. Jehu slaughtered unholy people needing to be destroyed and he did it with ruthless abandon. For his faithfulness, his descendants received blessings including the right to rule and reign over Israel for a number of generations. (2) Jehu did not destroy all of the idols in the kingdom; instead he selectively focused on wiping out Baal while at the same time leaving other golden idols remain. By not yielding fully to God, He did not honor God in a manner that was fully pleasing to God and Jehu short-circuited the full measure of the goodness that could have been in Israel during and following his reign. The Kingdom of Israel suffered financial losses to enemies as a result of Jehu's disobedience. Give God 100% of yourself all the time in everything that you think, say and do.
Copyright 2016 - Luke Enno
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