Sun.’s Devo -Jehu’s Conspiracy -

Read: 2 Kings 9:14-10:31; Acts 17:1-34; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 17:27-28 Part of the code of the Bible is that the kings of Israel coincide with the Presidents of the United States. Jehu coincides with President Trump so it is interesting what happens. Joram was king of Israel at the time and had been fighting against King Hazael of Aram for Ramoth-gilead. Joram was wounded in the battle and was taken back to Jezreel in Israel to recover. King Ahaziah of Judah had come to visit him. Jehu was a warrior who wanted to get rid of the evil in his country. He saw his opportunity when Joram was weak. He rode like a madman into town. King Joram sent out two different messengers to find out if he was coming in peace and all of them joined him. King Joram and King Ahaziah went out to meet Jehu in their chariots. They met him at the plot of Naboth’s vineyard. When they asked Jehu if he was coming in peace he replied, “How can there be peace as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother, Jezebel are all around us?” Joram cried “Treason” and tried to escape but Jehu shot an arrow which pierced his heart. He died on Naboth’s vineyard just as was prophesied. King Ahaziah fled but Jehu chased him and he died in Megiddo. Jehu then went to visit Jezebel. She was sitting in her window in all her pomp. She called down to him sarcastically and he called back up and asked if there was anyone on his side. Two eunuchs stuck their heads out and he told them to throw Jezebel down. She fell and her blood splattered against the wall and on the horses. Jehu trampled her body under his horses’ hooves. (Talk about putting Satan underneath your feet!) Jehu went to eat and then told his men to go and bury her body. All they could find were her feet, hands and head. She was eaten by dogs just as Elijah had prophesied. Jehu then had Ahab’s 70 sons killed and their heads piled up at the entrance of the city gate. Next he killed all of Ahaziah’s relatives. Jehu called a meeting of all the prophets of Baal and tricked them into thinking he was going to worship Baal. When he got them all in one place he gave orders to kill them all. Jehu drained the swamp of his day. He destroyed the Baal worship in the land but didn’t stop the worship of the golden calves in Dan and Bethel. In Acts, Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica and stayed with Jason and his family. They preached every Sabbath in the synagogue but some of the people violently disagreed with them and came to bring them before the city council. When they couldn’t find Paul and Silas, they took Jason and other believers. Jason and his friends were forced to post bond. Paul and Silas had to escape to Berea that night. In Berea, they were more receptive to hearing the gospel but some of the opposers from Thessalonica came to stir up trouble for Paul and Silas. The believers sent Paul to the coast while Silas and Timothy stayed. Athens was a Greek city full of statues and idol worship. Paul began teaching about Jesus and the Athenians wanted to hear more so they gave him time to speak at the city council. He stood before the people and gave the Good News of Christ. He explained that they had a tomb to an Unknown God and he knew who this unknown god was. Many did come to believe. Lord, help us to remember that we have the truth and we need never be afraid to speak about it. Only Christ is the way the truth and the life.