So he who was over the palace, and he who was over the city, together with the elders and the guardians, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and we will do all that you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your eyes.” (2 Kings 10:5)
From this, Jehu knew that the people of the city were
not interested in perpetuating the rule of their former king. He ordered the
slaughter of that man’s sons, then entered the city and took responsibility for
their deaths. He referred to a prophecy made by Elijah who declared Ahab would
die, and even though this evil man repented, the prophet said, “Have you seen
how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before
me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will
bring the disaster upon his house.” (1 Kings 21:29)
As I read this, I’m thinking what does this have to do
with me or my life, or the Christian world today? How is it relevant to modern
life?
One answer is that evil still has the power to rule. It
certainly grabs the hearts of criminals, thieves, and anyone who breaks the
law. It can get into the hearts of Christians too. No one is immune to all the
forms evil takes, from hate to greed, from pride to murder or murderous
thoughts. The greatest evils also bear ‘children’ that are like them,
perpetuating their grip on us and ruining our ability to live godly and
righteous lives.
The people of the city who refused to make a king out of
any of this evil man’s sons are like Christians who hate the power of evil and
do not want it to rule. Yet like them also, we hesitate and are unable to take
drastic action ourselves. We cry out to God and say “Do whatever is good in Your
eyes.”
God replies. He wants all temptation spurned. Any evil
that is in my heart is to be put to death, sent away, separated from the life
of Christ and the life God asks me to live. Some of those evil thoughts, words
and deeds may plead with me, “We are not really so bad,” but like the sons of Ahab,
none of what evil does or perpetuates is to be spared.
Another answer is that when God asks me to choose who
is king over my life, I need to refuse to let evil rule., I must be willing say
no to it, relying on His Spirit to help me, but never hesitating or fearful of
obedience.
Evil can take many forms. Ahab personified it, as did
Jezebel. But they also had seventy sons destined for disaster, offspring that
were evil also.
Suppose I am jealous of another person. That jealousy
can lead to gossip, backbiting, a mean spirited attitude toward that person,
slander, unkind remarks, even refusal to do good toward him/her, which is also
sin. Stopping the initial sin is important lest it spawn a whole host of
children.
Lord, keep my heart right toward You and toward
others. Help me spot any evil in my life before it produces more of the same,
and be ruthless to destroy it and not let it rule over my heart.
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