Daily Devotional For Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Good morning and I hope the Lord uses you today to share the Gospel with someone. Our devotional reading for today comes from 2 Kings 9-10. God chose Jehu to be the next king over Israel through Elisha, the prophet. For the 28 years that he was king (841-814 BC) he was a godly king. He followed the Lord’s commands and killed all of the evil King Ahab’s sons and descendants. He was responsible for making sure Ahab’s wife, Queen Jezebel was killed. He destroyed all the altars and temples to Baal and their sacrifices – except for two. He left one at Bethel and one at Dan. This would be his downfall into idol worship and his death.

Being God’s spokesperson is not easy and Elisha and Jehu are finding that out. Telling people God’s truth is often something they do not want to hear or do. A day of judgment is coming to everyone. That is the point of Acts 17:31, “For He has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man He has appointed, and He proved to everyone who this is by raising Him from the dead” (NLT). Our devotional reading today is sad because King Jehu starts out so well for the Lord, but he does not end well. Paul refers to the day of judgment also in 2 Corinthians 5:10 and when this is left out of sermons, the Gospel then becomes watered-down, impotent and domesticated. How?

We turn the Gospel into some kind of therapeutic message that is there only to meet my needs and not a message about redeeming the soul of all. In our story, Elisha sends an unnamed mentee with a flask of oil to anoint Jehu as the next king. Why did Elisha not go himself? Probably so that he would not draw attention being there.The mission was dangerous for Elisha, but not for an unnamed servant. The journey to Ramoth-gilead is about 30 miles on the other side of the Jordan River. 

Jehu has no royal blood in him and though his grandfather was Jeoshaphat and his father was Nimshi, both unknown characters. He is not to be confused as the grandson of Jephshaphat in Judah. This is a Jehoshaphat in the northern kingdom, Israel. Jehu in Hebrew [יֵה֨וּא] means “Yahweh is he.” His name sort of reminds of the peoples’ response on Mt. Carmel after Elijah had the contest between Yahweh and Baal when fire came down. The people said, “Yahweh, He is God” (1 Kgs. 18:39). 

What is shocking here is no one up to this point had been anointed king in the northern kingdom. Their previous kings had been appointed, not anointed, by their own prophets. In the Bible, the anointing of a king had only occurred with Saul (1 Sam. 9:16; 1 Sam. 10:1; 1 Sam. 15:1, 17), David (1 Sam. 16:3, 12-13);  and Solomon (1 Kgs. 1:39). For a legitimate prophet of God to do this such as Samuel, Elijah or Elisha, this would legitimize the kingship. In doing this, Elisha on behalf of God by anointed Jehu king was now challenging Ahab’s son Jehoram as king. This is why this had to be done in such a secretive and clandestine way.

Jehu is given a command by God to get rid of all descendents of Ahab and Jezebel since these two were responsible for the deaths of God’s prophets and servants (2 Kgs. 9:7-10). By the time God has executed His justice against Ahab and Jezebel, none of their descendants will remain. In fact, nothing of Jezebel’s own body will remain. The dogs would eat her dead body until it was all gone as if she had never lived. 

When Elisha’s servant arrived, he found Jehu in meetings with other military leaders. Elisha’s servant pulled Jehu away and later these other military leaders were disgusted this had happened. Afterall, they had been in a very important meeting when this “mad man” interrupted their meeting (2 Kgs. 9:11). Jehu attempts to calm them down but they seem to sense from his face or body language that he is holding something back (2 Kgs. 9:12). So, he told them everything. Their response was to immediately acknowledge Jehu as king (2 Kgs. 9:13). 

As this story progresses, Jezebel dies exactly as God had said through Elisha. God’s judgment was fulfilled. We are very fickle aren’t we? When we see an injustice going unpunished, we get angry. When a murderer gets off on a technicality or a corrupt politician stays in power due to money and connections, we are outraged. When a rapist or serial killer is released for good behavior without serving their full sentence, we get angry. On the other hand, at times we get uncomfortable with an angry God. Isn’t God supposed to be love (1 John 4:8b)?

The problem we all have to deal with is that there will be times that God’s wrath does not match outrage, or lack thereof, is that we tolerate sin. God never has and He never will. Let me give you an example I have observed today. I have watched young girls in “Christian” families grow up and then start wearing clothing that is very provocative and sensual. Their “Christian” parents, grandparents and friends will applaud their wardrobe on social media. Do you really think when God in heaven sees someone dressed provocatively turns and says this to the Archangel Gabriel? “Hey, Gab, look at that cleavage there. Wow!” Do you think this honors God?

Another example I see today is the number of “Christians” who use foul language and curse. These examples reveal a toleration of sin by “Christian,” something God abhors and hates. Do you think that when you use foul or profane language, God looks at Peter and says, “Hey, Pete, you had a potty mouth. You’ve got competition and I think they’re winning.” Do you really think God tolerates our sin – any sin?  Do you think that when God sees people who are openly gay and couples are living together, that He turns a blind eye to it? Here are some verses from God’s Word that should some light on this:

• Romans 14:13, “Never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (ESV).
• 1 Timothy 2:9-10, "Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control . . . but with what is proper for women who profess godliness” (ESV).
• 1 Corinthians 8:9, “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” (ESV).
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, (20) for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (NLT).
• Matthew 18:6, Jesus said, “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea” (NLT).
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, (10) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (11) Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (NASB).

In case you’re wondering, ‘fornicators” are those engaging in sex outside of a marriage between a man and woman. “Effeminate” are those who engage in transvestism or sex changes. Notice God condemns all of this along with condemning adultery, idolatry, drunkards, revilers and swindlers, “Revilers” are those who use their tongue to cut, slash, and gossip and such people will not make it into heaven because their words come from hate. Do you see anywhere in this passage that God tolerates any of these sins? NO!

We live in a world where even now it is acceptable in the culture of the church to tolerate many of these sins. The path to erosion is usually not quick or fast, but given enough time, the very foundation of one’s walk with God gets eroded away all in the name of tolerance. This is what happened to King Jehu. Over the years a compromise here, a compromise there and before he knew it, he was a Baal worshipper and leading God’s people to worship Baal. 

Reflection Assignment: If you really want to finish well, ask God right now where there is compromise in your heart, where there is tolerance to be liked, accepted and loved? You have to ultimately decide who you want to answer to in life: peers here who come and go or God who you will stand before one day. 

Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 12:35-37, “Jesus said, ‘A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. (36) And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. (37) The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you’” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, help me to see where I compromise and tolerate sin in my life and in the lives of others. Lord, help me to avoid the failure of Jehu. I want to finish well for You. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly