(text and notes from The Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation - Tyndale, 1996)
And Elisha replied, "Go and tell him [the king of Aram], 'You will recover.' But the LORD has shown me that he will actually die!" Elisha stared at Hazael with a fixed gaze until Hazael became uneasy. Then the man of God started weeping.
"What's the matter, my lord?" Hazael asked him.
Elisha replied, "I know the terrible things you will do to the people of Israel. You will burn their fortified cities, kill their young men, dash their children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women!" Then Hazael replied, "How could a nobody like me ever accomplish such a great feat?"
But Elisha answered, "The LORD has shown me that you are going to be the king of Aram."
(2 Kings 8:10-13)
When Elisha told Hazael he would sin greatly, Hazael protested that he would never do that sort of thing. He did not acknowledge his personal potential for evil. In our enlightened society, it is easy to think we are above gross sin and can control our actions. We think that we would never sink so low. Instead, we should take a more biblical and realistic look at ourselves and admit our sinful potential. then we will ask for God's strength to resist such evil.
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"Send out a rider to find out if they are coming in peace," King Joram shouted back.
So a rider went out to meet Jehu and said, "The king wants to know whether you are coming in peace."
Jehu replied, "What do you know about peace? Get behind me!"
The watchmen called out to the king, "The rider has met them, but he is not returning." So the king sent out a second rider. He rode up to them and demanded, "The king wants to know whether you come in peace." Again Jehu answered, "What do you know about peace? Get behind me!"
(2 Kings 9:18-19)
Peace, properly understood, comes from God. It is not genuine except when rooted in belief in God and love for him. Jehu knew the men represented a disobedient, wicked king. Don't seek peace and friendship with those who are enemies of the good and the true. Lasting peace can come only from knowing God who gives it to us.
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In the morning Jehu went out and spoke to the crowd that had gathered around them. "You aren't to blame," he told them. "I am the one who conspired against my mater and killed him. But who killed all these? You can be sure that the message of the LORD that was spoken concerning Ahab's family will not fail. The LORD declared through his servant Elijah that this would happen." Then Jehu killed all of Ahab's relatives living in Jezreel and all his important officials, personal friends, and priests. So Ahab was left without a single survivor.
(2 Kings 10:11)
In his zeal, Jehu went far beyond the Lord's command with this bloodbath. The prophet Hosea later announced punishment upon Jehu's dynasty for this senseless slaughter (Hosea 1:4,5). Many times in history, "religious" people have mixed faith with personal ambition, power, or cruelty, without God's consent or blessing. To use God or the Bible to condone oppression is wrong. When people attack Christianity because of atrocities that "Christians" carried out, help them to see that these men and women were using faith for their own political ends and not following Christ.
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Nonetheless the LORD said to Jehu, "You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Because of this I will cause your descendants to be the kings of Israel down to the fourth generation." But Jehu did not obey the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, wit hall his heart. He refused to turn from the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.
(2 Kings 10:30, 31)
Jehu did much of what the Lord told him to, but he did not obey him with all his heart. he had become God's instrument for carrying out justice, but he had not become God's servant. As a result, he gave only lip service to God while permitting the worship of the gold calves. Check the condition of your heart toward God. We can be very active in our work for God and still not give the heartfelt obedience he desires.
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Come quickly, LORD, and answer me,
for my depression deepens.
Don't turn away from me,
or I will die.
(Psalm 143:7)
David was losing hope, caught in paralyzing fear and deep depression. At times we feel caught in deepening depression, and we are unable to pull ourselves out. At those times we can come to the Lord and, like David, express our true feelings. Then we will find help as we remember his works (143:5), reach out to him in prayer (143:6), trust him (143:8) and seek to do his will (143:10).
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Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward,
on a firm footing.
(Psalm 143:10)
David's prayer was to be taught to do God's will, not his own. A prayer for guidance is self centered if it doesn't recognize God's power to redirect our life. Asking God to restructure our priorities awakens our minds and stirs our will.
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A foolish child brings grief to a father and bitterness to a mother.
(Proverbs 17:25)
A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
(Proverbs 17:27)
Even fools are thought to be wise when they keep silent; when they keep their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
(Proverbs 17:28)
This proverb highlights several benefits of keeping quiet:
1. It is the best policy if you have nothing worthwhile to say;
2. It allows you the opportunity to listen and learn;
3. It gives you something in common with those who are wiser.
Make sure you pause to think and to listen so that when you do speak, you will have something important to say.
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