Bible Reading Blog
“Judgment on Ahab”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: 2 Kings 9-10
Ahab and Jezebel wrecked the lives of many people. Their God-lessness culminated in the murder of an innocent man simply because they wanted him property (1 Kings 21), and this choice, secured God’s judgment against them.
“Thus says the LORD: ‘In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.’ …Behold I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel… the dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.” (1 Kings 21.17-24).
God would appoint Jehu, one of Ahab’s commanders, to carry out the sentence (2 Kings 9.6-10; 25-26). With conviction and zeal Jehu exterminated the house of Ahab, purging the people of their God-less influence, according to the word of the LORD (2 Kings 9.26, 33-37; 10.10-11, 16-17). Moreover, “he wiped out Baal from Israel” (2 Kings 10.18-28). His tactics were brutal, but necessary acts of judgment from God (2 Kings 10.30). However, it appears his behavior went beyond what God expected from him (Hosea 1.4-5); but worse, “Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam… [from] the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan” (2 Kings 10.29, 31), bringing judgment upon his family and the nation (2 Kings 10.30b; 15.12). “In those days, the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel” (2 Kings 10.32).
A couple of lessons to consider from these events.
God is moved by the wickedness in the world. This is the hope of every righteous person— that God will arise and defend righteousness (Psalm 3.7; 7.6; 9.19; 10.12), to which God always responds (Psalm 12.5). It did not happen in the timeframe we would have expected (1 Kings 21.27-29), but God’s clear statement of judgment came to pass. He judged Ahab’s family so as to eradicate their influence on his people; and God is working towards the same end today. Perhaps it is not through mass killings, but God has put the wicked under judgment (2 Peter 2.1-3). We must not be lulled by the passing of time but settled in God’s justice and patience towards all.
God uses people to carry out his will. Jehu was a tool for justice, and he was commended so far as he operated within God’s expressed will to him. However, he was not given carte blanche in these matters. In fact, he got outside the bounds of God’s will and ignored the critical factor of his role: being right with God. For his failures he was also condemned. We must appreciate that understanding our activity from God doesn’t give us liberty to carry it out however we choose. We must continue to submit to God and not the gods of popular opinion or tradition. All the idols around us must be destroyed. We must not be deceived into thinking God’s favor is unconditional or that our usefulness or position are God’s total approval. God has given us these to serve his purposes and glory.
