In the biblical history of the Jewish people we see well illustrated the importance of who sat on the throne. The one anointed as king wielded great influence on the lives of the people: some walked according to God's laws, and others encouraged idolatry and great abominations. What is true for nations has spiritual implications for individuals. The one you pay homage to will dictate your spiritual health and vitality. When self sits on the throne, there can be no true peace. It is only when Jesus Christ is elevated to His rightful status in our lives as LORD and Saviour that all begins to be put right.
After Adam's sin in the garden, man was separated from God. God promised He would deliver His people from the oppression of sin and tyrannical rulers if they would love Him and walk in His ways. A day came when the people demanded to have a king like the other nations, rejecting God as their divine ruler. The majority of these kings were evil and led the nation into idolatrous practices. After the kingdom was divided between Israel and Judah, there was no shortage of wicked kings and queens! God in His mercy raised up kings who performed His will to forcibly remove those abominable rulers. Jehu was one of those kings. In him we see a picture of how wickedness is overthrown by God's anointed in both hearts and nations. A day is coming when Christ will return and mete out judgment on all evildoers. He will not spare in that day when God's wrath is full. While He tarries, today is the day of salvation.
After Jehu was anointed by a prophet at the command of God, he went on a rampage against Ahab's house. 2 Kings 9:22-24 reads, "Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" So he answered, "What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?"23 Then Joram turned around and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "Treachery, Ahaziah!" 24 Now Jehu drew his bow with full strength and shot Jehoram between his arms; and the arrow came out at his heart, and he sank down in his chariot." Joram sought peace, but there could be no peace because of the rampant harlotries and witchcraft. Similar to how allowing a gangrenous limb to remain connected to the body endangers the whole, it was time for Ahab's wicked house to be cut off from Israel. He and Jezebel had shed much innocent blood, and their blood was upon their own heads. 2 Kings 9:27 "But when Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled by the road to Beth Haggan. So Jehu pursued him, and said, "Shoot him also in the chariot." And they shot him at the Ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Then he fled to Megiddo, and died there." Ahaziah tried to escape the penalty of death for his grave sins, but he was tracked down and executed. His speedy chariot was no match for the demands of God's justice.
Jezebel was not able to avoid her punishment though she was wealthy and alluring. 2 Kings 9:30-33 says, "Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window.31 Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?" 32 And he looked up at the window, and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" So two or three eunuchs looked out at him.33 Then he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot." Jezebel killed the righteous and promoted the wicked. She questioned the wisdom of Jehu's act in slaying Joram and Ahaziah. What she did not acknowledge is Jehu had been anointed and crowned king. As king, he had authority from God Himself to mete out justice for the grave crimes which Ahab and his house had perpetrated. Without even acknowledging Jezebel's words, he commanded she be thrown down and promptly trampled her.
Do you see it? Jezebel is a picture of the wicked ruler of this world, Satan. A day is coming when Jesus will return to earth with a mighty army and throw down the ruler of this world. Satan's grip on this world is already broken, for on the cross Jesus crushed his head through His death and resurrection. Satan is a liar, accuser, thief, and murderer from the beginning. The day of his reckoning draws nigh. Jesus will give the command, and Michael will throw Satan down! Revelation 12:7-11 reads, "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."
The parallels do not end there. King Ahab's daughter Athaliah was given as wife to King Jehoram of Judah. She was an incredibly brutal and wicked woman who seized an opportunity to usurp the throne from her own kin. 2 Kings 11:1 tells the tragic tale: "When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs." Athaliah ordered the death of her own grandchildren to assume rule over Judah. If a person is willing to do such unthinkable atrocities, is anything beyond them? God did not forsake His people even in that dark chapter of their history. Joash, son of the rightful king, was hidden from Athaliah's wrath and kept hidden in the Temple. When he turned seven years old, the High Priest Jehoiada called together a group of trustworthy men who were loyal to God and their king. He organised the coronation of the king without the knowledge or consent of the usurping Athaliah.
2 Kings 11:12-16 reveals the climactic moment, a day of rejoicing and celebration: "And he brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!" 13 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD.14 When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, "Treason! Treason!"15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, "Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not let her be killed in the house of the LORD." 16 So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses' entrance into the king's house, and there she was killed." Athaliah cried "Treason! Treason!" yet there was none in Judah more treacherous than her. Once the rightful king was anointed, crowned, and established, then the usurper could be destroyed. When the Anointed Messiah, Jesus Christ the Son of God is crowned and established in a heart by faith, Satan's grip is broken. All he can do is scream and tear his clothes, for his reign of terror and oppression is broken! Jesus is for us both King and High Priest, and His Word will endure forever. Satan and all who follow after him will face eternal death in torment, while those loyal to Christ will experience life and light for all eternity.
What a day of rejoicing it is when the strongholds of Satan come crashing down before the power of our promised Saviour! Satan's rule for a Christian is effectively over, and we need not fear him any more. When the true king is rightfully on the throne, the oppression of Satan is dealt a death blow. Let us not listen to his temptations to doubt or fear, but instead rejoice because salvation, strength, the Kingdom of our God, the power of His Christ has come, and thus Satan has been overcome! To whom do you bow the knee today: Jesus Christ or some usurper? Jesus is the KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS. It is rightly said of Him in Jude 1:24-25, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen."
After Adam's sin in the garden, man was separated from God. God promised He would deliver His people from the oppression of sin and tyrannical rulers if they would love Him and walk in His ways. A day came when the people demanded to have a king like the other nations, rejecting God as their divine ruler. The majority of these kings were evil and led the nation into idolatrous practices. After the kingdom was divided between Israel and Judah, there was no shortage of wicked kings and queens! God in His mercy raised up kings who performed His will to forcibly remove those abominable rulers. Jehu was one of those kings. In him we see a picture of how wickedness is overthrown by God's anointed in both hearts and nations. A day is coming when Christ will return and mete out judgment on all evildoers. He will not spare in that day when God's wrath is full. While He tarries, today is the day of salvation.
After Jehu was anointed by a prophet at the command of God, he went on a rampage against Ahab's house. 2 Kings 9:22-24 reads, "Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" So he answered, "What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?"23 Then Joram turned around and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "Treachery, Ahaziah!" 24 Now Jehu drew his bow with full strength and shot Jehoram between his arms; and the arrow came out at his heart, and he sank down in his chariot." Joram sought peace, but there could be no peace because of the rampant harlotries and witchcraft. Similar to how allowing a gangrenous limb to remain connected to the body endangers the whole, it was time for Ahab's wicked house to be cut off from Israel. He and Jezebel had shed much innocent blood, and their blood was upon their own heads. 2 Kings 9:27 "But when Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled by the road to Beth Haggan. So Jehu pursued him, and said, "Shoot him also in the chariot." And they shot him at the Ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Then he fled to Megiddo, and died there." Ahaziah tried to escape the penalty of death for his grave sins, but he was tracked down and executed. His speedy chariot was no match for the demands of God's justice.
Jezebel was not able to avoid her punishment though she was wealthy and alluring. 2 Kings 9:30-33 says, "Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window.31 Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?" 32 And he looked up at the window, and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" So two or three eunuchs looked out at him.33 Then he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot." Jezebel killed the righteous and promoted the wicked. She questioned the wisdom of Jehu's act in slaying Joram and Ahaziah. What she did not acknowledge is Jehu had been anointed and crowned king. As king, he had authority from God Himself to mete out justice for the grave crimes which Ahab and his house had perpetrated. Without even acknowledging Jezebel's words, he commanded she be thrown down and promptly trampled her.
Do you see it? Jezebel is a picture of the wicked ruler of this world, Satan. A day is coming when Jesus will return to earth with a mighty army and throw down the ruler of this world. Satan's grip on this world is already broken, for on the cross Jesus crushed his head through His death and resurrection. Satan is a liar, accuser, thief, and murderer from the beginning. The day of his reckoning draws nigh. Jesus will give the command, and Michael will throw Satan down! Revelation 12:7-11 reads, "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."
The parallels do not end there. King Ahab's daughter Athaliah was given as wife to King Jehoram of Judah. She was an incredibly brutal and wicked woman who seized an opportunity to usurp the throne from her own kin. 2 Kings 11:1 tells the tragic tale: "When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs." Athaliah ordered the death of her own grandchildren to assume rule over Judah. If a person is willing to do such unthinkable atrocities, is anything beyond them? God did not forsake His people even in that dark chapter of their history. Joash, son of the rightful king, was hidden from Athaliah's wrath and kept hidden in the Temple. When he turned seven years old, the High Priest Jehoiada called together a group of trustworthy men who were loyal to God and their king. He organised the coronation of the king without the knowledge or consent of the usurping Athaliah.
2 Kings 11:12-16 reveals the climactic moment, a day of rejoicing and celebration: "And he brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!" 13 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD.14 When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, "Treason! Treason!"15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, "Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not let her be killed in the house of the LORD." 16 So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses' entrance into the king's house, and there she was killed." Athaliah cried "Treason! Treason!" yet there was none in Judah more treacherous than her. Once the rightful king was anointed, crowned, and established, then the usurper could be destroyed. When the Anointed Messiah, Jesus Christ the Son of God is crowned and established in a heart by faith, Satan's grip is broken. All he can do is scream and tear his clothes, for his reign of terror and oppression is broken! Jesus is for us both King and High Priest, and His Word will endure forever. Satan and all who follow after him will face eternal death in torment, while those loyal to Christ will experience life and light for all eternity.
What a day of rejoicing it is when the strongholds of Satan come crashing down before the power of our promised Saviour! Satan's rule for a Christian is effectively over, and we need not fear him any more. When the true king is rightfully on the throne, the oppression of Satan is dealt a death blow. Let us not listen to his temptations to doubt or fear, but instead rejoice because salvation, strength, the Kingdom of our God, the power of His Christ has come, and thus Satan has been overcome! To whom do you bow the knee today: Jesus Christ or some usurper? Jesus is the KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS. It is rightly said of Him in Jude 1:24-25, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen."
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