Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart.Jehu, anointed by a prophet to be king over Israel, was tasked with eradicating the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal. While he executed these tasks with zeal, his commitment to the LORD was incomplete. The phrase "not careful to follow" indicates a lack of diligence and wholehearted devotion. In biblical terms, the heart represents the center of one's being, including mind, will, and emotions. Jehu's failure to follow "with all his heart" suggests a divided loyalty, reminiscent of the warning in Deuteronomy 6:5 to love the LORD with all one's heart, soul, and strength. This reflects a broader biblical theme where God desires complete devotion, as seen in the lives of David and other faithful leaders. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, established a system of idolatrous worship with golden calves at Bethel and Dan to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem. This act is repeatedly condemned in the biblical narrative as "the sins of Jeroboam." Jehu's failure to remove these idols shows a partial obedience to God. Despite his actions against Baal worship, he maintained the politically expedient but spiritually corrupt practices initiated by Jeroboam. This highlights a recurring issue in Israel's history: leaders who fail to fully eradicate idolatry. The persistence of these sins underscores the challenge of reform and the need for a leader who would fully restore true worship, pointing forward to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who perfectly obeyed the Father and called for worship in spirit and truth. Persons / Places / Events 1. JehuThe king of Israel who was anointed by God to destroy the house of Ahab and eradicate Baal worship from Israel. Despite his zeal for these tasks, he failed to fully commit to the ways of the Lord. 2. The Law of the LORDRefers to the commandments and statutes given by God to the people of Israel, which were meant to guide their worship and daily living. 3. JeroboamThe first king of the northern kingdom of Israel who led the people into idolatry by setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan, causing Israel to sin. 4. IsraelThe northern kingdom, distinct from Judah, often characterized by its struggle with idolatry and deviation from God's commandments. 5. The Sins of JeroboamThe idolatrous practices initiated by Jeroboam, which included the worship of golden calves and the establishment of unauthorized places of worship. Teaching Points Partial Obedience is DisobedienceJehu's failure to fully follow God's law demonstrates that partial obedience is not enough. God desires complete devotion and adherence to His commandments. The Danger of IdolatryJehu's tolerance of Jeroboam's sins highlights the persistent danger of idolatry. Believers must be vigilant in identifying and removing idols from their lives. Heart CommitmentTrue obedience to God requires a heart fully committed to Him. External actions must align with internal devotion. Legacy of LeadershipLeaders have a profound impact on the spiritual direction of their people. Jehu's incomplete reforms left a legacy of continued sin in Israel. The Importance of RepentanceJehu's account reminds us of the need for genuine repentance and turning away from sin, not just outward reform. Bible Study Questions 1. In what ways did Jehu demonstrate zeal for God, and where did he fall short? How can we ensure our zeal aligns with God's will? 2. How does the account of Jehu challenge us to examine areas of partial obedience in our own lives? 3. What modern-day "idols" might we be tolerating, and how can we actively work to remove them? 4. How can leaders today learn from Jehu's example to ensure they lead with integrity and full commitment to God's ways? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced the consequences of partial obedience. How did it affect your relationship with God, and what steps did you take to correct it? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 12Provides the background on Jeroboam's establishment of idolatrous worship in Israel, which Jehu failed to remove. Deuteronomy 6Emphasizes the importance of loving and serving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength, which Jehu neglected. Hosea 1Discusses the consequences of Israel's continued idolatry and unfaithfulness, which began with Jeroboam's sins and persisted through Jehu's reign. People Ahab, Ahaziah, Dan, Elijah, Elisha, Gad, Gadites, Hazael, Israelites, Jehoahaz, Jehonadab, Jehu, Jeroboam, Jezreel, Manasseh, Manassites, Nebat, Rechab, Reuben, ReubenitesPlaces Aroer, Bashan, Beth-eked, Bethel, Dan, Gilead, Jezreel, Jordan River, Samaria, Valley of the ArnonTopics Aside, Care, Careful, Caused, Commit, Depart, Departed, Didn't, Heart, Heed, Jehu, Jeroboam, Jerobo'am, Law, Sin, Sins, Turn, Walk, WherewithDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 10:31 8739 evil, examples of Library Impure Zeal
'And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much. 19. Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. 20. And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. 21. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureCatholic Spirit
"And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him, and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered: It is. If it be, give me thine hand." 2 Kings 10:15. 1. It is allowed even by those who do not pay this great debt, that love is due to all mankind, the royal law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," carrying its own evidence to all that hear it: and that, not according to the miserable …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions False Civilization
JEREMIAH xxxv. 19. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. Let us think a while this morning what this text has to do with us; and why this strange story of the Rechabites is written for our instruction, in the pages of Holy Scripture. Let us take the story as it stands, and search the Scriptures simply for it. For the Bible will surely tell its own story best, and teach its own lesson best. These Rechabites, who …
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons Which Sentence Dishonoreth the Holy Martyrs, Nay Rather Taketh Away Holy Martyrdoms Altogether. ...
3. Which sentence dishonoreth the holy Martyrs, nay rather taketh away holy martyrdoms altogether. For they would do more justly and wisely, according to these men, not to confess to their persecutors that they were Christians, and by confessing make them murderers: but rather by telling a lie, and denying what they were, should both themselves keep safe the convenience of the flesh and purpose of the heart, and not allow those to accomplish the wickedness which they had conceived in their mind. …
St. Augustine—Against Lying The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 Justification by an Imputed Righteousness;
OR, NO WAY TO HEAVEN BUT BY JESUS CHRIST. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of those ten excellent manuscripts which were found among Bunyan's papers after his decease in 1688. It had been prepared by him for publication, but still wanted a few touches of his masterly hand, and a preface in his characteristic style. He had, while a prisoner for nonconformity, in 1672, published a treatise upon this subject, in reply to Mr. Fowler, who was soon after created Bishop of Gloucester; but that was …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Whole Heart
LET me give the principal passages in which the words "the whole heart," "all the heart," are used. A careful study of them will show how wholehearted love and service is what God has always asked, because He can, in the very nature of things, ask nothing less. The prayerful and believing acceptance of the words will waken the assurance that such wholehearted love and service is exactly the blessing the New Covenant was meant to make possible. That assurance will prepare us for turning to the Omnipotence …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants Elucidations.
I. (Deadly Sins, cap. ix., p. 356.) To maintain a modern and wholly uncatholic system of Penitence, the schoolmen invented a technical scheme of sins mortal and sins venial, which must not be read into the Fathers, who had no such technicalities in mind. By "deadly sins" they meant all such as St. John recognizes (1 John v. 16-17) and none other; that is to say sins of surprise and infirmity, sins having in them no malice or wilful disobedience, such as an impatient word, or a momentary neglect of …
Tertullian—The Five Books Against Marcion The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He Continues Free from Every Taint.
1. The carnal mind the source of the objections which are raised against the Providence of God. A primary objection, making a distinction between the permission and the will of God, refuted. Angels and men, good and bad, do nought but what has been decreed by God. This proved by examples. 2. All hidden movements directed to their end by the unseen but righteous instigation of God. Examples, with answers to objections. 3. These objections originate in a spirit of pride and blasphemy. Objection, that …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 10:31 NIV2 Kings 10:31 NLT2 Kings 10:31 ESV2 Kings 10:31 NASB2 Kings 10:31 KJV
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