Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

2 Kings 10 Devotional

Zeal Without a Whole Heart

“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.”2 Kings 10:31 (BSB)

Jehu finishes what he began. Ahab's seventy sons are killed, Ahaziah's relatives are slaughtered, and the servants of Baal are lured into their temple by a lie and put to the sword (10:7, 10:14, 10:19-25). Jehu says the LORD's word through Elijah has not failed (10:10), and the LORD tells him he has done to Ahab's house what was in God's heart (10:30).

Yet the verdict turns on a single line. Jehu did not follow the LORD wholeheartedly, and he kept the golden calves at Bethel and Dan (10:29, 10:31). He invited a friend to see his zeal for the LORD (10:16), but zeal against Baal never became devotion to the LORD. Later the LORD told Hosea he would hold the house of Jehu accountable for the bloodshed of Jezreel (Hosea 1:4). God can use flawed instruments without approving all they do. What he desires is not a display of zeal but a whole heart, and that is something only he can give.

To think about: Where might your zeal for doing right be running ahead of a heart that simply loves and follows God?

About 2 Kings 10: Jehu Destroys Ahab’s House and Baal

Jehu has Ahab’s seventy sons and his officials killed, saying the LORD’s word through Elijah has come true. He lures Baal’s worshipers together, destroys them and their temple, yet keeps Jeroboam’s golden calves. God promises his sons four generations of rule, Hazael defeats Israel east of the Jordan, and Jehu dies.

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