Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Kings+010
2 Kings Chapter 10 (ESV)
25 So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal, 26 and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. 27 And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day.
28 Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel. 29 But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. 30 And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” 31 But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.
REFLECTION:
- If time permits, please read the whole chapter on how Jehu destroyed Baal worship.
- In the passage, the Bible carefully recorded that Jehu did for God including destroying Baal and its worshippers and Ahab’s decedents in Israel. For that God has commanded Jehu.
- But the bloody purge leaves questions. Indeed God’s prophecy was fulfilled politically by Jehu. However, Jehu also used it for self-interest, savagery, and then he repeated the same sin that he has destroyed.
- Jehu was busy removing Ahab’s family from power, destroying anyone who has association with Ahab and Baal. And yet, he was “not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart”. Is it possible that Jehu, who was so busy doing all kinds of “ministry”, was not keeping the law of the Lord? What about me? Could I also be busy doing many ministries but living a life contrary to God’s will?
PRAYER:
Spend a few minutes to reflect on my life. Perhaps I am very busy in God’s ministry and doing a lot of good things for God. But, do I spend time with God and listen to God’s word? Wait for God’s response. During the day, come back and continue this conversation with God.
HYMN:
Be The Centre – youtu.be/pw6rIwmkV6E
