JEHU KING OF ISRAEL

Jehu was anointed king by one of the sons of the prophets following the instruction of Elisha. Jehu carried out the words of God concerning Ahab’s family. He killed Joram with an arrow and cast his body on the field of Naboth the Jezreelite.

He instructed the eunuchs to throw down Jezebel from the window in her house as she looked out with painted face. Her blood was splashed on the wall and Jehu rode over her body, by the time they came back to pick her body for burial, only her skull, feet and palms were remaining. Dogs ate her flesh, thus fulfilling the word of God that “Jezebel’s carcass shall be as dung  on the face of the field in Jezreel, dogs shall eat her flesh and no one will be able to say this is Jezebel.”

Jehu again commanded that the 70 sons of Ahab be beheaded, their heads were laid in 2 heaps at the city gate. He went ahead to also kill all the family members of Ahab as well as his priests. He killed the 42 brothers of Ahaziah who were going to Samaria to commiserate with Joram’s children. Jehu tricked all the worshippers of baal by inviting them to a feast and had them killed  in the house of baal. II Kings 10;21-28 . Because Jehu carried out the word of the Lord against Ahab’s family and cleansed the land of Baal worshippers, the Lord promised the throne of Israel to Jehu up to his 4^th generation.

Jehu however did not follow through by walking according  to the law of God. During his reign Hazael attacked Israel and Jehu died after reigning for 28 years.

LESSONS

a)     The word of God will surely come to pass, evil will not go unpunished.

b)    Even when it seems evil doers are getting away with evil, in their life time their children may still bear the consequences in latter years. Leaders beware!

c)     Starting right does not mean finishing right.

AHAZIAH KING OF JUDAH.

Ahajiah got to the throne at the age of 22. He reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Alhajiah, daughter of Omri, king of Israel. He was also son in-law of Ahab’s family and he followed the example of the wicked family by doing evil. He joined Joram son of Ahab and king of Israel to fight against the Syrians. Joram was wounded and Jehoroam went to visit him in Jezriel where he was convalescing, Jehu attacked both of them and Ahaziah was wounded. He fled to Megiddo and died there.

LESSONS

1)    Leaders are not to associate with the enemies of God so that they will not be partakers of their sins and the repercussions. Ahaziah died because of his associations with Joram and Ahab’s family.

AHAZIAH, AND OTHER KINGS.

AHAZIAH, KING OF ISRAEL

Ahaziah, the son of Ahab became king after his father. He reigned over Israel for 17 years. He did evil in the sight of God by serving Baal. When he sustained injury after a falling in his house, he sent to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Efron instead of enquiring from God. He was unrepentant even after a rebuke from Elijah. He sent soldiers to arrest Elijah, at the third attempt and the loss o 100 soldiers, Elijah visited him and prophesied his death. He never recovered from the injury, he died as prophesied.

LESSONS

a)     Leaders who practice evil with impunity shall not go unpunished. We shall reap what we sow.

JEHOROAM, KING OF ISRAEL

Jehoraom, son of Ahab reigned over Israel for 12 years. Even though he put away the image of baal, he still continued in some of the evil. He was probably controlling the priesthood and taking up the responsibility of the priests.

JEHOROAM, KING  OF JUDAH

Jehoraom, son  of Jehoshaphat reigned in Judah for 8 years. He married the daughter of Ahab and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. Edom revolted and liberated themselves from Judah during his reign.

LESSONS

a)     Jehoroam’s marriage to Ahab’s daughter might have influenced him to do evil just like his father in-law. Wives complement and influence their husbands, leaders should therefore avoid being unequally yoked with unbelievers.

b)     God is always faithful to his promises. Inspite of Jehoram’s unfaithfulness. The Lord did not destroy Judah at this time because he remembered his promise to david that he will always be with his descendants and make sure they occupy the throne perpetually.

JEHOSHAPHAT, KING OF JUDAH

JEHOSHAPHAT, KING OF JUDAH.

Jehoshaphat reigned for 25years in Jerusalem. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord but he did not completely abolish idolatry among the people. He took away the sodomites, he however joined forces with Ahab to fight the Syrians. He persisted in seeking the face of God before going to battle, he requested for a real prophet of the Lord when the 400 prophets prophesied success at the battle. He was sensitive to the spirit of God, again when Jehoshaphat joined Jehoram, son of Ahab to fight against Misha,king of Moab, Jehoshaphat encouraged him that they should seek the face of the Lord. They sought after Elijah and he honoured Jehoshaphat by responding to their request for water and favour. The Moabites were smitten before them.

LESSONS

a)     When a leader walks with God, God will work with him.

b)    Every godly leader must seek the face of God before making decisions or taking actions.

LESSONS FROM AHAB, KING OF ISREAL.

Ahab was the son of Omri, he reigned for 22 years over Israel. He married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zidorians. As a result he made an alter to Baah and served him. He did more to provoke the Lord to anger than any of the kings of Israel that were before him. He practiced idolatry with impunity, idolatry was so prevalent in his time that Elijah had to pray there would be no rain in Israel for 3 years. This would result in famine and was expected to turn the hearts of the children of Israel to the Lord. Ahab gave room for his wife to establish the worship of baal in Isreal. In so  much that when Elijah challenged the prince of baal and had them slain after the showdown at mount Camel, he met with the wrath of Jezebel who threatened to kill him. Jezebel also used the royal authority to plan and execute Naboth in order to secure his vineyard for Ahab. Inspite of all these evil, when Benhadad rose against Israel, God delivered Israel for his name sake. Elijah was eventually sent to prophesy against Ahab because he killed. Ahab however, made a covenant with Israel’s enemy Benhadad without seeking God’s face first and this became a snare to Israel. Naboth took possession of his vineyard. The curse was on him and his posterity, to cut off every male in his generation and every one of them shall experience a shameful death. The scriptures recorded that there was none who sold himself to wickedness like Ahab whom his wife stared up.  After Ahab heard about the judgement from God, he humbled himself and fasted and the Lord promised to delay the judgement until the time of his son.

LESSON

a)     Evil may prevail for a long time but nemesis will catch up in the end. Ahab and Jezebel succeeded in doing evil for a long time but judgement came In the end.

b)    God sees all that we do even as leaders, oppression, idolatry and every wicked act are hateful to God. Leaders should beware of using their authority.

c)     Repercussion may not be on the leaders alone but their posterity.

KINGS OF ISREAL; ELAH, ZIMRI AND OMRI. WHAT TO LEARN?

ELAH, KING OF ISRAEL

Elah the son of Baasha reigned for 2 years in Israel. He was assassinated by his servant Zimri after he got drunk.

LESSON

a)     It is not for kings to get drunk.

b)    What goes round will come around. Baasha, Elah’s father assassinated nadab to become king, Elah his son was also assassinated.

ZIMRI KIGN OF ISRAEL

Zimri not only assassinated Elah, he also destroyed every member of Baasha’s family as prophesied by Jehu the prophet. Zimri also did evil in the sight of God and he reigned for 7 days in Turzah. The people what he did , they therefore reacted by making Omri captain of the host king over Israel. Zimri committed suicide by burning the palace over himself before the people could get him.

LESSON

a)     Every leader will reap whatever he sows and sometimes the reaping may be quite fast.

OMRI KING OF ISRAEL

Omri reigned for 12 years after the kingdom ere bect divided was consolidated under him. He also did evil in the sight of the Lord and was worse than the kings before him. He brought and built Samaria, he promoted vanity among his people.

LESSON

a)     Just like David reign became a reference point for good and God fearing leadership, Jeroboam also became a reference point for bad leadership.