Daily Devotional for Saturday, May 10

The Apostasy of Jehu

   “But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin,” 2 Kings 10:31.

Between 1095 and 1291, Crusaders fought valiantly for Christendom. What began as religious fervor and a stand against Muslim invaders became an outlet for rage over time that had little to do with the cause of Christ. Military personnel could pay penance for sins committed by joining the Crusaders. Political boundaries were fortified, and hatred rose between nations. The longer the Crusades raged, the less it was about Christianity. 

After Joram’s and Jezebel’s assassinations, the fear of Jehu fell on the officials of Israel. He was on a crusade to carry out the Lord’s destruction upon the house of Ahab, and he succeeded. Jehu’s name means Jehovah is He, and he even said, “See my zeal for the Lord” (2 Kings 10:16). He destroyed the house and worshipers of Baal and removed Baal from Israel. Jehu was fired up!

Because he carried out God’s command to remove the wicked dynasty, God allowed him to rule over Israel. He also allowed his descendants to rule down to the fourth generation. In true crusade fashion, he fought against wickedness and produced much bloodshed. God’s judgment came at the hand of Jehu. However, Scripture never says Jehu followed the Lord with his whole heart or set his heart to follow the Lord. He did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord all his days. In fact, Scripture says he did not walk in the Law of the Lord. Instead, he followed in the sins of Jeroboam, the dark cloud that hovered over all the wicked kings in Israel. Jehu was allowed to reign over God’s people, but God reduced his territory (2 Kings 10:32).

THOUGHT

May we never lose sight of the cause of Christ in our battle against wickedness.

Kelli Reynolds