What lessons on obedience can we learn from Jehu's actions in 2 Kings 10? Opening Verse (2 Kings 10:1) “Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the leaders of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s children, saying…” The Scene in Brief • God had already commissioned Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:6-10). • Chapter 10 shows Jehu carrying out that command—decisively, thoroughly, and publicly. • From his actions we trace several timeless lessons on obedience. Lesson 1: Obedience Answers God’s Call Promptly • Jehu wastes no time; as soon as he is king, he sends letters (v. 1) setting God’s judgment in motion. • Compare with Psalm 119:60—“I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.” • Delayed obedience often becomes disobedience; Jehu illustrates the opposite. Lesson 2: Obedience Requires Complete Separation from Sin • Jehu does not spare a single heir of Ahab (vv. 6-7). The command had been specific (1 Kings 21:21); Jehu fulfills it literally. • Cross-reference Deuteronomy 7:2—Israel had to “utterly destroy” idolatrous nations lest the people be snared. • Partial obedience leaves pockets of rebellion that later rise up (cf. Saul in 1 Samuel 15). Lesson 3: Obedience Walks in God’s Authority, Not Human Approval • City officials fearfully ask, “We are your servants and we will do whatever you say” (v. 5). Jehu’s resolve stems from God’s Word, not from popularity. • Proverbs 29:25—“The fear of man lays a snare.” Obedience demands courage to stand alone if necessary. Lesson 4: Obedience Partners with Like-minded Followers • Jehu meets Jehonadab son of Rechab on the road (v. 15) and invites him into the chariot: “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD.” • Fellowship with those equally committed strengthens resolve (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25). Lesson 5: Obedience Exposes False Worship • Jehu gathers Baal’s worshipers under pretense, then destroys them and their temple (vv. 18-28). • True obedience does not merely “avoid” idolatry; it actively confronts and removes it (1 Corinthians 10:14; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Lesson 6: Obedience Must Remain Whole-hearted to the End • Jehu’s early zeal fades: “But Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam… the golden calves” (v. 29). • The LORD commends his initial obedience (vv. 30-31) yet notes he “did not walk in the law of the LORD with all his heart.” • Finish well: “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Takeaway Applications for Today • Respond instantly when Scripture speaks; do not negotiate delay. • Root out every known sin, not just the obvious or culturally unpopular ones. • Seek God’s approval first; human applause is fickle. • Surround yourself with companions who share a passion for holiness. • Keep evaluating motives so zeal does not morph into self-promotion. • Guard against settling for “mostly obedient.” The standard is whole-hearted devotion. Jehu’s story invites each believer to decisive, thorough, and enduring obedience—nothing less. |
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