2 Kings 9:6-9 - Then
he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said
to him, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'I have anointed you king over
the people of the Lord, over Israel. You
shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of
My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the
hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of
Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab all the males in Israel, both
bond and free. So I will make the house
of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of
Baasha the son of Ahijah.
The job God gave Jehu to do was not easy…the purpose of his
reign was so gruesome it was delivered behind closed doors …while the holy anointing
oil confirmed him as king. The prophetic
words he heard in that moment must have cut deep into Jehu’s soul...for they
described much bloodshed. God was asking him to deliver justice to Ahab’s immoral
family…including his evil wife Jezebel.
It is so hard to imagine a time in the world’s history when
the only way to purge evil from among the people of God was to destroy those
who took part in it. God simply couldn’t
watch as his nation of people was being led farther and farther away from the
love he wanted to give them. God had to
raise up a brave and courageous king…ready to stand for God and do everything
he asked….even if it involved bloodshed.
I think of all those who sit in that ominous seat at the
front of a courtroom…and have the sole responsibility for deciding the fate of
anyone who has been accused of breaking the laws man has made to govern our
country. It can’t be easy to sit in that
seat day after day…and listen to the pleas of those accused….or watch many of
the accused passed in front of him more than once.
Maybe they are thankful for a jury of others to share the
responsibility of the choices that must be made. Maybe God made them with a
special heart to make decisions without emotional involvement…like he must have
made Jehu. For it is only by the strength and courage of God that anyone can
make these tough decisions…the ones that confine one for life…or worse yet demand
a life be taken.
We all know how it turned out when Jesus stood on trial…no
one wanting to be the responsible one for his death. I think in their heart they knew he was
innocent…but they were too controlled by the shouts of the crowd to make a
decision on their own. And I am even
more thankful that God used even their indecision to bring about good…for an
innocent man...shed his blood to save me and you that day.
Father….I thank you for the courage and heart of those you
have placed in positions of great power.
I pray for them today…that you would keep them honest ….and have them
consider what you would have them do before they pass down a verdict. If any of these judges do not know you…I pray
that you send someone to speak your words …like the prophet that Elisha sent to
Jehu. Let them sit behind closed doors….and
discuss how important it is for them to do your will…so less of the world can
be controlled by evil. Thank you for creating us all different…and putting each
of us in just the right job …that you know we can do the best. Amen.
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