King-killing has a long history. If you can’t vote them out, you carry them out. But this is different! Regicide is the purposeful killing of royalty. This had marked Jehu’s life from the moment he was anointed by Elisha’s emissary. But the story of this man exposes a glaring flaw in many who declare their […]
Men and nations who execute God’s judgment are nonetheless also judged for their actions. Leaving the Jezreel Valley behind, Jehu and his execution squad headed south for Samaria, capital of Israel and the stronghold of Baal worship. An unfortunate group of 42 travelers met him en route. They were “the brothers of Ahaziah king of […]
All families impact society for good or ill. Ahab’s family were so vile that their house must be razed. The recording of brutality in the Bible is not unwarranted. This is not the gratuitous violence of a Hollywood movie. It’s there to show the horrific consequences of human evil. As Jehu approached Jezreel, Jezebel the […]
God has a long memory. The prophecies concerning the house of Ahab were about to come true. Remember that Joram the son of Ahab was recuperating at Jezreel after his wounding at Ramoth Gilead. Ahaziah, king of Judah, Joram’s nephew, was visiting at the time. What follows is like a scene from an old Western. […]
Read More… from June 10, 2024 — On A Collision Course With Judgment
Vessels of wrath like Jehu fit themselves for destruction, but God uses them for His purposes. Just two episodes ago, we recalled the story of Elijah at Horeb, commissioned by the Lord to anoint three men: “Anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. […]
You may have a time keeping the kings’ names straight. They certainly didn’t keep their paths straight! Like Pete for Peter or Jim for James, some biblical names also had short forms. In this episode there are two Jehorams, also called Joram. Joram the son of Ahab has reigned for five years in Israel since […]
Middle knowledge? God’s awareness of what would happen in any possible set of circumstances. “Then Elisha went to Damascus” (2 Ki 8:7). Damascus? The city from which the army came to kill him? Wasn’t it Ben-Hadad’s forces that besieged Samaria until they were driven to cannibalism? Exactly. What was he doing there? The answer will […]
Read More… from June 5, 2024 — The Assassination Of Ben-Hadad
Can God affect our past as well as our present and future? If we don’t “redeem the time,” will He? We who are locked in the present believe the Lord can preempt events still in the future. We know the verse, “Before they call, I will answer” (Isa 65:24). And the Scriptures are full of […]
Just outside the walls of Samaria sat four lepers having a conference. The topic was death—theirs. In the strange fellowship of suffering, four lepers discuss their three options. Option 1: “Why are we sitting here until we die?” (2 Ki 7:3). They could stay where they were and die of their disease. Question: What must […]