Jehu’s story is one of faithfulness and carelessness. Jehu is zealous for the Lord executing all of God’s judgments upon the house of Ahab. Jehu used cunning, wisdom, raw might and ruthlessness to see that he followed the Lord’s decrees against Ahab.
However at the same time he was careless religiously. According to verse 31 we are told, Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.
The sin Jehu fell into was set way back at the founding of the northern kingdom, Israel, when Jeroboam established an alternative priesthood and sanctuary in Samaria. We are always culpable for our actions, so Jehu is culpable of this idolatry –serving a false god.
What came to me as I pondered this was the role of the teachers/priests. In one respect Jehu was following the teachings passed down to him. Sadly, they were false teachings. I don’t mean they were a little off here or there. no, the teachings of the priest of Samaria were an abomination to the Lord. They were heretical and idolatrous, so that the people who followed them were duped. They were not worshiping the Lord of the Universe, Yahweh, but a false and rival god!
Jehu seems to be sincere in his carrying out the word of the Lord that came to him through the prophet of the Lord, but his general worship practices were opposed to the Lord.
As I pondered this it caused me to realize the importance of teachers, preachers, priests and religious instructors. When they teach heretical and false doctrine, they lead people astray. Like sheep, the people are being led to the slaughter. It is no wonder that New Testament writers regularly warn us against false teachers, people who use the name Jesus but yet teach a different gospel. Maybe it is a gospel of human works or a gospel filled with pride, arrogance and promises of prosperity. Whatever the falsehood, people who follow these false teachers rather than the orthodox truths of Christianity are in spiritual peril.
No wonder James explains that teachers will be judged more strictly (James 3:1).
Are the truths you are building your life upon and the spiritual practices and disciplines you follow built on the foundation of the Word of God, the Bible?
Think about this… you won’t want to be deemed careless like Jehu.
God keep me planted in Your Word, rooted to You and the plain truth in Your Holy Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Correct me when I am wrong and encourage me where I have things right, so that as a teacher I might give Your people Your Word and nothing less than that. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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