Do You Come in Peace?

About a year ago, I decided to start over in the Bible.  I started reading from the very beginning, line by line, not skipping over anything.  Even though I started over, I am not doing a “Bible in a year plan.”  If a one year reading plan works for you and gets you in the Word, then great.  However, I personally think it’s more important to go at your own pace, dive deep, and gain wisdom and understanding, no matter how long it takes.  Having the Word living and breathing inside of you is imperative, instead of trying to “accomplish” or reach an end goal.   Because I am not skipping over anything in the Bible, sometimes it takes days to digest and reflect on a particular passage.  Other times, I am able to consistently get through a nice chunk of Scripture. Today, I have landed in 2 Kings: 9.  Here’s the recap so far, along with some background info.

God appoints Jehu as the king of Israel and commands that he destroy the house of Ahab.

• Jehu is the son of Jehoshaphat, who was a “good” king of Judah.  During Jehoshaphat’s reign, he “followed the ways of his father and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (1 Kings 22:43).  “Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel” (1 Kings 22:44).
• Ahab used to worship God, but once he married Jezebel, she influenced him to worship the false God, Baal and she began killing off the Lord’s prophets.  “Ahab did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him” (1 Kings 16:30).  He thus ends up bleeding to death in his chariot (1 Kings 22:35), they wash the bloody chariot at a pool where prostitutes bathed, and dogs licked up his blood (1 King 22:38).

After Jehu becomes God’s anointed king, he conspires against Joram and Ahaziah (the kids of Ahab and Jezebel). According to 2 Kings 9:17-19, Jehu rides out to find Ahab’s kids.

• Joram sees Jehu’s troops appearing and says, “Get a horseman. Send him to meet them and ask, ‘Do you come in peace?‘”  The horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, ‘This is what the king (Joram) says, “Do you come in peace?‘” Jehu replied, “What do you have to do with peace?  Fall in behind me.”
• So then Joram sent out a second horseman.  “This is what the king says, “Do you come in peace?”  Jehu replied, “What do you have to do with peace?  Fall in behind me.”
• Then Joram and his brother, Ahaziah, “rode out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu.  When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?”  This time Jehu replied, “How can there be peace, as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”

After all this “peace talk,” Joram and Ahaziah end up being destroyed.  Then Jehu goes off to find their mom, Jezebel.  When he arrives at her gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?”  Jehu then “looked up at the window and called out, Who is on my side?  Who?”

Jezebel then ends up being thrown out of a window. “Some of her blood splattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.”  Her body was left for dogs to eat, and “when they went to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands” (2 Kings 9:33-37)

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Wow.  Just wow.  Who needs to watch horror movies?  All you have to do is read the Bible.. (just kidding).  But for real, this story is crazy.  First I want to highlight the fact that there is an obvious war going on, not only in this particular book of the Bible, but in the life of a Christian.  Second, many will say that it is important to have peace, make peace, perhaps be a diplomat, compromise or attempt to “smooth things over” for the sake of peace.  However, this Scripture is saying that we are at war, there is a real enemy, and making peace with the enemy aka Satan is NOT the way and actually doesn’t make any sense.

• Jehu repeatedly states, “what do you (aka sinner/idol worshipper) have to do with peace?  Join and follow me! (aka turn from your ways and follow God’s way)”
• How can there be peace with the devil?  It’s an oxymoron, it does not exist, you can’t.
• How can there be peace as long as there is idolatry and witchcraft (sin) around?   Sin DOES NOT OFFER peace. Jehu is speaking real truth.
• Then, Jezebel’s statement, “do you come in peace, you murderer?” is complete irony.  How can a murderer be peaceful?  He can’t!

Ladies and gentlemen, we must pick a side and we must remain true. When Jehu confronts Jezebel, he yells out “Who is on my side?”  God is asking us the same thing.  Are you on His side?  If so, stand firm and declare that you are on the side of the Lord!   If there is sin lingering around in your life, how can you be at peace?  Sin MUST be destroyed if you truly want to live a life of peace. Who are you following?  If you are asking for peace, but not following Jesus aka the Prince of Peace, how can that be?  Also, please realize that peace is NOT the absence of war.  Peace is knowing and being confident of where your place is in the battle. Peace is knowing that as Christians, we have a King, a leader that can fight for us, and be alongside us through anything!  Do you truly trust that God is in control, that He is victorious, that He is good NO MATTER WHAT?

Brothers and sisters, take heart. Do not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).

Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27).

#Jesus is enough.  #Peace