2 Kings 13:1-9 ESV

In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them. 3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. 4 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 (Therefore the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly. 6 Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.) 7 For there was not left to Jehoahaz an army of more than fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 9 So Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son reigned in his place.

TAKING GOD’S GOODNESS FOR GRANTED

Jehoahaz assumed the throne of Israel after his father Jehu died. Previously, the Lord promised to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”[2 Kings 7:30] This was God’s favor to his clan. But his son Jehoahaz did evil. Thus, there was a divine punishment in the form of Syrian invasions. It was so severe that it reduces the army of Jehoahaz so insubstantial like ‘a dust at the threshing time’.

But, the Lord did not abandon Israel. Although, Jehoahaz was an idolater, he pleaded for God’s favor who saved them. This was out of desperation. And, God provided an unnamed savior. In other words, God was gracious to them. However, His graciousness had made no difference to Israel’s outlook. They continued in their sins and re-introduced the worship of Asherah which Jehu destroyed. Impliedly, they asked God’s help only when they needed help and only for their own selfish ends.

Certainly, he and the nation were hardened by sin to become unconscionable. For the evil they had done, they deserve judgment. But, God saw how they suffered from the Syrian’s oppression. Unlike them, you and I should not take God’s goodness for granted, should we? Paul said, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.”[Rom 2:4]

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2 Kings 12:17-21 ESV

17 At that time Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath and took it. But when Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem, 18 Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred gifts that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent these to Hazael king of Syria. Then Hazael went away from Jerusalem.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 20 His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. 21 It was Jozacar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, who struck him down, so that he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

A SAD END.

Clearly, King Joash was intimidated by the King of Syria, Hazael. He took all the sacred gifts that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent these to Hazael. Simply said, he changed.

A good start of one’s life does not guarantee a better ending all the time. The turning point in Joash’s life came after the death of Jehoiada: “Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention..” (2 Chr 24:17-19).

Why were they not able to influence him earlier? It is because when Jehoiada was still alive, he was a powerful and influential mentor to Joash. Thus, to have Joash listen to them probably would not work. But as soon as Jehoiada was gone, the leaders of Judah had led him to serve other gods, which was utterly against his beliefs. Their flattery had a profound influence on him that he “did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him” (2 Chr 24:22). All the guidance, care, and instruction that Joash had received from his beloved ‘father’ was forgotten for the remainder of his reign as king. And, ultimately he was murdered by one otf them in cold blood.

What we learn is that despite all the time he spent under Jehoiada’s instruction, he had not established a faith that could stand on its own. The insidious ploy done by the leaders of Judah does remind us of our temptations today. They don’t come at full package; they come piece by piece. Satan waits until you are all alone in your faith, when you let your guard down, desperate or lonely, unsure of yourself, It’s when when you are not close to God.

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2 Kings 12:9-16 ESV

9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the Lord. And the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord. 10 And whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king's secretary and the high priest came up and they bagged and counted the money that was found in the house of the Lord. 11 Then they would give the money that was weighed out into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the Lord. And they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the Lord, 12 and to the masons and the stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and quarried stone for making repairs on the house of the Lord, and for any outlay for the repairs of the house. 13 But there were not made for the house of the Lord basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold, or of silver, from the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, 14 for that was given to the workmen who were repairing the house of the Lord with it. 15 And they did not ask for an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen, for they dealt honestly. 16 The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the Lord; it belonged to the priests.

THE FAITHFUL AND HONEST WORKMEN

In obedience to the king, the High Priest Jehoiada placed “a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the Lord.” It was in a public place so that it was accessible and free from any suspicion of foul play. The priests guarded the chest. And, whenever the chest was almost full of money, the king's secretary and the high priest came up and they bagged and counted the money. Immediately, they would give the money that was weighed out into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the Lord. And they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the Lord, and to the masons and the stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and quarried stone for making repairs on the house of the Lord, and for any outlay for the repairs of the house. These money was spent purely for the building repair so that they did not but accessories, such as basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold, or of silver.

And it must be noted that they did not ask for an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen. Why? It is because they dealt honestly. Definitely, trust is given to honest people. People should not be given a task in order to make them faithful but because they were found earlier as faithful.

Thus, faithfulness is seen in the track record of the person. Did not Jesus say, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? [Luke 16:10-12].

The work progressed well because the job of the repair was given to the right people, that is, with carpentry and masonry skills. More than that, they were faithful and honest. Effective and efficient people of God has these two inseparable traits as the two wings of a plane needed in order to fly. Faithful and honest men are diligent.

2 Kings 12:4-8 ESV

4 Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the money that a man's heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord, 5 let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” 6 But by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests had made no repairs on the house. 7 Therefore King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing the house? Now therefore take no more money from your donors, but hand it over for the repair of the house.” 8 So the priests agreed that they should take no more money from the people, and that they should not repair the house.

WHY ARE YOU NOT REPAIRING THE HOUSE?

Most likely, the temple of the Lord was in disarray by some form of neglect during the reign of Athaliah. It was not totally abandoned but it needed repair. Thus, Jehoash encouraged the raising of funds for its repair. There were three sources of this sacred offering, namely, first, payments in relation to the census of male Israelites[Ex 30:11-16], payments connected to personal vows[Lev 27:1-25] and all the love offerings from the people. It is similar to the special fund raising campaign of Moses in Ex 35 with emphasis of the people’s willingness to give from their hearts.

He reminded and charged the priests to undertake this priority project. But, at his 23rd year, he found out that no repair was done. This was the reason he asked Jehoiada and the priests, “Why are you not repairing the house? They had the money but impliedly, the priests were not anxious to spend the money for the repair. Perhaps, it was divested. Thus, Jehoash took charge and directed them not to take the money from the donors themselves.

Should our altars are in desrepair, it is our priority to repair it is it not? Like the priests, we may neglect it. There could be no simple reasons. But definitely, it’s the problem of our hearts that is the heart of the problem. As the Lord has encouraged the churh at Ephesus, who lost their first love, saying, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”[Rev 3:5]

The returning Jews had similar experience too. For 16 years the continuance of building the temple was stalled. And the people became accustomed to it sight. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.” [Hag 1:2-5]

The repair of God’s temple, needless to say the altar, was of paramount importance. It’s where God said His presence be manifested. Thus, let’s guard our altars. Let’s not allow other things to crowd our hearts which may result to its neglect.

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2 Kings 12:1-3 ESV

In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places.

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Nang ikapitong taon ni Jehu, nagsimulang maghari si Jehoas at siya'y naghari sa loob ng apatnapung taon sa Jerusalem. Ang pangalan ng kanyang ina ay Sibia na taga-Beer-seba. 2 Gumawa si Jehoas ng matuwid sa mga mata ng Panginoon sa lahat ng kanyang araw, sapagkat tinuruan siya ni Jehoiada na pari. 3 Gayunma'y ang mga mataas na dako ay hindi inalis; ang mga tao ay patuloy na naghandog at nagsunog ng insenso sa mga mataas na dako.

A GODLY INFLUENCE.

Jehoash [or Joash] was seven years old when he was proclaimed as the new king of Judah. He inherited a damaged kingdom because of her predecessor, her evil grandmother Athaliah. It’s unimaginable that she even killed all her grandsons except Joash. She was so obsessed to erase the royal family line. This was in no doubt the devil working in and through her. But, by God’s providence Joash was spared from her evil acts because her Aunt Jehosheba and her husband, Jehoiada the high priest, hid him.

Joash was orphaned and young when he assumed the throne. How did he rule rightly before the eyes of the Lord? It was because of Jehoiada, who nurtured him. He was instrumental in molding the life of the young king. When Joash was at the age of seven, Jehoiada crowned him before the people as the new king. And correspondingly, he ordered the killing of Athaliah. Most importantly, he rallied the people to make “a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord's people, and also between the king and the people.”[2 Kings 11:17]

Jehoash had a godly nurture from a godly high priest Jehoiada. He became who he was because of his mentor. And, Jehoiada had played his role faithfully, without ulterior motives. He was in charge in the spiritual training of his nephew but did not usurp his role. In fact, he ran the show but saw to it that it was Jehoash who was recognized as the king. That is, Jehoash had to be a godly king. Like Jehoash, nobody has become a great leader by himself. It is because he is surrounded by godly people around.

What the psalmist David had declared is true, that is, “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.” [Psa 27:10] “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”[Psa 68:5] In the case of of the helpless Jehoash, it was Jehoiada whom God used to help him to become the king God wanted him to be.

Thus today, you and I could be a “Jehoiada” to a young Christian in order for him to grow and reach his potential in Christ. Have we realized that Christians are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”? [1 Pet 2:9] Or, we could be like “Jehoash” who need a godly mentor. Let’s be teachable under their tutelage so that we will continue to grow and behave as kings in Christ.

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2Kings 11:17-20 ESV

17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord's people, and also between the king and the people. 18 Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest posted watchmen over the house of the Lord. 19 And he took the captains, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching through the gate of the guards to the king's house. And he took his seat on the throne of the kings. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king's house.

17 Si Jehoiada ay nakipagtipan sa PANGINOON, sa hari, at sa mamamayan, na sila'y magiging bayan ng PANGINOON; gayundin sa pagitan ng hari at ng bayan. 18 At ang lahat ng mamamayan ng lupain ay pumunta sa bahay ni Baal, at ito'y ibinagsak. Ang kanyang mga dambana at ang kanyang mga larawan ay kanilang pinagputul-putol ng lubusan at kanilang pinatay si Matan na pari ni Baal sa harap ng mga dambana. At ang pari ay naglagay ng mga bantay sa bahay ng PANGINOON. 19 Kanyang isinama ang mga punong-kawal, ang mga Cariteo, ang mga bantay, at ang buong mamamayan ng lupain. Kanilang ibinaba ang hari mula sa bahay ng PANGINOON, at nagsidaan sa pintuang-bayan ng mga bantay patungo sa bahay ng hari. At siya'y naupo sa trono ng mga hari. 20 Kaya't ang lahat ng mamamayan ng lupain ay nagsaya. Ang lunsod ay tumahimik pagkatapos na si Atalia ay mapatay ng tabak sa bahay ng hari.

THE COVENANT

When Athaliah was killed, Jehoiada, the High Priest, had represented the people in initiating a covenant with God. They made it clear that they had committed that they shold be the people of God and submit to the kingship of the seven year old king, Joash. The seed of David had withstood and survived by the skin of the teeth. God had proven that He is in control.

How did they prove it? “All the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.” Cleansing of one’s life is the first evidence of true repentance. He who loves the flower would pull out all the weeds.

A joyous procession followed. “The priest posted watchmen over the house of the Lord. And he took the captains, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching through the gate of the guards to the king's house. And he took his seat on the throne of the kings. So all the people of the land rejoiced.” Rejoicing is a byproduct of God’s mighty exploits.

Peace was experienced. The city was quiet again. As soon as Baal worship had been practiced, there was no peace in the city. Likewise, the guilty heart won’t be able to experience peace until he confesses it before the Lord. Therefore, let’s remember that peace with and in the Lord could be experienced through His cleansing. David had expressed it, saying, “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.”[Psa 32:3]

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2 Kings 11:9-16 ESV

9 The captains did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 And the priest gave to the captains the spears and shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of the Lord. 11 And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house on behalf of the king. 12 Then he brought out the king's son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”

13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 14 And when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.” 16 So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was put to death.

LONG LIVE THE KING!

The six years of Athaliah’s reign was marked with vindictiveness and evil. Earlier, her son Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for she as her counselor in doing wickedly. [2 Chron 22:3 What could anyone expect from this wicked mother now reigning as the queen? Her six years as a queen, Athaliah used her influence to further establish Baal worship in Judah, installiwng priests and building altars for her idol in the very temple of the Lord (2 Kings 11:18; 2 Chronicles 24:7)

The chief priest Jehoiada, however, did an splendid job of protecting Joash, the only rightful heir left of David’s throne. At the seventh year, he and other conspirators arranged secretly the installation of Joash as the new king at the temple. Three companies of armed guards were stationed inorder to secure the ceremony within the temple precincts. There, they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!” Athaliah, having been caught offguard, came rushing in and shouting, “Treason! Treason!” It was little bit too late. The people had made up their mind to support the new king, Joash. She was dragged outside the temple to be executed there.

God may allow us to loss our battles at a certain period of time. But, there will come a time that He would manifest His glory. The celebration of the people would never be sweeter as this. The pain under a wicked queen should have made the celebration extremely significant. As the saying goes, “We won’t recognize the value of freedom until it is lost.”

Similarly, a person must experience and realize first his looseness before he could appreciate wholeheartedly his freedom in Christ. Unless a person recognizes his bankruptcy, he won’t glory in the riches he is going to receive in Christ.

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 2 Kings 11:1-3 ESV

Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. 3 And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

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Nang makita ni Atalia na ina ni Ahazias, na ang kanyang anak ay patay na, siya'y tumindig at nilipol ang lahat ng binhi ng hari.

2 Ngunit kinuha ni Jehosheba, na anak na babae ni Haring Joram, na kapatid na babae ni Ahazias, si Joas na anak ni Ahazias, at lihim na kinuha siya mula sa mga anak ng hari na malapit nang patayin, at kanyang inilagay siya at ang kanyang yaya sa isang silid-tulugan. Sa gayon niya ikinubli ang bata kay Atalia, kaya't siya'y hindi napatay.

3 Siya'y nanatiling kasama niya sa loob ng anim na taon na nakatago sa bahay ng PANGINOON, samantalang si Atalia ay naghari sa lupain.

HIDDEN IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.

As soon as Ahaziah died, his mother, Athaliah ascended the throne. She became the only female monarch to sit on David’s throne. Her demeanor of wiping out the royal family reminds us of her mother Jezebel’s wickedness. But, Jehosheba, hid Joash, who was his brother Ahaziah’s son, away from Athaliah. Jehosheba, also was the wife of the high priest Jehoiada.

Definitely, Athaliah was a very evil queen. She killed her grandsons except Joash. Had she succeeded, the royal line of David would be cut off. But, God had promised that the ‘lamp of David’ will continue to shine. [2 Kings 8:19] Everything seemed uncertain but God will preserve a remnant. It’s an evocative image for us today. It’s a picture of hope. It is a promise of an eternal flame burning in the midst of turmoil and chaos in the world. The light is still on at David’s home while a people get dragged off into exile until the Messiah, the Lord Jesus was born.

Joash had lost his parents but the Lord was with him. David has said, “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.”[Psa 27:10] The Lord had used Jehosheba to nurse Joash in her bedroom at first. She later smuggled the baby out of the castle and brought him to the temple, where he remained hidden for six years while Queen Athaliah reigned over the land. Joash grew up securely in the temple. That is, he was secured both physically and spiritually.

There could be no better place for a boy, who will be the next king, to grow other than in the temple of God whereby he will be consciousness of the presence of God. This is our challenge today. Instead of cursing our painful past and fate, we should stay closer to God and grow in His presence.

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2 Kings 10:29-31 ESV

29 But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. 30 And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” 31 But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.

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29 Gayunma'y hindi humiwalay si Jehu sa mga kasalanan ni Jeroboam na anak ni Nebat, na dito'y ibinunsod niya sa pagkakasala ang Israel, samakatuwid ay ang mga guyang ginto na nasa Bethel at Dan. 30 Sinabi ng PANGINOON kay Jehu, “Sapagkat ikaw ay gumawa ng mabuti sa paggawa ng matuwid sa aking paningin, at iyong ginawa sa sambahayan ni Ahab ang ayon sa lahat ng nasa aking puso, ang iyong mga anak sa ikaapat na salinlahi ay uupo sa trono ng Israel.” 31 Ngunit si Jehu ay hindi maingat sa paglakad ng kanyang buong puso sa kautusan ng PANGINOONG Diyos ng Israel. Siya'y hindi humiwalay sa mga kasalanan ni Jeroboam, na dito'y ibinunsod niya sa pagkakasala ang Israel.

THE GOLDEN CALVES.

God had applauded Jehu for removing Baal worship in accordance to His heart. For this, He would bless his dynasty so that his sons would continue to sit on the throne of Israel until the fourth generations. Obedience results to blessings. Moses said, “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God:”[Deut 28:1-2] Even Jesus had corroboarted this, saying, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”[Luke 11:28]

However, he still follow the sins of Jeroboam, that is, he worshiped and did not remove the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan. His complete obedience of removing Baal won’t absolve God’s displeasure against him for tolerating the worship of the golden calves. Evidently, for Jehu, the eradication of Baal worship was significant so much so that the sins of Jeroboam pales into significance.

How many times we hear people classify sins as big and small; mortal and venial. Like Saul, who proudly affirmed to Samuel that he obeyed the commands of God. But, he was oblivious to the bleating of the sheep. Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. In our walk with God , it’s always carefulness in our hearts. Our hearts can be either calloused or accustomed to an idol seeing it as not obnoxious before God’s eyes.

Therefore, it is necessary for us to let the Spirit search our hearts. Thus we should ask God;

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!”[Psa 139:23,24]

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2 Kings 10:18-28 ESV

18 Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal. 20 And Jehu ordered, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. 22 He said to him who was in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out the vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out the vestments for them. 23 Then Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that there is no servant of the Lord here among you, but only the worshipers of Baal.” 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and said, “The man who allows any of those whom I give into your hands to escape shall forfeit his life.” 25 So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal, 26 and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. 27 And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day. 28 Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE OF BAAL

Samaria was the center of Baal cult worship. The temple of Baal was its iconic structure. King Jehu enjoined all the worshippers of Baal to come for a religious festival at the temple of Baal in Samaria. Hence, he announced, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much. Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.”

This was a trap.

Everyone came so that the place was packed from end to end with unsuspecting Baal worshipers. Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that there is no servant of the Lord here among you, but only the worshipers of Baal.” He saw to it that no servant of the Lord will be one among in the massacre.

As they did the offering, Jehu instructed his 80 armed guards and officers to kill everyone inside, not allowing anyone to stay alive. They went into the inner room of the house of Baal, and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day. Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel.

Definitely, it was an aggressive and decisive act of Jehu to eradicate Baal’s worship. In a similar way to a cancer patient, his malignant tumor must be removed completely. Otherwise, a single cell may multiply agressively inside his body. Undoubtedly, the temple of Baal was the malignant tumor that Jehu had demolished and turned into a latrine.

Should you and I are having some sin strongholds in our lives, we must take a drastic and decisive decision. Should we kill the octopus of sin, we must destroy and cut not only the tentacles but crushed the head. Thus, in our fight against sin, we must not take second chances. Sin always contaminates like a little leaven that always leavens the whole lump.