II KINGS 9

What a beautiful Sunday morning.  It will be a hot one before the day is over.  We are trusting God will give us a great day as always.  I started my reading in II Kings 9 today, so here are a few thoughts about it: Elisha has a young son of the prophets go and anoint Jehu as the new King of Israel.  The problem is that there was already a king in Israel, so he was anointed to take out the present king and all his family.  (Children of Ahab were going to be killed for their father's wickedness.) He is anointed and he heads off to meet King Joram to end his life.  Three times as he approaches the king, Jehu is asked:  "Is it peace?"  Twice the answer comes back, "What hast thou to do with peace?"  and finally it comes back, "What peace, so long as the whoredoms of they mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?  Well, Jehu took his bow and shot an arrow through Joram's heart.  Joram was with Ahaziah, the king of Judah, and Ahaziah flees, but is hunted down and killed as well.  Next he is off to kill Jezebel at Jezreel.  Two or three men servants to the queen throw her down, and Jehu runs over her with the chariot.  Later, only pieces are left by the dogs who have eaten her.  Now, in this story... here are a few thoughts: 1) BAD COMPANY- Ahaziah was not the target of Jehu, but he was in the company of Joram, who was!  Bad company can kill you.  You see, Ahaziah married the sister of Joram, and Jezebel was his mother-in-law.  It all started when Jehoshaphat made alliances with Ahab the wicked king of Israel.  It affected his children!  Be careful of wrong company, it will always pull you down! 2) PEACE? Three times Jehu was asked "Is it peace?".  And, we know it wasn't.  But when Jezebel heard that Jehu was coming for her, here is what she said: "Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?"  She knew she would not be having peace!  She knew that her actions were finally catching up to her.... she had put Naboth to death for his vineyard, and God said.... enough!   Don't expect peace if your actions don't make for peace. Well, so much for today.  May God bless you!   Pastor Mike Mutchler