LIP SERVICE. 2nd Kings 10 It is true that Jehu was anointed by the prophet and appointed by God to bring an end to the wickedness Ahab and his family brought on Israel and Judah. As he carried out this task, he took control of all the events surrounding it for his personal and political advantage. The massacre at Jezreel and Samaria and the senseless slaughter of all who had anything to do with Ahab went way beyond justice being carried out to the personal ambition of Jehu. He had been a servant of Ahab's family himself.
People have historically used the name of God as justification to carry out atrocities and condone their oppression of others. This is done in the name of "religion," but it is not the judgment of God but the use of force by people to gain political and personal ends. It is true that so-called "Christians" have done terrible things, but that is not biblical Christianity. The leaders of Jezreel and Samaria were terrified of Jehu and carried out his demands, but he was responsible for going to the extremes that followed. It extended to leaders, friends, acquaintances, and priests, which was beyond the responsibility God had given Jehu.
Jehu could say the blame for the slaughter was on the leaders of Samaria, but that did not change the fact that he was the one who gave the orders. Everyone practices shifting blame and responsibility for acts of wickedness. People look for ways to avoid the consequences of their own actions. Confession and forsaking sin are not common actions people take unless they are found guilty by a power higher than themselves. Admission of guilt and taking responsibility for it and the consequences is the first step of repentance that leads to salvation.
Jehu's leadership fulfilled Elijah and Elisha's prophecy regarding the house of Ahab. In his "zeal for the Lord," he did bring judgment on the worshippers of Baal who had spread their insidious doctrine throughout the nation of Israel. Jehonadab and those of the conservative movement who followed the practice of separation from idol worship, materialism, and intoxication by wine were called upon to witness the cleansing of the nation from Baalism.
However, Jehu did not destroy the golden calves Israel had worshipped as representations of God. Jehu did not want those of Israel going to Judah to worship at the temple. Jeroboam had made the golden calves in the first place to keep those of the northern tribes at home. Jehu followed "the sins of Jeroboam." The Lord commended him for doing what he did to the house of Ahab, so his family was able to rule Israel for one hundred years. However, his heart was not right with the Lord.
We can denounce the wrongs of others and take a stand for righteousness, but if our own sins have not been faced and dealt with, we are merely instruments of righteousness rather than servants of the living God. As good as it may be to stop the practice of wickedness in others that leads to idolatry, it is still not right to follow a counterfeit Christianity. We are not given the right to determine how to please the Lord based on our opinions. He has given plain information and instructions on how to live, work, and worship Him.
There are consequences for sin that are dramatic and powerful. They often happen at once. Other consequences whittle away at our testimony a little at a time so that we gradually get used to that loss. One practice that was used to further the work of the Lord may be abandoned because it seems unproductive and a waste of time. Attending a prayer meeting in the middle of the week becomes inconvenient. Extended Gospel activity takes too much of our time, "After all, God can save people in one week the same as He can in six weeks of Gospel meetings" is a common comment. We need to remember that “It pleased God through the foolishness of preaching. To save them that believe.”
The decline of the nation began slowly as the years passed. A little bit of Israel's land was lost here and there as Israel began to shrink in size. Jehu did what God wanted, and for that, he was commended. But he went beyond that and took matters into his own hands, and for that, he was denounced. He started out as a servant but became merely a hard-hearted man doing things for his own ends. His interest in carrying out spiritual goals was only a means to fulfill his political and personal ambitions.
He did what was right but for the wrong reasons, and much of what he did was done in the wrong way. He knew the law of God and what was expected of him, but his heart was not in it, and he chose to act on his own initiative. He knew what was wrong and did it anyway because it suited his purposes. Jehu ended up as one who had to pay tribute to the Assyrian leader as his kingdom began to shrink around him.
It is possible for a child of God to pay lip service to the Lord and still do his own things in his own way for his own self-interests. But payday comes, and that which we do for personal and material gain will not last, nor will it bring satisfaction. It is possible for one to do "Christian" things and be part of a Christian church and not be a Christian. Lip service for such a person can be done for a lifetime, and that person can still lose their soul in hell. We must examine our hearts and the motives behind our actions. We must judge ourselves and make sure that we are not guilty of self-deception. We must ensure that what we do in service for the Lord is according to God's will and word, not our own interpretation of divine things.