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“The Danger Of Falling Short” • 7.30.17 • Calvary Christian
Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Last week, we
witnessed the fierce ride of Jehu. He has been a commander in Israel's army,
but had been annointed by God and commissioned to utterly destroy the house of
Ahab.
- While Ahab
has been gone for years, his influence has continued on through both the King
of Israel and Judah, as well as through his widow Jezebel. Jehu has slain each
of these.
- This week, we
will see where the rest of his bloody campaign leads him. Verse 1.
Text
• II Kings 10:1-5 : "Now
Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria,
to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who reared
Ahab’s sons, saying: 'Now as soon as this
letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have
chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and weapons, choose
the best qualified of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and
fight for your master’s house.' But they were exceedingly
afraid, and said, 'Look, two kings could not stand up to him; how then can we
stand?' And he who was in charge of the house,
and he who was in charge of the city, the elders also, and those who reared the
sons, sent to Jehu, saying, 'We are your servants, we will do all you tell us;
but we will not make anyone king. Do what is good in your sight.'" : Ahab's 70 sons were spread out throughout Samaria and were
being raised by various high level officials.
- Jehu offers in a letter to take on the very
best of the seventy, to fight for their Master's home.
- The elders don't see that they have a chance,
so they surrender without resistance.
- Jehu had killed two Kings, which under normal
circumstances, would have been much more difficult had he not acted caught them
by surprise in Jezreel. The elders don't know how it happened.
- Their lack of information and their fear
helps to expedite Jehu's campaign. They will go along with whatever he demands.
Verse 6.
• II Kings
10:6-8 : "Then he wrote a second
letter to them, saying: 'If you are for me and will obey my voice, take the
heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel by this time
tomorrow.'
Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the
great men of the city, who were rearing them. So
it was, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and
slaughtered seventy persons, put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at
Jezreel. Then a
messenger came and told him, saying, 'They have brought the heads of the king’s
sons.' And he said, 'Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until
morning.'" : Without having to raise his own
sword, Jehu orders the execution of all of Ahab's sons and extinguishes the
future of the house of Ahab.
- The next morning in Jezreel was an especially
gruesome day, as the elders came to the city with their appointed heads, which
were then set into two heaps at the city gate.
- Imagine the sight of 70 freshly decapitated heads
laying at the entrance to the city that next morning! The city gate was where
all of the city's business would transact.
- When the market opened, Jehu came to the gate
to make an announcement. Verse 9.
• II Kings
10:9-11 : "So it was, in the morning, that he went out and stood, and said
to all the people, 'You are righteous. Indeed I conspired against my master and
killed him; but who killed all these? Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of the
Lord which the Lord spoke concerning the house of
Ahab; for the Lord has done what He spoke by His
servant Elijah.' So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel,
and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he
left him none remaining." : Jehu met the morning crowd and
assured them that they were in the right.
- The people would likely have felt as though
they would get the blame for what happened.
- Jehu makes it clear that while he was the
initiator of this plot, it was an action taken to fulfill the word of the Lord
that Elijah had prophecied in I Kings
21:21,22.
- Of all the things that Jehu says, this is
abundantly true: Nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of the Lord! All
will be fulfilled! He was living out a prophetic moment!
- Regardless of how long it takes, this will
always be true of God's Word! It will come to pass!
- The summary statement in verse 11 says it all. There wasn't a single
family member, close acquaintance or priest that would carry on Ahab's legacy.
- He was brutal and thorough and he is far from
finished, but it's at this moment that we stand back and look with caution.
- Jehu had been called of God to annhilate
Ahab's family. He has done that. But God did not call him to wipe out the
members of his peripheral government staff.
- There are several points to consider when
thinking about God's judgment, especially here.
- First, God's judgment always comes after a
great period of mercy. We established that in last week's study. Second, when God
does judge, it is meted out precisely.
- There were certain people who were to die and
not one more than that. Jehu, it seems, took matters into his own hands in this
slaughter in Jezreel.
- He had begun to serve God's purpose, but then
he began to like it! That is a dangerous proposition for all of God's servants!
- There are some who will be called to bring
correction to a brother or sister or to rebuke a fellow church member.
- That should never be done with pleasure and
it should never become our identity! "I'm God's hammer!" You are God's
servant that He might use as a hammer or a wash cloth!
- We do not get to decide upon our own identity
in the body of Christ and we should never relish an identity like this!
- Jehu was used by God to wipe away Ahab's
house, but then, allowed His own flesh and bloodthirst to lead him.
- Sadly, Hosea
1:4 details the fact that God will avenge these wrongful deaths against
Jehu though He would allow his success now. Verse 12.
•
II Kings 10:12-14 : "And he arose and departed and went
to Samaria. On the way, at Beth Eked of the Shepherds, Jehu met with the brothers of
Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, 'Who are you?' So they answered, 'We are the
brothers of Ahaziah; we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the
sons of the queen mother.' And he said, 'Take them alive!' So they took them alive,
and killed them at the well of Beth Eked, forty-two men; and he left none of
them." : Talk about being at the wrong
place at the wrong time! Ahaziah's brothers have no idea what has occurred.
-
I'm sure that they thought mentioning Ahaziah and Jezebel would have brought
them favor but they are on the wrong team! Jehu executed all 42 at the shearing
house.
-
Ahaziah's house in Judah will also be vacant, which will present problems in II
Kings 11. Verse 15.
•
II Kings 10:15-17 : "Now when he departed from there, he
met Jehonadab the son of Rechab, coming to meet him; and he greeted him and
said to him, 'Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart?' And
Jehonadab answered, 'It is.' Jehu said, 'If it is, give me your hand.' So he
gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. Then he said, 'Come with me, and
see my zeal for the Lord.' So they had him ride in his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he
killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed them,
according to the word of the Lord which He spoke to Elijah." : Jehu
is leaving Samaria and is met by Jehonodab, a local civic leader who led a
movement of people into moral reform in Israel.
-
A few years after this, Jehonadab's house will be one that is used as an
example of faithfulness to God. (Jeremiah
35)
-
Jehonadab comes to meet him, Jehu, the reformer that his party has been waiting
to support!
-
Jehu recognizes the opportunity and invites him along. Jehu will need men like
Jehonadab to legitimize his reign and he wants to offer him a front row seat to
his next impressive feat.
-
"Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord." I have found that when
a person has to advertise or boast about their zeal for the Lord, there is
trouble in the soul!
-
The best course of action one can follow is to allow another's man's lips to
praise you! Jehu is getting caught up in his own press.
-
When they come to Samaria, initially from Jezreel, Jehu takes out every
remaining person in Ahab's employ. He left no stone unturned, just as Elijah
had spoken.
-
Ahab's family and employees have been dealt with. Now it was time to deal with
Ahab's religion and the priests of Baal! Verse 18.
•
II Kings 10:18-20 : "Then Jehu gathered all the people
together, and said to them, 'Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him
much. Now
therefore, call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his
priests. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever
is missing shall not live.' But Jehu acted deceptively, with the intent of
destroying the worshipers of Baal. And Jehu said, 'Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.' So they
proclaimed it." Jehu seeming pro-Baal stance
would have been welcome news to Baal's religious establishment.
-
They know that they have only thrived in Israel because of the support of Ahab
and Jezebel.
-
Hearing this from the new King of Israel brought a renewed sense of fervor to
them and they no doubt, planned a ceremony that would match Jehu's enthusiasm. Verse
21.
•
II Kings 10:21-28 : "Then Jehu sent throughout all
Israel; and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left
who did not come. So they came into the temple of Baal, and the
temple of Baal was full from one end to the other. And he said to the one in charge of
the wardrobe, 'Bring out vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.' So he brought
out vestments for them. Then Jehu and Jehonadab the son of Rechab went into the temple
of Baal, and said to the worshipers of Baal, 'Search and see that no servants
of the Lord are here with you, but only the
worshipers of Baal.' So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now
Jehu had appointed for himself eighty men on the outside, and had said, 'If any
of the men whom I have brought into your hands escapes, whoever lets him
escape, it shall be his life for the life of the other.' Now it happened, as soon as he had made
an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the
captains, 'Go in and kill them; let no one come out!' And they killed them with
the edge of the sword; then the guards and the officers threw them out, and
went into the inner room of the temple of Baal. And they brought the sacred pillars
out of the temple of Baal and burned them. 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." : Jehu's
plan worked perfectly. There wasn't a single Baal worshipper missing!
-
He gave them their distinctive clothing to wear, making sure that they were
clearly marked. Just to be safe, he made sure that there were no
"unbelievers" in the crowd!
-
When they had finished their sacrifices, Jehu sent 80 captains in and they executed
the worshippers of Baal. Please remember that there is context for these
moments.
-
Israel, whether it recognized it or not, was a Theocratic government. The Monarchy
was merely a regent representative.
-
God's law expressly forbid the worship of any other god and called for the
death penalty to anyone that would dare to propogate another worship system. (Deuteronomy 13:6-11)
-
These worshippers of Baal were always living on borrowed time when they came
into God's land and set up an alternate object and form of worship.
-
They had played with their own lives and now everything that had once
represented their enterprise, was cast down and used as a dumping place for
Israel!
-
The KJV refers to this place as the "Draught House," which unlike
today, does not refer to a brewery, but a public toilet! This was the greatest
way to insult an institution in the ancient world.
-
It's also the most accurate use for a false teaching institution!
-
What a tremendous ride Jehu had! He has come a very long distance and his
crusade was incredibly thorough. That is what makes this next section
completely mystifying. Verse 29.
•
II Kings 10:29-31 : "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. And the Lord said to Jehu, 'Because you have
done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of
Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to
the fourth generation.' But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart;
for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin." : Jehu rode all that way, disposed of Baal's worship system, only
to settle for Jeroboam's false religion once he was King! Baalism was the
worship of false god.
-
Jeroboam's worship, at best, was the false worship of the true God! For those
that require a refresher course, please consult our teaching in I Kings 12.
-
Jeroboam's worship was fashionable, in that it sought to connect Canaanite
history and Jewish Monotheism by the use of the calves, which some have
believed, represented the true God.
-
It was inclusive, in that anyone that wanted to become a priest, could be. It
was built upon convenience, as the two "satellite" campuses were
located at the north and south part of the territory.
-
Ultimately, it was a cheap knockoff of the original and because it was centered
in the ideas and the concern of men, it inevitably led the nation of Israel
into sin!
-
This is the religion that Jehu chose despite having performed God's will and
despite having received a blessing from God for his efforts. That was lost on
Jehu!
-
He refused to walk in the law of the Lord with all of his heart! Isn't that an
interesting statement for a person of Jehu's standing? What hasn't he done with
all of his heart?
-
From the moment that he was annointed King, he's been on a horse riding toward
his enemies, killing all that were in his path.
-
But when it came to the law of the Lord, his heart just wasn't in it! Jehu made
the mistake of loving what he did for God, but not loving the God that called
him to it!
-
Consequently, he expressed this by not departing from from Jeroboam's religion.
-
What a sad epithet for King Jehu personally. To have so much zeal and yet, to
fall short of the goal. It's a terrible story personally, but there were other
ramifications nationally. Verse 32.
•
II Kings 10:32,33 : "In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel;
and Hazael conquered them in all the territory of Israel from the Jordan eastward: all the
land of Gilead—Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh—from Aroer, which is by the River
Arnon, including Gilead and Bashan." : Israel,
under Jehu, had the opportunity to experience a true national revival. Instead,
they experienced a national decline!
-
Make no mistake, this was the Lord's doing. He began to reduce Israel's territory,
first, because Israel's governing official refused to honor Him with His whole
heart.
-
The nation will go as the heart of the King goes! The same can be said for the
family: The kids will almost never exceed their parents in heart response to God!
-
Second, you will see, that He allowed this to take place among the people who
preceded Jehu in making that "half hearted" decision for themselves!
-
Hazael, himself an instrument of God's correction, ran over all of the
territory of "Israel East." This refers to the tribes that remained
on the East side of the Jordan river!
-
The deciding chapter in the "Israel East" story is found in Numbers 32. Like Lot before them, they
lifted their eyes and saw that the land of Gilead was a place for livestock,
which they had.
-
For a purely financial reason, they decided to remain on the East side of the
Jordan. They would have two problems with this. First, they would be in
imminent danger from their enemies.
-
Instead of drawing upon the strength of Israel's population, they settled in a
land that would be distant and hostile. They admit to this in Numbers 32:16,17.
-
Their children will have to live in fortified cities, needlessly, because of
the dangers that presented themselves physically in that part of the land.
-
In I Chronicles 5, we learn that
they consistently fought against the Hagrites. Now, they have lost their own
sovereignty to the King of Syria. The King of Assyria will come next.
-
He will not subjugate them in their land as Hazael is doing. He will move them
away into captivity! Their financial decision has led them to complete ruin!
But that wasn't even their downfall.
-
Their first problem was imminent danger. Their second was isolation. The first
was physical but the second was far more dangerous!
-
They were as far from the Lord spiritually as they were from the center of His
worship physically! That is far worse!
-
They worried about this when they were leaving "Israel West," even
setting up a monument that testified to their connection to Israel. (Joshua 22)
-
They had a monument, but not a heart to return to the Lord or what mattered to
Him. Judges 5:15-17 seems to
indicate that they remained remote during Israel's struggles!
-
They probably paid lip service to the fact that they would make the effort and
come across the Jordan when needed. When the time came, they couldn't be
bothered!
-
Now, we see the consequence of coming most of the way! Reuben, Gad and half the
tribe of Manasseh are linked with the King of "Most of the way!"
Verse 34.
•
II Kings 10:34-36 : "Now the rest of the acts of Jehu,
all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles
of the kings of Israel? So Jehu rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria.
Then Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. And the period that Jehu reigned
over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years." : Jehu reigned for 28 years. That is quite a successful reign for
the nation of Israel.
-
Among the very bad Kings of the North, it can be said that he was the best of
the worst!
-
He was a man of zeal and a man of might. It's a shame that he wasn't a man of
God!
Conclusion
- Is it possible that a person can become so enamored with what they presumably do for the Lord that they forget about the importance of their relationship to the Lord?
- Is it possible that a person can become so enamored with what they presumably do for the Lord that they forget about the importance of their relationship to the Lord?
- When the disciples came to Jesus and reported
their excitement at their success over demons, Jesus told them to rejoice
because their names were written in heaven! (Luke 10:17-20)
- There will be many that come to Christ on the
day of judgment and speak of all that they have done for Him. Many will be told
that He never knew them! (Matthew
7:21-23)
- Is it possible to wipe away a generation of
moral filth and still come short of making a full heart commitment to the Lord?
Learn the lesson of Jehu and East Israel! Close is not close enough!
- Let us walk fully to Christ, drawing near
with our whole hearts, willing to utterly reject anything less than all of Him!
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