[2KG:9:1-37]; [2KG:10:1-36].
Lesson 317 - Junior
Memory Verse
"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Notes
Jehu
In one of the battles between the Israelites and the Syrians, Joram, king of Israel, was wounded. It was necessary for him to return to Jezreel while his wounds healed. He commanded an army to stay at Ramoth-gilead as protection for the Children of Israel. One of the captains of the host there was a man by the name of Jehu. It seems that Jehu had been with Ahab when God had pronounced judgment on Ahab and his house [1KG:21:21], [1KG:21:27-29]). God had announced to the Prophet Elijah that Jehu would be king of Israel and that he would carry out the judgments of the Lord.A Messenger
One day as the captains of the host were sitting around, there came a messenger, a young prophet, who wanted to talk to Jehu. They went into a private room where the young prophet told him that he was sent by Elisha. He anointed Jehu with oil and said, "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel." Jehu was instructed that he should carry out the judgments of God upon the family of Ahab. None was to escape; the "whole house of Ahab" was to be slain to avenge the blood of the Lord's prophets whose lives were taken by that family. This was Jehu's commission from the Lord.Judgement
"The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether" [PS:19:9]). The work of Jehu may seem cruel, but consider the evil that Ahab had done. The Lord and His prophets had warned Ahab about his sins. Ahab had refused every opportunity to repent. "There was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD" [1KG:21:25]). Ahab worshiped idols and caused others to do so, too. He had failed to instruct his children in the ways of the Lord, and his children followed their father's evil example. All were guilty before God, and worthy of death. Their time of repentance was over and now they must suffer the penalty. No wonder the Prophet Isaiah sent forth this warning: "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" [ISA:55:6]).Life or Death
The preaching of the Gospel today brings judgment to those who do not repent. When a person hears the Gospel, he is given light. To walk in that light, means spiritual life. To refuse that light means spiritual death. When a person hears the Gospel, believes the report, and obeys, he has life. When he does not believe and obey, he will not live. These are the words of Jesus: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" [JHN:5:24]). Jesus also said: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" [JHN:3:18]).A Man of Action
After the young prophet had anointed Jehu, and given him the commission from the Lord, the prophet left. Jehu returned to the others, who spoke of the young prophet in a disrespectful manner. They wanted to know what he had said. When Jehu admitted that he had been anointed king, his fellow-soldiers honoured him. As a custom of respect, they placed their coats at the top of the stairs to make a throne. They placed Jehu upon it, and with a blare of trumpets declared Jehu to be king. Jehu was a man of action. He had been given work to do, so he started immediately to carry out the Lord's command. He gave orders to the soldiers at Ramoth-gilead that none was to report this in Jezereel where Joram was living.The Watchman's Warning
The first to be destroyed by Jehu was Joram, Ahab' son. Because Joram was sick, Ahaziah the king of Judah had gone to visit him. While he was at Jezreel, a watchman on the tower warned them that someone was approaching. Joram was alarmed, and sent a messenger on horseback to inquire if the errand was peaceful. When the messenger did not return, another was sent. When he did not return either, Joram ordered his chariot so that he could go to meet the visitor.Driving Furiously
The watchman had said that he thought it must be Jehu coming, because he was driving furiously. He was in a hurry, seemingly in a frantic rush. Jehu seemed to have the reputation of doing things with enthusiasm. No doubt he felt as David who said, "The king's business required haste" [1SM:21:8]). Too many people do not have enough enthusiasm for the Lord's work. Some of them move very slowly in obeying the Lord. When God gives us something to do for Him, let us show our appreciation of the privilege by doing it immediately instead of postponing that assignment until a later date.No Peace
Joram, or Jehoram as he was sometimes called, was the son of Ahab and was the king of Israel. There was another man by the same name. He was the son of Jehoshaphat and was the king of Judah [2KG:8:16]). Joram, son of Ahab, "wrought evil in the sight of the LORD" [2KG:3:2]). He committed the same sins as Jeroboam, "which made Israel to sin" [2KG:3:3]). Joram was like other sinners: he had no peace and was fearful of what the future might bring. Apparently he did not trust the captain of his host and was afraid when he saw someone coming. In the Bible we read, "There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked" [ISA:48:22]). Ahaziah and Joram, each in his own chariot, went out against Jehu. When they met, Joram called out: "Is it peace, Jehu?" How could he have peace when he was about to suffer judgment for his sins? As he turned to flee, he was smitten by an arrow from Jehu's bow. His body was placed on the plot of ground which had been Naboth's vineyard. This was the land which Ahab had coveted so much that the owner was murdered that Ahab could have his property. The life of Ahab's son, Joram, was required in this very same place to pay for the blood of Naboth and his sons. When Ahaziah saw what had happened to Joram, he fled, but he did not escape. "The destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab" [2CH:22:7]). Moreover, Ahaziah's mother was the daughter of Omri who was Ahab's father [2KG:8:26]; [1KG:16:28]). Ahaziah was also related to the family of Ahab by marriage [2KG:8:27]). Concerning the life and reign of Ahaziah we read: "He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counseller to do wickedly. Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellers after the death of his father to his destruction" [2CH:22:2], [2CH:22:4]).Jezebel
When Ahab's wife heard what had happened and that Jehu had come to Jezreel, she painted her face and put on a fancy headdress. Perhaps she had hoped to overawe or to scare Jehu. As Jehu entered the gate, she put her head out the window and asked him if a murderer had had any peace. She should have known, because she had caused the death of God's prophets [1KG:18:13]). Jezebel mentioned Zimri who had committed treason by conspiring against his master and slaying him. He took upon himself the work of carrying out God's judgment. Zimri "sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD" [1KG:16:19]).No Escape
By Jezebel's actions and words, she showed that she did not believe what God had said. She suggested that Jehu was like Zimri -" and not a man obedient to the word of the Lord. Apparently, she thought that by her words and actions she could escape the judgment of God. The only way one can escape death for the punishment of sins is to repent and have his sins blotted out by the Blood of Jesus. From a sermon preached by Peter, we read, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" [ACT:3:19]). When a person repents, his "sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment" [1TM:5:24]), but Jezebel had not prayed for forgiveness of sins. The words of prophecy came to pass. Jezebel was tossed out the window, and trodden underfoot by horses. When they went to bury her, they found that only a part of her remained. Judgment had been according to the word of God.The King's Sons
In Samaria there were seventy persons who were considered Ahab's sons. No doubt this included his grandsons as well as his sons. Jehu caused these "king's sons" to be beheaded. He said: "Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah." Jehu was not content with slaying only a part of Ahab's family when the Lord had commanded the death of the whole family. He did not draw back from his gruesome task. He did not stop until none remained of the house of Ahab -" all his great men, his kinsfolk, and his false priests were slain.Baal Worshipers
Jehu felt that he should wipe out Ahab's false religion as well as wipe out his family. Ahab had been responsible for the worship of Baal among the Children of Israel at this time. Not only had Ahab set a sinful example by worshiping Baal, but he had also built "an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria" [1KG:16:32]). After the death of Ahab, the idol worshipers continued to serve Baal. Jehu called together all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests. Death was threatened to all those who would not appear before Jehu. He made them think that he had a sacrifice to offer to Baal. But Jehu was subtle in this, "to the intent" that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal. He asked them to proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. He sent word throughout the land of Israel. All the Baal worshipers were there and the house of Baal was full from one end to the other. There was a careful examination to see that none but Baal worshipers were there. As they proceeded with their sacrifices, Jehu stationed 80 men on the outside of the building with orders to let none escape. This was the last meeting for these Baal worshipers. They were not serving the true and living God. They were sacrificing to an idol which could not see, hear, or help. These people were not keeping the first two commandments that God had given to the Children of Israel through His Prophet Moses. Do you know the first two of the Ten Commandments? You can find them in [EXO:20:1-6]. When Jehu gave the signal, the guards and captains rushed in and slew all the worshipers of Baal. The image of Baal and the house of Baal were broken down. "Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel."Golden Calves
Because Jehu had been zealous and obedient to carry out the command of God, it was promised him by the Lord that for four generations his family would reign in Israel. Thus far Jehu had done well, but there are sad words recorded about him. He "took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart." He did not continue to serve and to obey God. Jehu followed the sins of Jeroboam, who made two golden calves -" images -" for the people to worship in Bethel and in Dan [1KG:12:28-29]). He even declared unto the people that these golden calves -" idols -" were the gods, which brought them deliverance from Egypt. Now Jehu followed Jeroboam's sins. Jehu had destroyed the idol of Baal but he continued to worship the golden calves. This was not God's plan, and was just as sinful as any other idol worship. Regardless of how many good works or how much zeal a person has, he must obey God in all things and continue in the path of righteousness. These are the words of Jesus: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" [JHN:8:31]); and "He that endureth to the end shall be saved" [MAT:10:22]).