Jehu was God’s weapon of judgment upon Ahab and Jezebel. He carried out his mission with intensity and zeal. Although God has not called the church to violence, we should, nevertheless, imitate Jehu’s zeal in our mission to love.

1 Kings 16:30-33 Ahab did more to provoke God to anger than all the kings of Israel who came before him. He introduced and sponsored the worship of Canaanite gods, including Baal and Asherah. His wife, Jezebel of Sidon, was a religious zealot who relentlessly persecuted the prophets of Yahweh, including Elijah (1 Kgs. 19:2).

1 Kings 21:5-7 When righteous Naboth refused to sell his vineyard to Ahab, Jezebel took matters into her own hands. After she had Naboth executed, Ahab took possession of his neighbor’s plot.

1 Kings 19:15-17; 21:19-29 God ordained that Jehu become king instead of Ahab. This Jehu would be God’s weapon of vengeance upon Ahab’s house.

2 Kings 9:4-13 After a young prophet anointed the military commander, Jehu, king, his officers immediately supported his bid for the throne.

2 Kings 9:30-31 Jehu first confronted and the reigning king Joram, Ahab’s son. Then he came for Jezebel. Next, he arranged for the death of all Ahab’s seventy sons.

2 Kings 10:18-19 Last of all, Jehu killed as many worshipers of Baal as he could and turned the temple into a latrine.

John 3:16-17 Jesus is the true and better Jehu. However, God did not send him to condemn the world, but to save it.

Revelation 19:11-16 Nevertheless, when Jesus comes again, he will come in judgment, making Jehu’s zeal look small in comparison.

Pastor Sean uses the Bible version NRSVUE