Readings for today: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21
The story of Jehu is a terrifying one. Jehu is called to be God’s hand of justice. He executes God’s vengeance in a brutal, terrifying manner that was par for the course in the ancient near east. He assassinates two kings. He orchestrates the mass murder of their children. He systematically destroys the entire house of Ahab and Jezebel. And he eradicates the worshippers of Baal. It’s a stark reminder of how seriously God takes sin. He simply will not allow evil to flourish. He will not allow injustice to stand. He will not allow humanity’s godlessness to have the final word. Yes, He is patient with us. Yes, He gives us every opportunity to repent. But eventually there comes a day of reckoning. A day of judgment. A day when every wrong is set right and every injustice answered for. This is what we see on display in today’s reading and it is simply a repetition of a pattern that’s been in place since the Fall. Cain and Abel. The state of the world just before the Flood. The Tower of Babel. The time of the Judges. Left to her own devices, humanity inevitably descends into violence, suffering, and pain. She chooses her own ways rather than God’s ways. She always wants to do what is right in her own eyes. Thankfully, God is faithful. He refuses to let us go. He refuses to cut us off forever. The rise of Joash strikes a hopeful note. God always preserves a remnant for Himself. A faithful people who follow His will and provide hope for the nation. Joash lived most of his life in faithfulness and the result is peace and prosperity and security. He restored the Temple. He cleansed the land of idolatry. He led the people back to true worship of the Living God.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. We see this dynamic played out over and over again throughout the Scriptures. I love what it says in 2 Kings 13:23, “But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.” No matter how far humanity falls. No matter how bad things may get. No matter how much violence and suffering and pain may be taking place. God is faithful. God is true. God is steadfast. Immovable. He will not abandon us. He will not forsake His people. He loves us with an everlasting love. “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalms 30:5)
Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24