Jehu Kills Those Who Serve Baal
February 1, 2020
Commentary
In his twenty-eight-year reign, Jehu was unexcelled in his zeal to rid his people of Baal worship. Baal worship had thrived for many years under Ahab and his successors. The victory won through Elijah’s contest on Mount Carmel had been only temporary.
As part of Jehu’s scheme, all of the prophets of Baal and Baal’s worshipers were invited to the house of Baal to be led in worship by the new king assisted by Jehonadab. Jehu issued special clothing for all the Baal worshipers. This was to help prevent any servants of the Lord from entering the building. Eight men were selected to prevent any escape from the building when the massacre began. After Jehu had feigned giving a burnt offering, the signal was given to slaughter the followers of Baal. He did not relax his purge until all of the images of Baal were burned and the house of Baal was broken down. The worship of Baal became a matter of history not to be repeated in Israel.
Unfortunately even though Jehu eliminated Baal worship from Israel, he still remained an idol worshiper, loyal to the calf cult of Jeroboam. Because of this failure to honor the Lord, Jehu was plagued with problems from outside his realm. The king of Syria continued to threaten the northeastern regions of his empire and piece after piece of real estate came under Syria’s domination.
Application
My God is the same God who made a road in the depths of the sea. His methods may change, but His love and care do not.
Isaiah 51:1– 11 (NET)
1 “Listen to me, you who pursue godliness, who seek the Lord. Look at the rock from which you were chiseled, at the quarry from which you were dug.
2 Look at Abraham, your father, and Sarah, who gave you birth. When I summoned him, he was a lone individual, but I blessed him and gave him numerous descendants.
3 Certainly the Lord will console Zion; he will console all her ruins. He will make her wilderness like Eden, her arid rift valley like the garden of the Lord. Happiness and joy will be restored to her, thanksgiving and the sound of music.
4 Pay attention to me, my people. Listen to me, my people! For I will issue a decree, I will make my justice a light to the nations.
5 I am ready to vindicate, I am ready to deliver, I will establish justice among the nations. The coastlands wait patiently for me; they wait in anticipation for the revelation of my power.
6 Look up at the sky. Look at the earth below. For the sky will dissipate like smoke, and the earth will wear out like clothes; its residents will die like gnats. But the deliverance I give is permanent; the vindication I provide will not disappear.
7 Listen to me, you who know what is right, you people who are aware of my law. Don’t be afraid of the insults of men; don’t be discouraged because of their abuse.
8 For a moth will eat away at them like clothes; a clothes moth will devour them like wool. But the vindication I provide will be permanent; the deliverance I give will last.”
9 Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the Lord! Wake up as in former times, as in antiquity. Did you not smash the Proud One? Did you not wound the sea monster?
10 Did you not dry up the sea, the waters of the great deep? Did you not make a path through the depths of the sea, so those delivered from bondage could cross over?
11 Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return; they will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear.
Illustration: Bloom Where You’re Planted
In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a monk and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. “Your Majesty,” said the leader, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.” “I understand,” said Henry. “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.” “Then I will tell you what to do,” said the head leader. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.” When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.” (Steve Brown, Key Biscayne, Florida)