Lessons From Kings: Jehu son of Nimshi I. Base Text: 2 Kings 9:1-10:34 II. Historical Background A. The Kingdom of Israel 1. In 1 Kings 12:1-35, we read of the separation of the Unified Kingdom of Israel during the time of Rehoboam into Israel to the north and Judah to the south 2. We also read there of Jeroboam's, the first king of the northern area of Israel's, idolatry: in order to maintain authority over his people, he erected idols of YHWH in Dan and Bethel 3. For this sin, God punished Jeroboam by removing his house from the kingship, fulfilled in 1 Kings 15:25-29 4. Baasha, the successor of Nadab, Jeroboam's son, did no differently, and his line suffered the same fate, ending with his son Elah in 1 Kings 16:1-8 5. Zimri, the next king, reigned but a week; and Omri eventually took over (1 Kings 16:17-22) 6. The Omride house, with Omri and his son Ahab, represented the pinnacle of idolatry in provoking YHWH, with the latter even marrying the daughter of the king of Sidon, and bringing all of Israel to worship the Baals (1 Kings 16:31-33) 7. It is at this time that YHWH caused Elijah to rise up, and his defeat of the priests of Baal is noted (1 Kings 18) B. Jehu enters the picture 1. In 1 Kings 19:1-14, we see an Elijah lamenting the continual idolatry of Israel despite the glorious work of YHWH 2. YHWH gives Elijah the task of anointing Hazael over the Arameans, Elisha as a prophet to continue after Elijah…and to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi over Israel (1 Kings 19:15-16) 3. YHWH declares that those who escape Hazael will be destroyed by Jehu, and anyone who escapes Jehu will be destroyed by Elisha (1 Kings 19:17) C. Ahab dies in 1 Kings 22:33-40, and his son Ahaziah reigns in Israel D. The stage is set for Jehu, according to the many prophecies of the destruction of the Omride house given in 1 Kings III. The Acts of Jehu A. The lack of faith of Ahaziah leads to his death in 2 Kings 1; since he was childless, his brother J(eh)oram reigns in his place B. Soon after Jehoshaphat king of Judah dies and his son, another J(eh)oram, rules in Judah C. 2 Kings 9:1-11: Elisha fulfills the command of YHWH to Elijah and anoints Jehu king over Israel D. 2 Kings 9:12-28: Jehu is declared king over Israel, goes to meet Joram and Ahaziah (king of Judah), and kills them both E. 2 Kings 9:29-37: Jezebel, although taunting Jehu in the name of the "king-murderer" Zimri, is also executed F. 2 Kings 10:1-11: Jehu arranges for everyone in the Omride house to be executed G. 2 Kings 10:12-17: all loyal to Ahab's clan are executed H. 2 Kings 10:18-28: In an elaborate ruse, Jehu assembles all who serve Baal in Israel together and has them executed I. "Thus Jehu removed the Baals from Israel" IV. Jehu's Downfall A. While Jehu did these many good things for YHWH's cause, 2 Kings 10:29 informs us that he still clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat B. Why would he do so? 1. It had the appearance of true service, since YHWH was the object of worship 2. It had been done for generations by that point 3. It was politically advantageous 4. Therefore, it remained C. YHWH blesses Jehu for removing the Baals by promising four generations of his family after him on the throne 1. Himself, Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:1), Joash (2 Kings 13:9), Jeroboam (II; 2 Kings 13:13), and Zechariah (2 Kings 15:8-9) 2. Zechariah is killed by Shallum, who is killed by Menahem, whose son Pekahiah is killed by Pekah, who himself is replaced by Hoshea, who ends up being the last king of Israel (2 Kings 16-17) D. It is generally seen in political history that the dynasty of Jehu was one of the most stable periods of Israelite history E. Jehu only receives four generations, however, and also lost all of the lands east of the Jordan (Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh, all to the Arameans), because of his idolatry (2 Kings 10:31-34) F. What, then, can we learn from Jehu's example? V. Lessons and Application A. We have seen that God commissioned Jehu to remove the idolatry from Israel B. This he did, in the form of the Baals and the Omride dynasty, but he maintained the cult centers of Dan and Bethel, which were abhorrent to YHWH C. God was pleased that Jehu did reform Israel in some ways, but was not pleased that Jehu did not thoroughly reform Israel. D. This is the same today E. God is pleased when we repent from our sins and walk in Him, but He is not pleased if we do not thoroughly reform ourselves! 1. James 2:10-12: We are still transgressors of the law even if we transgress in only one point 2. Hebrews 13:18: do we want to be found acting honorably in all things? 3. 2 Corinthians 9:8: through God and His Word we have all sufficiency for all things at all times! 4. 1 Corinthians 9:25: we are to be found holding to self-control in all things to run the race 5. 2 Timothy 2:15: we are to be found handling the word of God properly! F. We can only be fully pleasing to God when we are thoroughly reformed! G. These same applications can be made to doctrines and the church 1. Seeing the example of Jehu, can we say that God is pleased with the "reformation" of many denominations? 2. God may be pleased that they do not practice many of the abominable practices from before, but have they fully reformed and returned to the will of God in its entirety? 3. Can we show pride in not adhering to Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, or Evangelical additions to Scripture, yet hold to practices that are also additions to the New Testament? H. We can imagine Jehu using the same types of justifications that are given today for adding things to God's word! 1. "Elijah never prophesied about me destroying the temples of Dan and Bethel." 2. "Israel has always served God at Dan and Bethel." 3. "Surely God would not condemn me for using a golden calf to understand His nature!" 4. "Why would God give me a kingdom to the north but require my people to visit Jerusalem in the south to serve Him?" I. These justifications, both then and now, do not work with God: as God removed territory and the throne from Jehu's house, what will be of those who have not fully reformed themselves? J. Let us take 1 Peter 4:17-18 to heart! VI. Conclusion A. We have seen that Jehu did many good things for YHWH, yet did not fully reform the Israelite religion and therefore received the penalty for his idolatry B. We can apply this example well with churches and denominations who may feel content in their reformations of certain practices and yet maintain many doctrines and practices that do not concord to the truth of the New Testament C. This example also applies to each and every person who claims Christ: have they fully reformed themselves and become full servants of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18)? D. Where do you stand today? Are you as Israel before Jehu, lost in idolatry and sin? Repent of your sins and come to faith in Christ today! E. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, "Jehu is king" (2 Kings 9:13). God made Jehu king over Israel at a critical time for an important purpose: to rid Israel of the Omride house and its service to Baal. As God had spoken to Elijah (1 Kings 19:16), thus He did through Elisha, and Jehu did what God intended for him to do (2 Kings 9:1-10:27). Let us serve God and do all He intends for us to do! 2: So Jehu smote all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining (2 Kings 10:11). The Omride dynasty seemed strong and brought economic and political prominence to Israel. It seemed stable, but it did not take Jehu long to destroy it. YHWH had spoken of its destruction; thus, it was destroyed. Just because the forces of evil seem strong or stable does not mean they can stand against the will of God! 3: Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel (2 Kings 10:28). Ahab's great sin was allowing his wife Jezebel to propagate Baal service throughout Israel. Not long earlier Baal prophets were ascendant; even in their defeat, Elijah despaired on account of Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-14). Yet in one stroke Jehu eliminated Baal service from Israel. YHWH proved yet again to be the God of Israel. Let us not serve false gods but serve the God of heaven in Christ! 4: Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan (2 Kings 10:29). Jehu reformed Israel to an extent but not fully. His dynasty was the longest-lasting in Israel, with five kings on the throne. Then it was overthrown, and Israel itself did not last much longer. God thus appreciates any reformation but is only pleased with full reformation. Let us repent of all sin and serve God fully!