2nd Kings 9
FIERCE COMMITMENT REQUIRES CONTROLLED OBEDIENCE Idolatry leads to evil practices in a person and a nation. The wickedness of those who lead has serious effects on the moral standards and spiritual life of a society, and the consequences that result can bring the whole nation down in weakness. That ultimately ends in its demise as a nation. History teaches us this when we learn how world empires that dominated certain times in history are no longer in existence. With a few exceptions like the Roman Empire, two hundred years is about the length of time a nation is influential before the historical drift overcomes the people. The historical accounts of some important evens in Israel are given so we do not make the mistakes they made.
God lets us see behind the scene in which Elisha sent a young prophet forty miles to Ramoth-Gilead where the military leaders of the Israeli army were stationed. Joram, the king was at Jezreel recovering from wounds received in battle. Ahaziah his nephew, was there also visiting his uncle. The time and setting, was right for the judgment of God to fall because of the wickedness, the leadership of the family of Ahab brought on the nation. We do not always know at the time why certain things happen, but in God's calendar of events everything is in order.
The prophet privately told Jehu, a captain of the army, when he came to where the army officers were gathered, that God had appointed him to be king and he was anointed with oil on his head. God intended Jehu to carry out divine judgment and bring justice to the leadership of Israel. When Jehu knew he was given this role and task, he realized the prophecies of Elijah given twenty years before were to be carried out by him. He did not hesitate to take action. His fellow officers had thought the young prophet was a madman until Jehu told them he was anointed king over Israel. They quickly accepted his leadership and followed him to Jezreel. It is important for us to keep in mind the fact that our choices and actions have an effect on others. What leaders do can make or break the lives of those who follow them. It is important for us to consider carefully any decisions we make because other people will be following us.
Jehu was a man of action but seemed to act without thinking things all the way through to the desired outcome. We need to have clear and acceptable results in our mind before we act. Jehu had good leadership qualities and could have been a successful king if he had taken the time to think through a matter all the way to the consequences that follow the action. He was used by God to bring an end to the wickedness of the family of Ahab. He saw what needed to be done right at the moment and did it. His commitment to the work was unquestioning, enthusiastic and immediate. But even though he obeyed and carried out the task given to him at that time, his obedience was not always under control.
The death of Joram and Ahaziah eliminated the leadership dynasty of Ahab. Jezebel mocked Jehu when he came to get her and accused him of doing what Zimri did forty years earlier when he assassinated Elah and was killed himself a week later by Omri. The prophecy of Elijah in reference to Jezebel came to pass as well and there was nothing left of her to bury except a skull, hands and feet. There was no grave or memorial as a remembrance of that wicked woman. The burying place of Joram, the last of Ahab's family was in the ground he had stolen from Naboth.
In our zeal for the Lord, we must follow the guidance of His word, and have the objective of fulfilling His divine will. There are times when the Lord seems to wait a long time to carry out that which is His purpose, and we are tempted to act prematurely. Then on other occasions, His actions are swift and immediate. It is our responsibility to be in close fellowship with our Lord so that we can be "the Lord's messenger, in the Lord's message." When that is the case, we are in a condition and position to do what is needed in the right way and at the right time.
Jezebel had defied the Lord and His word during her life. At her death everything amounted to nothing. Her family, prestige, and power were gone and her legacy was that of distain because of her self-centeredness and treachery. There was no heritage left at all except a bad reputation of spiritual darkness. Our lives are given to us by God to be used to bring blessing to others. Wealth, power, health and all the positive things God graciously grants us, are a stewardship to be used for His glory. The course we set in life is usually done in our early years when we can see clearly without a whole lot of baggage to encumber us.
Our commitment to God and willingness to yield our will to Him for our life, involves being enthusiastic, energetic, visionary and willing to venture out into the unknown. Obedience to our Lord's divine will keep these virtues under control so we don't rush here and there without guidance. We need objectives, including personal goals, to be defined and reachable. Sometimes in our enthusiasm we make rash commitments that may have a bad outcome if we do not take the time before the Lord to carefully plan a course of action.
Jehu had a commission that was clearly given and that he carried out effectively. He came close to being the kind of leader God wanted, but he went too far on his own initiative. He failed to follow through to the end on other things. He settled for less that God wanted because he was acting according to his own personality, rather than divine direction. There is a sense in which our own talents and personality enter into our work for the Lord. These are only useful when used by God in harmony with the gifts He gives us. Natural strengths and abilities are good when sanctified for the Master's use and under His control. Enthusiasm can lead to recklessness. Obedience involves control, direction and action combined.
2Kings 9:17. “And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, is there peace?”
WARNINGS.
All is not well when difficulties come, And those who lead are not there To take the responsibilities God gave to them, And the defense of truth shoulder and bear.
All is not well when tensions arise Between saints and the problem is left unsolved. For the tensions increase and people take sides, Until it is dealt with and justice is served.
All is not well when in a company of people Accusations are made that lead to divisions, And instead of pointing out and avoiding the cause, The offenders incite a serious schism.
All is not well if sin is not faced And correction is not carried out in God’s way. For sin has a way of infecting the whole – Like leaven, sin soon carries the day.
All is not well when without God’s approval We hasten to act in the flesh. And what we had hoped to attain has failed, Because our will and God’s will did not mesh.
All is not well until sin is confessed, And we turn and obey the voice of God. Then we find God has long been waiting for us To submit to Christ’s lordship and His Word.
“I know nothing good can come, O God, when Thy truth and Thy will are ignored. May I always be ready to learn and act on Thy leading without being unduly influenced by pressures put upon me by the will of man – mine or anyone else’s. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”