2 Kings 8-15: Come See My Zeal For The Lord

2 Kings 10:15-16   And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.  16 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.

Jehu has been anointed King of Israel by God's explicit directions. He has been told why God anointed him to be king.  Chapter nine and verse seven indicates that God chose Jehu to execute His judgment against the house or family of Ahab.  Jehu was to destroy all of the house of Ahab because of the prophets and servants of God that were slain as a result of the influence of Jezebel.

So how does Jehu approach this divine appointment? Does he do what he can or start out slowly to prevent burnout or people thinking he was a fanatic? No Jehu starts after the task God has given him with great zeal. He begins with the kings of Israel and Judah, then Jezebel, then the seventy sons of Ahab, then all of the remaining family of Ahab, and finally all of the worshipers of Baal. He does not slow down or slack off. He was zealous for accomplishing all that God gave him to do.

     My question is can anyone see your zeal and mine? God has given us just as specific orders as He gave Jehu. Matthew 28:18-20   And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. So are we carrying it out with unbridled zeal like Jehu? Are we teaching the Gospel to the lost, baptizing the converts, and teaching them to think and live biblical lives? The alternative is to give excuses and avoid our privileged duty to our God. We say we are zealous for the Lord, but can anyone see it?

Daily Devotional - Matthew 13:1-43  Parable of the Sower