Preserving A Remnant

Preserving A Remnant 

II Kings 11:1-3 NKJV

[1] When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs. [2] But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. [3] So he was hidden with her in the house of the Lord for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land. 

" Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and was given to King Jehoram of Judah as a bride. She was a bad influence on both her husband (Jehoram of Judah) and her son (King Ahaziah of Judah)". Now, after Jehu’s coup, Athaliah tried to save something for Ahab’s family by trying to eliminate the house of David in Judah. V.2 begins with a word that alters the narrative...But Jehosheba... Thank you Jesus. Hear me. Something will interupt the plans of the enemy. It's Gods remnant.

   Jehosheba was  that remnant. She was a little-known woman who had an important place in God’s plan of the ages. Through her courage and ingenuity, she preserved the royal line of David through which the Messiah would come. Evil people like Athaliah will begin their work, but God can always raise up a Jehosheba. You need a Jehosheba. She was a remnant.

   She hid Joash, the roysl line of David for six years in the Temple. What s place to hide a child. It means only those who came to  seek out Jehovah were to know about this royal line. The enemy may think it has won, but God knows how to preserve a remnant to restart the process. All through the scriptures, Gid accomplished things with Remnants 

   Zac Poonen explains the meaning of this remnant. " There is great spiritual decline today. But, in the midst of all this, God has a few who have a heart for Him. They are not all found in one denomination. They are found in all the denominations - men and women who love God and are seeking to honour Him in all things. They are genuinely filled with the Holy Spirit and do not get involved in controversies. They are very careful in the use of their tongues and are very faithful with money. God is gathering such people together in these days as His remnant". Jehosheba belonged here. I pray you belong here too. Good morning.

The End of Jehu

The End Of Jehu: The Best Of The Bad

II Kings 10:32-35 NKJV

[32] In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel; and Hazael conquered them in all the territory of Israel [33] 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. [34] 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? [35] So Jehu rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. 

Its to David Guzik that we owe the title, " Though incomplete in his own goodness, this man was the best of a bad group. Jehu’s goodness was rewarded with a long reign (twenty-eight years)". Knapp says, " The great lesson to be drawn from this remarkable man’s life is that of being constantly on guard, as servants of God, lest we be found doing His work – whether it be in the exercise of discipline, or the accomplishment of reformation – in a spirit of unbrokenness and without due exercise of heart and conscience between Him who is ‘a God of judgment,’ and by whom ‘actions are weighed.". 

     Most people start out well, only to end badly. By the zeal he demontrated at the start, you have the impression that he was headed for a great reformation. God gave him time, " This was a long reign, but notable only at its beginning. Jehu had the energy and influence to truly turn the nation back to God, but his half-commitment to God left that potential unfulfilled and points to a lack of any real relationship with God." Twenty eight years! Feel the message: half-commitment. That is the real problem. How is your commitment?

   Commitment to God is a lifelong journey of surrendering your life to God and prioritizing Him in your thoughts, actions, and decisions. It's not a one-time decision, but rather a daily choice to honour God and allow Him to work in your life.  One of our readers felt what we may all be feeling, and then asked: " Despite God's promises why did Jehu derailed?" I told him, " Personal volition. God cannot live the Christian life for us. Jehu had choices". He failed, but in Christ, you wont fail. Make quality choices your priorities. Good morning.

 

Jehu Stopped Short

Jehu Stopped Short

II Kings 10:29-31 NKJV

[29] 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. [30] 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.” [31] 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. 

God has standards. Whatever you do in life must meet God's starndard. Jehu stopped short. He only exchanged Baal for the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. The golden calves were two idols that King Jeroboam of Israel had created as a way to get the people to worship in the northern and southern parts of his kingdom without having to travel to Jerusalem. 

   Jeroboam's actions were a great sin because they went against God's command to worship only Him and not to bow down to idols. Jeroboam's actions also changed God's system of worship into a man-made system. The actions led to the downfall of his house and the destruction of Israel. Jeroboam is repeatedly called out in the Bible for "making Israel sin". Other kings of Israel, such as Baasha, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, and Ahaziah, are said to have "walked in the way of Jeroboam". And Jehu added to the list.

   Surprisingly, God was still merciful to Jehu because he obeyed God at the beginning of his reign. So God allowed him to have four generations on the throne. The mercies of God. So Jehu did no live up to God's Standard.

    God's standard is holy perfection, and it's different from human standards. Jesus summarized God's high standards in two simple commands in Matt. 22:35-40: "Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbour as yourself". We need the help of Jesus to live up to this expectation. That's what happens when we surrender our lives to Christ. Jehu stopped short. Will you live yours right? Good morning.

Support For The Reformation

Support For The Reformation 

II Kings 10:15-17 NKJV

[15] 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. [16] Then he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” So they had him ride in his chariot. [17] 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. 

To say that Jehu was a reformer is an understatement. In the 16th century, the Christian world witnessed a plethora of reformers who may understand how Jehu felt at the time of his reforms. We had men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, Philip Melanchthon, Martin Bucer, Thomas Cranmer, just to mention a few. Their greatest problem was support for the reforms they were pressing for. They understood that if their reforms are not accepted, they may be rejected forever. All reforms carry risks and may have unintended consequences. 

    So when Jehu met Jehonadab, he wanted to know whether he supports his actions. Jehonadab was the son of  Rechab, founder of the Rechabites, who were a reform movement among the people of God, protesting the immoral and impure lives of many in Israel and Judah. It is later in Jeremiah 35: 6, where we understand better that God used the Rechabites, and the memory of Jehonadab as an example of faithfulness and obedience, to rebuke His unfaithful and disobedient people. So now you understand why Jehu needed this man's approval and even rode with him in his chariot. John Gill says, " the company of such a man, so famous for wisdom and goodness, he knew would give him much countenance among the people, and sanction to what he did."

   Even reformers need support. So do you. If your ever going to accomplish anything outstanding in life, you need both divine and human support. Ask God for ths support today. Good morning.

Was this Coincidence or Providence

Was this Coincidence Or Providence?

II Kings 10:12-14 NKJV

[12] And he arose and departed and went to Samaria. On the way, at Beth Eked of the Shepherds, [13] 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.” [14] 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. 

It may appear difficult to determine whether these events were Providence or Coincidence . Coincidence may be described as an act or an occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection. Providence on the other hand may be described as an act or a state of divine guidance in human affairs. This same thoughts bothered  Dave Reid. Here's his answer to the question of Coincidence or Providence. "The answer to that question is both simple and complex.  It’s simple because the one-word answer is Providence!  The Bible teaches that God is not only sovereign - controlling all things at all times - but He is actually guiding events in accordance with His eternal purposes.  Ephesians 1:11 says that "He works all things after the counsel of His will."  (See Psalm 33:11 & Isaiah 43:13.)  Nothing happens by chance or by accident!  What appears to be merely circumstance is really the outworking of God's plans". So was this a divine set up for God to ckeanse the memory of Jezebel?

   There was a relationship between the house of Ahab and King Ahaziah. Joram of Israel and Ahaziah were nephews. Wikipedia  explains: " Ahazia) or Jehoahaz I (2 Chronicles 21:17; 25:23), was the sixth king of Judah, and the son of Jehoram and Athaliah, the daughter (or possibly sister) of king Ahab of Israel. So there was still a link for evil worship to continue.

   Well, upon all the cleansing that was going on in Samaria, no news got to these folks who came to visit the Kings sons and the queen mother. Dvid Guzik quotes Knapp, " Some believe that the execution of Ahaziah’s family was an example of Jehu going too far. “The sword of judgment, so far as the expressed purpose of Jehovah was concerned, should have been confined to the house of Ahab. But a reckless and ambitious hand was wielding it, and it devoured beyond the allotted limits.” That statement brings back that old argument of Providence or Coincidence. 

   Well, the answer to the division may be seen in a different perspective. " a biblical definition of coincidence would be what occurs together by God’s providential arrangement of circumstances.

What appears to us as random chance is in fact overseen by a sovereign God who knows the number of hairs on every head".( Luke 12:7 ). In Isa 46: 9-11, God declares His sovereignty. God doesn't separate coincidence from providence. They all serve His purpose. Every of your experience will serve Gods purpose.  Just be patient. Good morning.

Wiping Out Ahab's Dynasty

Wiping Out Ahab's Dynasty 

II Kings 10:10-11 NKJV

[10] 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.” [11] 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. 

Anytime the words 'Ahab' or 'Jezebel' are mentioned, they conjure an image of the most sinful leaders Israel ever produced. Today we read a fulfilment of the prophecies on their dynasty. Be careful in life, " the wages of sin is death", ( Rom.6:23 ). The verse maybe a reference for spiritual death, and separation from God, but it may also result in physical death as demonstrated in our story.

   Heres a list of evil committed during the time they were on the throne and how God repaid them: 

  * Death: Ahab was sentenced to death for murdering Naboth. 

*Destruction of his family: Ahab's kingdom was removed from his line, and his family was completely destroyed. 

*Dogs eating Jezebel: Elijah prophesied that dogs in Jezreel would devour Jezebel. 

*Ahab's death in battle: Ahab died in battle with the Syrians a few years after Elijah's prediction. 

*Jezebel's survival: Jezebel survived Ahab's death by about ten years. 

*Prophetic judgments: Ahab's reign was marked by prophetic judgments that foretold the consequences of his actions. 

*Worship of Baal: Ahab allowed the worship of Baal to become an official religion in the Northern Kingdom. 

*Killing prophets: Ahab had prophets killed. 

*Destroying altars to God: Ahab had altars to God destroyed. 

*Nationalizing prophets of Baal and Asherah: Jezebel placed prophets of Baal and Asherah on the national payroll. 

*Imprisoning Micaiah: Ahab imprisoned Micaiah, a prophet who declared that Ahab would fail in battle.

   God knows how to respond to and reward evil. Don't take Him for granted.  Good morning.

The Word Came To Pass

The Word Came To Pass

II Kings 9:35-37 NKJV

[35] So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. [36] Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; [37] and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, “Here lies Jezebel.” ’ ”

Be careful with every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. David Guzik says, " God’s promise against Jezebel and the house of Ahab was exactly and righteously fulfilled (1Ki 21:19; 1Ki 21:23-25)". Joseph Benson is more detailed. " He now calls to mind the words of the Prophet Elijah, which before he had forgot, or did not regard. And the carcass of Jezebel, &c. — These words are not extant in the place where this prophecy is first mentioned, 1Ki 21:23; but are here added by Jehu, by way of explication and amplification. So that they shall not say, This is Jezebel — No memory of her, nothing whereby it might be known there had been such a woman as Jezebel, should remain of her, as a picture or effigies, to which men might point and say, This is Jezebel. No monument was made of her, and she had no sepulchre but in the belly of dogs". 

    There's the phrase in the Bible which is a constant reminder that God's words will be fulfilled. It is , " It came to pass..".  Mat. 11:1; Isa.65:24; Ezek.12:25. God's word will always produce the result that God intends, and God's word will never return to him empty. God's word is true and will come to pass no matter what people do, say, or believe. Good morning.