Then he went in and are and drank; and he said, “See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king’s daughter.” (2 Kings 9:34)
Today we look at the story of Jehu, who is used by God to cleanse Israel of evil. Despite his initial zeal for God’s mission, Jehu ultimately falls into his own sin. This story highlights the dangers of letting power corrup one’s faith and the importance of staying true to God’s calling.
In 2 Kings 9:30-10:36, Jehu is divinely appointed to eradicate the evil influence of Jezebel, King Ahab, and Baal worship from Israel. His actions are marked by zeal and determination as he confronts Jezebel, orchestrates the death of Ahab’s seventh sons, and eliminates the prophets and followers of Baal.
Jehu’s commitment to cleansing Israel is initially aligned with God’s will. He confronts Jezebel at Joram’s former palace, where her own servants, following Jehu’s command, throw her out the window.
This dramatic act is followed by the execution of Joram’s seventh sons, carried out by their caretakers in allegiance to Jehu and in fulfillment of God’s Word against Ahab’s line.
Jehu then gathers all the prophets and followers of Baal under the guise of a feast, only to trap and kill them, this eradicating Baal worship from Israel.
However, Jehu’s story takes a dark turn as he begins to succumb to his own inner evils. The very zeal that drove him to carry out God’s judgment becomes tainted by personal ambition and a lust for power. His failure to remain humble and true to God’s calling leads to his own downfall, illustrating the perils of allowing power to corrupt one’s faith.
Daily Questions
- Have you ever felt consumed by a mission, only to find yourself losing sight of your initial purpose?
- Do you know of anyone personally that has allowed power to corrupt their faith?
2 Kings 9:30-37 (Read further 10:1-36)
When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and adorned her head, and looked out of the window. And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?” And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down; and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. Then he went in and are and drank; and he said, “See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king’s daughter.” But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servants Elijah the Tishbite, ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.'”
Daily Prayer
As the anointing of the Lord moves through us, we will not stop until we pray and dismantle the works of the enemy around us. We will not repent until we remove any and all false gods and idols in our lives.
We decided and declare that we will honor You with our whole hearts. Unlike Jehu we will not walk away from You or Your presence, we will not settle for a lukewarm relationship with You and Your heart Heavenly Father.
When we are weary of doing well, we will refresh our souls by remembering all that You’ve done for us and by resting in Your presence. Keep us through Your unfailing lvoe, cover us with Your outstretched arm, because we know that it is only through Your power that we will be able to experience “Good Success.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Reflection
Consider the influence you have in your personal and professional life. Are there ways in which you might be letting power or success lead you away from your core values and faith?
Jehu’s story served as a cautionary take about the dangers of losing sight of God’s purpose. This week, focus on grounding yourself in prayer and seeking God’s wisdom in your decisions.
No Thought Police 