Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 2 Kings 10 and Psalm 127

The violent and vengeful activites of Jehu in 2 Kings 10 are an example of righteous zeal for the LORD that goes too far and ends up blinding us to our own sins.

Jehu started out as an instrument of God’s righteous judgment against Ahab and his descendants. This was something God had warned Ahab and his family about if they did not turn from their wicked ways (1 Kings 21:20-24). Yet successive decendants of Ahab had continued to promote the worship of Baal and the sinful practices that went along with it. So Jehu acted, to a certain extent, as an instrument of God’s judgement.

However, while God’s judgment against Ahab had been pronounced, Jehu seems to have taken matters into his own hands when he put all of Ahazaiah’ descendants to death. And while it was good that he destroyed the temple of Baal and outlawed this pagan religion from Israel, he did not really need to set his bloodthirsty trap and execute hundreds of Baal worshipers.

The chapter smacks of zeal that has gone too far. So, what is it that would push us beyond a healthy zeal for the Lord to a zeal that goes too far? I suspect Jehu’s words in v.16 are a clue. Jehu said to Jehonadab, ‘Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.’ Simply put, Jehu was showing off. Jehu’s sin was pride.

Being proud of how zealous we are is a sure way to lose sight of the correct boundaries for our zeal. As FB Meyer points out in his commentary, “It is easier to be vehement against the abominations of others than to judge and put away your own secret sins.” Jehu’s secret sin was his pride.

Sadly, that pride also blinded him to the irony of executing those who worshipped the false god, Baal, while himself returning to the false worship of the golden calves of Jeroboam. So v.31 laments: “Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.” (the golden calves – see 1 Kings 12:25-30)

Heavenly Father, forgive me for my own sins of pride. I confess that, like Jehu, I often find it much easier to condemn others than to correct myself. It is far easier to see the splinter in the eye of my neighbour, than to see the log in my own eye. Please forgive me, and please transfom me by Your grace. Fill me with a spirit of humility and empower me to live a life that is truly pleasing to You. Amen.