These kings! Ruthless. Out-of-control. Massive murderers. Yet, they did exactly what they wanted to do. I just read a quote from C.S. Lewis: "In each of us, there is something growing up which will of itself be Hell unless it is nipped in the bud. It's not a question of God 'sending' us to hell."
It's all about who we make covenants with. 2 Kings 11:17 "Jehoiada then made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people. He smashed the altars and idols to pieces. And the whole town became calm.
May righteousness stir within us all.
Jezebell asked the question to Elijah in 2 Kings 9 and so did others: "Have you come in peace?"
Elijah didn't answer them, the perpetrators of evil. He let them be. Had no mercy on their wicked ways.
Such a telling thought to throw a woman out of the window to her death. God moves and works in ways we don't understand. Wondering what they thought of this story in that day? Wondering what we think of this forcible forthright dealing with sinful natures.
May we not take lightly the things we do.
Maybe, we think that we are doing all the right things.
Ministering. Missional. Madmen.
How do we know we are right?
How do we know that what we do this day is really for God?
Jehu was anointed by God. A madman ran in and told Jehu ... and ran right out. Sometimes prophets are called a little out of their mind. Jehu's life tells a compelling story---he destroyed the house of Ahab---so zealous for God. But there's so much more than living a zealous life, a successful life, a missional life. We are here for God, not to build our do-good world. There's a telling verse about Jehu, II Kings 10:31, reveals "Jehu wasn't careful to walk in the law of the LORD with all his heart." Oh, how this makes me want to finish well. Sin is never the way of peace ~ Isaiah 57:21.
And the verse I take away from this passage and will hold dear:
It's a quote from the life of Jehu desiring to walk with his friend in unity.
It's a question we must ask ourselves.
“Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?” II Kings 10:15
They bowed to starry hosts.
God never intended for us to worship nature more than Him.
They followed the practices of their peers.
God never intended for us to look sideways for direction. Look up.
They even sacrificed their sons and daughters.
We may look very religious but are we doing it for ourselves?
In secret, they did things against their Lord, their God.
Things that were not right.
Do we?
Am I?
God, change us this moment as I reflect on what I do in secret. Thoughts that may turn wild in motion, against the grain. May I bring them captive to You. May I look to You first, not my peers, never sideways. Take these widdershin thoughts of mine and make them smooth as iron. May I find You in this these 10,000 moments.
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