Pastor Marshall Ochs | October 20, 2024
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from 2 Kings 9-10. God appoints Jehu to execute judgment on the house of Ahab, highlighting the consequences of sinful alliances between Judah and Israel. Jehu eliminates Baal worship and kills many people, including Jezebel and Ahaziah, but fails to address the ongoing sin of golden calf worship. The story serves as a reminder for believers to fully confront sin without going too far, emphasizing the importance of knowing and obeying God’s Word in all aspects of life.
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2 Kings 9
In 2 Kings 9:1-13, we witness Elisha sending a “son of the prophet”—a young prophet in training—to deliver God’s message to Jehu. This moment ties back to previous prophecies in 1 Kings 19:15-17 and 1 Kings 21:19-24, where God declared that the house of Ahab would face judgment for its wickedness. Now, the time for judgment has come, and Jehu is the man called by God to bring it about.
Jehu is anointed king over Israel and given a divine mandate: clean house by destroying the house of Ahab. As we read about Jehu’s call to root out evil, we are reminded of our own call to “clean house” in our lives, especially when it comes to sin.
Just as Jehu was called to cleanse Israel of Ahab’s wicked influence, we, too, are called by God to clean house in our own lives. In the New Testament, we are commanded to put sin to death. Colossians 3:5 calls us to “put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature.” Galatians 5:24 says, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” and Romans 8:13 reminds us that by the Spirit, we are to put to death the deeds of the body.
But what does this look like in practice? Is it enough to feel bad about our sin? To say sorry and move on? Or are we, like Jehu, called to go further? Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:29-30 that if our eye or hand causes us to stumble, we should tear it out or cut it off. This metaphorical language reveals the seriousness with which we should approach sin. True repentance requires decisive action. It’s not enough to feel remorse; we must take steps to remove the source of sin in our lives, no matter the cost.
Several years ago, I came across a statement in a commentary that has stayed with me ever since. It said something along the lines of this: We should treat sin like a poisonous snake, not like a piece of candy.
As we read this story of Jehu, we see that he had a difficult task ahead of him. He was called to root out corruption, and idolatry that had plagued Israel. His obedience would mean judgment on Ahab’s house, but it was necessary for the cleansing of the nation. In the same way, we are called to make hard choices when it comes to sin in our lives. How far are we willing to go to put sin to death? Jehu had a specific mission from God to carry out, but we are given a similar mission in our own hearts and lives. Repentance isn’t just feeling bad—it’s taking real action to root out sin and live in obedience to God’s will.
Sin clouds our judgment in our lives, leading us down paths of poor choices. But God’s grace continually calls us back, reminding us that His purposes will be accomplished. The question for us is, what is standing in the way? What sins, habits, or influences are preventing us from fully experiencing the abundant life God promises?
Reflection Questions:
Jehu was anointed and called by God to bring judgment to the house of Ahab. Are there areas in your life where God is calling you to take action against sin?
What steps can you take to “clean house” and remove sinful habits or influences in your life?
Scripture commands us to put sin to death, not just feel bad about it. Are there sins you’ve been tolerating or excusing instead of dealing with them seriously?
How can you follow Jesus’ teaching to take radical steps to remove the sources of temptation or sin?
Jehu’s obedience to God’s call was a difficult but necessary act of judgment. In what ways do you find it challenging to obey God when it requires making difficult or uncomfortable decisions?
How can you rely on God’s strength to take the steps He’s calling you to make?
Just as Jehu was given a specific mission, we, too, are called to “crucify the flesh” with its sinful desires. What practical actions can you take this week to live out that calling?
How can you seek accountability and support from others to help you in your journey of putting sin to death?
Jehu was called to bring judgment and cleansing to the nation, and we are called to live lives of holiness. What does it mean to you to live in daily repentance and holiness before God?
In what ways can you ask the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you in your pursuit of holiness?
2 Kings 10
In 2 Kings 10, we see Jehu on a mission to purge Israel of idolatry and sin. After being anointed king, Jehu goes on a warpath, executing the kings of both Israel and Judah, killing Jezebel, and sending word to slaughter the 70 sons of Ahab. In his quest, Jehu wipes out the house of Ahab, destroys all the prophets and followers of Baal, and crushes Baal worship in Israel.
On the surface, it seems like a decisive victory for Yahweh. Jehu’s actions appear to be fueled by a “zeal for the Lord” (2 Kings 10:16), and his efforts to eradicate Baal worship seem commendable. By all accounts, Jehu’s mission looks like a massive success.
However, the story turns when we realize Jehu didn’t go far enough. While he successfully eliminated Baal worship, he left the worship of the golden calves untouched. These idols, introduced by Jeroboam, had been a snare for Israel for generations. Jehu’s partial obedience is exposed—he removed foreign gods but allowed Israel’s historical sins to remain. His zeal was incomplete, and as a result, Israel remained entrenched in sin.
Ironically, in other matters, Jehu went too far. While he was praised in 2 Kings 10:30 for carrying out the Lord’s will against Ahab’s house, Hosea 1:4 reveals that Jehu was later punished for the bloodshed at Jezreel. Why? Because of his zeal, Jehu also killed Ahaziah, the king of Judah, a descendant of David—something that God never commanded. In his effort to execute justice, Jehu crossed the line, shedding innocent blood and disobeying the Lord.
Are we careful not to confuse personal preferences with sin issues, going too far and harming others in the process? Jehu’s story challenges us to reflect on these questions. We are called to eliminate sin from our lives, but according to God’s Word, we must avoid both extremes of not going far enough and going too far.
Reflection Questions:
Jehu was praised for his zeal, but his partial obedience left room for sin. Are there areas in your life where you are being “partially obedient” to God’s commands?
What steps can you take to fully address the sin in your life, rather than leaving parts of it untouched?
Jehu went too far in killing Ahaziah, crossing a line that God did not command. Are there areas in your life where you’ve confused your own opinions or preferences with God’s commands?
We are called to put all sins to death, not just the obvious ones like greed or lust. What are the “golden calves” in your life—those less obvious sins you’ve tolerated?
How can you confront and remove those sins, even if they seem minor or culturally accepted?
Jehu’s zeal resulted in both obedience and disobedience. How can you balance your zeal for righteousness with humility and grace, ensuring you don’t “swing the sword” too wildly?
This story shows that both not going far enough and too far are forms of disobedience. How can you avoid both extremes by faithfully obeying God’s Word?
What practical steps can you take to stay grounded in Scripture, allowing God’s Word to guide all things?