Then they broke down the sacred pillar of Baal, and tore down the temple of Baal and made it a refuse dump to this day. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel. However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.
--2 Kings 10:27-29 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on June 24, 2013 of Psalm 112; Galatians 4:21-5:12; 2 Kings 10:18-12.
Jehu was anointed by Elijah as instructed by God with the ultimate purpose, along with Elisha the prophet and King Hazael of Syria, of putting an end to the worship of Baal throughout Israel (please see "Carried Off By a Whirlwind"). To gain the crown, Jehu received help from other commanders of the army of Israel to overthrow and kill Jehoram (Joram), the son of Ahab and Jezebel. He also ordered the execution of Jezebel and the rest of the seventy sons of Ahab, and then he killed or had killed all who remained of Ahab and Jezebel, their great warriors and priests and even their acquaintances, we are told. This almost completed what the Lord had spoken to Elijah concerning the house of Ahab, who had caused Israel to sin. But a little more remained of Jehu's mission. Jehu had King Ahaziah of Judah and forty-two of his relatives killed because they had sided with Joram, both in war and in worship of Baal. Then Jehu and his forces entered Samaria, Ahab's home region, where they killed everyone who remained of the house of Ahab, ending his line just as God ordered through Elijah. Still, the bloodshed was not quite finished.
Jehu called for all the priests and followers of Baal from throughout all the land of Israel to come to the temple of Baal to attend a huge feast in the god's honor. He saw to it that none would be allowed to miss the event, through coercion, deception, and threats. Once everyone had gathered in the temple, Jehu made sure no servants or followers of the Lord were present, then ordered everyone inside to be killed and the temple smashed and burned. With this final stroke, Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel, fulfilling Elijah's prophesy. Unfortunately, Jehu didn't exactly walk fully in the ways of the Lord. He left the golden calves that Jeroboam had erected in the high places of Bethel and Dan for the people to worship, and in doing so allowed the people of Israel to sin.
I wonder if sometimes we aren't like Jehu. Through diligence and faith and a desire to do better and be better, we manage to remove some "idol" from our life, some object or action or attitude that we give more of ourselves to than we give to God and Jesus. We conquer an addiction to alcohol or drugs, we quit finding reasons not to go to church, we stop wasting our money on worthless things and give more of it for the advancement of the kingdom. But then we find something else to "worship", and suddenly we have another idol causing us to sin. God help us but we must destroy all the idols in our lives. Amen.
Father on high, Jehu fulfilled Your word given in the prophesy of Elijah and destroyed the worship of Baal throughout all Israel, but he left other idols for the people to worship, other man-made objects to come before You in their lives. He left them all an avenue to sin. Please, loving Father, help us destroy all the idols in our lives, not just the ones we can live without. Help us rid ourselves of any thing or thought that we might place ahead of You. In the name of Jesus our Savior we pray. Amen.
Jehu called for all the priests and followers of Baal from throughout all the land of Israel to come to the temple of Baal to attend a huge feast in the god's honor. He saw to it that none would be allowed to miss the event, through coercion, deception, and threats. Once everyone had gathered in the temple, Jehu made sure no servants or followers of the Lord were present, then ordered everyone inside to be killed and the temple smashed and burned. With this final stroke, Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel, fulfilling Elijah's prophesy. Unfortunately, Jehu didn't exactly walk fully in the ways of the Lord. He left the golden calves that Jeroboam had erected in the high places of Bethel and Dan for the people to worship, and in doing so allowed the people of Israel to sin.
I wonder if sometimes we aren't like Jehu. Through diligence and faith and a desire to do better and be better, we manage to remove some "idol" from our life, some object or action or attitude that we give more of ourselves to than we give to God and Jesus. We conquer an addiction to alcohol or drugs, we quit finding reasons not to go to church, we stop wasting our money on worthless things and give more of it for the advancement of the kingdom. But then we find something else to "worship", and suddenly we have another idol causing us to sin. God help us but we must destroy all the idols in our lives. Amen.
Father on high, Jehu fulfilled Your word given in the prophesy of Elijah and destroyed the worship of Baal throughout all Israel, but he left other idols for the people to worship, other man-made objects to come before You in their lives. He left them all an avenue to sin. Please, loving Father, help us destroy all the idols in our lives, not just the ones we can live without. Help us rid ourselves of any thing or thought that we might place ahead of You. In the name of Jesus our Savior we pray. Amen.
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