The kings of Israel could not get it right. When the Kingdom divided, the Northern kingdom, Israel, had no kings that completely served the Lord. The Southern kingdom, Judah, didn’t fare much better. But they did have eight kings who followed the Lord. There is much we can learn from reading the accounts of these kings and the prophets.
Jehu, king of Israel, is somewhat of a puzzle. He followed the Lord’s command to strike down Jezebel and the house of Ahab because of their gross sins against the Lord. God then used Jehu to wipe out Baal from Israel. 2 Kings 10:28-29 says, Jehu wiped out the Baal from Israel. But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin — that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. That elicited a commendation from God in verse 30. But listen to 10:31, But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.
Why was it so hard for Jehu to follow the Lord? He was diligent in destroying the family of Ahab. He was obedient to get rid of Baal from Israel. But he was not careful in following the Lord with all his heart. He continued to have sin in his life that caused him not to be a Godly king.
Maybe we should ask ourselves the question Jehu should have asked: What are those sins in my own life? What are the idols that I cannot discard, so that I can follow the Lord fully with all my heart? You’ve heard me say that Satan will wait a lifetime to cause a believer to fall. He chips away at our weaknesses, accentuates our flesh, tempts us to let our roots grow deep in this world, so we won’t follow the Lord fully. Jehu did some wonderful things for the Lord, yet he wasn’t careful.
This is a great admonition for me to be watchful. It is a wonderful reminder to have people pray for me, to have accountability, to put up barriers that I can’t cross easily. Many times a situation comes up and people ask, “What were they thinking?” or “Didn’t he see this coming?” The answer to both is, “No, he didn’t see or acknowledge it; he probably wasn’t thinking, at least not thinking wisely.”
Please continue to pray for me and each other. One of my constant prayer requests is that I would be a man of wisdom. Wisdom comes from above and we need to seek it diligently. It was the request of Solomon, yet even he fell because his wives turned his heart towards other gods. It is no small thing to be wise, to be thinking, to be accountable, and to be faithful.
As you study the Scriptures this summer be sure to ask yourself the hard questions. Let the Holy Spirit delve into the crevasses of your heart. Seek to be men that are careful, wise men that serve the Lord with our whole heart.