II Kings 8:16-10:36
Remember how good King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with wicked King Ahab of Israel that almost got him killed in battle? And remember how I said there were more serious consequences to come? Well, today we begin to see those consequences. The alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab is one of marriage, with Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, marrying Jehoshaphat’s son, Joram/Jehoram of Judah. (Yes, confusingly, we also simultaneously have a different King Joram/Jehoram in Israel.) Surprise, surprise, Athaliah leads Joram/Jehoram of Judah to follow in the ways of Ahab, which goes to say that he worships Baal, not the LORD. (II Kings 8:18) Then their son, Ahaziah, does likewise. (II Kings 8:27) Let that be a warning to all those who think “missionary dating” is a good idea!
Meanwhile, the LORD anoints Jehu to be king over Israel. Jehu swiftly and efficiently executes God’s judgment on the House of Ahab. He eradicates the entire royal family, its friends and supporters, including Jezebel. Jehu also kills Judah’s King Ahaziah (II Kings 9:27) as well as 42 other members of Judah’s royal family who are friendly to the House of Ahab. (II Kings 10:12-14) Then Jehu wipes out the prophets of Baal and demolishes the temple of Baal, turning it into a latrine. It is all a nasty, bloody business, but make no mistake: it is all utterly necessary for Israel to recover any semblance of spiritual health.
Although the LORD commends Jehu for executing His judgment upon Ahab and promises him a four-generation dynasty, Jehu falls short of full obedience. He continues Jeroboam’s idolatry with the golden calves in Dan and Bethel. Yes, Jehu is clearly a significant improvement over Ahab and his Baal worship, but initial zeal for the LORD does not constitute total devotion.
We should take note. 51% devotion is not 100%. 80% is not 100%. 95% is not 100%. When Jesus says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me,” (Mt. 16:24; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23) He is not talking about wearing a cross necklace and being polite. He is looking for total commitment. When He says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me,” (Mt. 10:37) He is looking for total commitment. Jesus gives 100% for us. We owe 100% in return.
I want to be very clear here. We can do nothing to earn our salvation, but the result of our salvation is a relationship with God in which we respond to what He says and does. That response should reflect an ever-deepening devotion to Him. So, again, look at Jehu. The LORD initiates the relationship. The LORD anoints Jehu. Jehu does nothing to earn that anointing. The LORD empowers Jehu, enabling him to carry out the (preordained) judgment on the House of Ahab and on Baalism. But Jehu is not just a robot, nor is he passive. He has choices to make, and he chooses to zealously do everything it takes to establish himself as king. And then he chooses to stop short. We likewise receive the life of Christ as a free gift that we do not earn. And the Lord empowers our life in Christ by His Holy Spirit. Yet in this life we have choices to make. We can press into our relationship with Christ in total devotion. Or we can stop short. What will it be?