Riding into Purpose: The Messenger of God
"So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again." - 2 Kings 9:18
In 2 Kings 9:18, we encounter a pivotal moment that sets the stage for the anointing of Jehu as king over Israel. The passage reads, "So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again."
This brief interaction carries profound weight, prompting us to examine the themes of purpose, discernment, and the urgency to fulfill God’s calling. The messenger dispatched by the king poses a question that resonates not only within the text but also for believers today: Is it peace? To comprehend the full significance of this query, we must reflect on the tumultuous backdrop of Israel at that time, rife with corruption, idolatry, and instability under the reign of Jezebel and her husband, King Ahab.
Jehu’s response, "What hast thou to do with peace?" strikes with an intensity that serves as a clarion call. He forwards the message that peace cannot dwell where there is disobedience to God. Jehu recognizes that peace, in its truest sense, is not merely the absence of conflict but alignment with God’s will. This moment reveals Jehu’s understanding that God’s plans require decisive action, often at odds with the world's definition of tranquility.
In our lives today, how often do we find ourselves weighed down by the world’s version of peace? We might think peace comes from maintaining the status quo, avoiding confrontation, or staying out of troublesome areas of life. However, we are reminded through Jehu’s response that true peace flows from diligently following God’s purpose, even when it means leaving comfort behind. The act of turning behind him signifies a refusal to be entangled with superficial pacification when God calls us to engage in a deeper pursuit of righteousness and justice.
Moreover, the watchman’s report, "the messenger came to them, but he cometh not again," suggests a moment of urgency. The failure of the messenger to return emphasizes the immediacy of Jehu’s commission. In the same manner, God often sends us messages through circumstances, convictions, and His Word, pressing upon us the urgency to act. It is crucial for us to not only receive God’s messages but also to respond with swiftness. Each moment in our spiritual journey is an opportunity to engage with what God is doing.
As followers of Christ, we are also tasked with an unyielding purpose—to be messengers of the Gospel and agents of His peace in a world filled with turmoil. Just as Jehu had a divine assignment, each of us has a calling to fulfill. This might involve challenging culturally accepted norms, speaking truth amidst lies, or serving those considered outcasts. Are we willing to ride into our God-given purposes and invite others into the life-transforming truth of Christ, even when it disrupts our lives?
In this context, Jehu emerges as a figure of boldness and clarity, traits we must cultivate in our own lives. His focus is unwavering; he refuses to divert his attention from the mission set before him. Our attention can easily be drawn to distractions that lead us away from God’s calling. We must discern whether our pursuits and interactions are leading us toward the fulfilling of God’s kingdom or simply contributing to a false peace.
In conclusion, let us glean from Jehu’s encounter the importance of recognizing and responding to our divine calling. Let us cast aside the facade of peace that does not align with God's righteousness and seek the true peace that comes from following Him wholeheartedly. May we be messengers who carry forth the urgency of God’s commands and ride forth in the strength of His purpose, ready to impact the world around us.
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2 Kings 9:18 Artwork
2 Kings 9:18 - "So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again."
"So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again." - 2 Kings 9:18
1 Kings 9:18 - "And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,"
"And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land," - 1 Kings 9:18
2 Kings 18:9 - "¶ And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it."
2 Kings 14:18 - "And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 kings 9:34-36
2 Chronicles 18:9
2 Kings 1:18 - "Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
2 Chronicles 18:9
1 Kings 18:9 - "And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?"
1 Kings 2:18 - "And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king."
2 Kings 8:18 - "And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD."
2 Kings 18:18 - "And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder."
1 Kings 18:2 - "And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria."
2 Kings 18:15 - "And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house."
2 Kings 18:36 - "But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
2 Chronicles 9:22 - "And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom."
2 Kings 9:9 - "And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:"
"And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" - 2 Kings 14:18
2 Kings 3:18 - "And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand."
2 Kings 18:33 - "Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?"
2 Kings 18:5 - "He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him."
Revelation 18:9 - "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,"
2 Kings 16:18 - "And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria."
2 Kings 4:18 - "¶ And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers."
2 Kings 2:18 - "And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?"
2 Kings 18:3 - "And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did."
2 Kings 25:18 - "¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:"
2 Kings 18:28 - "Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:"