Mon’s Devo - Jezebel’s Fall

Read: 2 Kings 9:14-10:31; Acts 17:1-34; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 17:27-28 King Joram of Israel had been wounded while fighting Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. He returned to Samaria to heal. King Ahaziah had come to visit King Joram. (King Ahaziah was Joram’s grand nephew and grandson to Ahab.) *** They saw a lone rider approaching the city and sent out a messenger to find out if the man was coming in peace. He told the first rider that he had nothing to do with peace and told him to join him. A second messenger was sent out and he was told the same. The watcher recognized the rider as Jehu because he was riding like a madman. (This was Trump in our day.) *** King Joram and King Ahaziah rode out on Naboth’s land to meet Jehu. When Jehu made it clear that there would be no peace as long as Jezebel was alive, they turned and fled. Jehu shot Joram between the shoulders and it pierced his heart. His body was a thrown on Naboth’s land to appeased the death of Naboth. This had been said of Ahab but when he repented the Lord said it would happen to his son instead. (1 Kings 21:19) *** Ahaziah fled as far as Medigo where he was killed and his body carried back to Jerusalem and buried there. *** Jezebel put on her thick eye-liner as a sign of dominance to intimidate Jehu. She looked out her window and asked if he had come in peace or was he like Zimri. Zimri had murdered Elah the king of Israel, only have the throne seven days. He was killed when Omri attacked and Zimri set fire to his own palace and died in the fire. All of this was Jezebel’s way of making Jehu feel small. *** Jehu was not intimidated. He asked if there was anyone up there on his side and two eunuchs looked out the window. Jehu told them to throw her down and they did. She died on the land of Naboth’s vineyard. Jehu trampled her under his feet then went into the palace and ate and drank. He later had men bury her but most of her body had been eaten by the dogs just like the prophet Elijah had said. *** Jehu then had the 70 sons of Ahab killed and their skulls brought to him and piled at the entrance of the city gate. He drove to Samaria and finished the job killing all of Ahah’s dynasty. To finish his destiny, he called all the prophets of Baal to meet him at the Temple of Baal in Samaria under the pretense of worshipping with them. When they all arrived he locked the door and had given orders to his men to kill them all when he gave the order. They dragged their bodies out as well as all the altars and things used in their worship. They turned the temple into a public bathroom. *** Jehu did all he was called to do except he didn’t take down the golden calves that were in Dan and Bethel. Sadly, Jehu didn’t obey the Law of the Lord and refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. Nevertheless, God had promised that Jehu would have descendants for 4 generations on the throne of Israel. *** In Acts, Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica and preached for three Sabbaths in the synagogue about Jesus and his death and resurrection. He proved that Jesus was the Messiah. Many Jews and Greeks were converted to Christ. But, non-believing Jews were jealous and formed a mob. They attacked the house Jason where Paul and Silas were staying and dragged them out to face the crowd. They told the crowd that these were the men who were causing trouble everywhere they went. They accused them of treason against Caesar since they were proclaiming Jesus to be king (even though he was not alive on the earth). Silly! *** The believers posted bond and rescued Paul and Silas. They helped them escape and to Berea. They went to the Jewish synagogue there where the Bereans were open to hear their message. They were able to stay there for a while until the troublemakers in Thessalonica came. The believers escorted Paul first and and his men to Athens. *** Athens was full of idols. Paul spoke in raw public square every day and then was taken to the high council of the city so they could hear his teachings. Paul had noticed an idol to an “Unknown God” so he explained that he worshipped this “unknown God” and he was the creator of all the nations of the world and the earth itself. He wanted man to know him and worships him alone. He sent his son to live among them and die for their sins. In Him we live and move and exist. He wants all to turn to Him because there will be a judgment day one day. *** Some laughed at Paul but others wanted to hear more later. Some became believers. *** Lord, thank you that it is not up to us to change hearts but up to the Holy Spirit to do that. It is our job to present the truth. May we be truth tellers today and carry your anointing with us. In us you live and move and exist.