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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Paul said, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Rom 12:19). How true that is! I praise you today as the God of vengeance, and I say with the psalmist, “O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!” (Ps 94:1). Today in Your Word Today you told me how Elisha anointed Jehu king of Israel. Jehu was sitting around with his fellow army captains at Ramoth-gilead when Elisha’s man arrived and asked him for a private word. The next thing Jehu knew, he was being anointed king and told to destroy the entire house of Ahab: “I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord’s servants shed by Jezebel” (2 Kgs 9:7b). This teaches me that no one can lay a hand on one of your servants and get away with it. You allow the wicked to make their own choices, but you also make sure that justice is done in the end (cf. Luke 18:7–8). Jehu was only too eager to carry out your desire for vengeance against Ahab’s house. Indeed, he remembered when Elijah had rebuked Ahab for killing Naboth (2 Kgs 9:25–26), and he made sure that Naboth’s field was soaked with the blood of Ahab’s son Joram. Jezebel fared no better. She was thrown from her window and trampled under Jehu’s “madly-driven” chariot. Her life of luxury and wickedness ended in a muddy street, and the dogs devoured her mangled body: only her skull, feet and the palms of her hands remained. What a fitting end to a fiendish woman. This reminds me that I want to be on your side when your wrath falls on the wicked, for rest assured, it will come! Reflection Jehu was willing to be your fearful sword of vengeance, but he wasn’t willing to be your faithful servant. He continued in Jeroboam’s sin and refused to get rid of the golden calves (2 Kgs 10:31). This teaches me that an active and zealous ministry cannot make up for disobedience. If I refuse to obey you in all things, I’m no better than Saul or Jehu. Request Father, although there are times when you raise up a man to execute your judgment on the wicked, it is not my place to take the sword into my own hand. Remind me to wait on you and rest in the knowledge that true justice will be done in the end. Thanksgiving How thankful I am to know that you are a “jealous and avenging God” (Nah 1:2). The day is coming when your enemies will be vanquished forever and your Son will reign supreme! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Jehovah, God of Vengeance, Shine” — John Barnard. Meditation Verse: 2 Kings 10:10. |