Psalms 8:1, 18:1-3, and 16:2\

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in 2 Kings 10. Verses 28-31 arrested my attention:

2Kings 10:28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

2Kings 10:29 ¶ Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

2Kings 10:30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

2Kings 10:31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

Read 2 Kings 9-10 for the back story. In summary, God raised up Jehu to execute His wrath upon the evil house of Ahab and his witchy wife Jezebel. Jezebel had established the house of Baal in Israel, and although Elijah cleansed the land on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18), he was taken up (2 Kings 2:11), but Jezebel continued, and she rebuilt the house of Baal in Israel. While God spake to Jehu nothing concerning Baal, He tacitly approved his action, for He congratulated Jehu, saying, “Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes,” and followed this, saying, “and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart.” Furthermore, God promised Jehu that his “children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (2 Kings 10:30).

Along the still waters, I pondered the partial reforms of Jehu. Jeroboam instituted the abomination of Egypt, worship of the golden calves (2 Chronicles 13:8; see Exodus 32:4). Jezebel carried Israel farther from GOD, establishing the priests of Phillistia, and the religion of Baalism, in the land of Israel. Jehu dialed it back, but not far enough. The man who by God was made king over Israel “took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin” (2 Kings 10:31). Jehu had an imperfect heart.

Jehu was anointed king of Israel, and the people appointed him to the office. He initiated God’s wrath upon the evil rulers before him, who weaponized government against the people (1 Kings 21:1-18), and led the people to depart from the most High GOD, whose influence persisted about 160 years to the days of the prophet Micah who declared the ruin that would come upon Israel because they followed in Ahab’s sin (Micah 6:16).

Alas, but Jehu stopped short, and did not remove Jeroboam’s golden calves: “Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Beth-el (the House of God), and that were in Dan.”*

The sins of Ahab brought Israel to ruin, but the sins of Jeroboam preceded him: “Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger” (1Kings 15:30).

It’s a great tragedy that Jehu stopped short. He purged the land of the sins of Ahab, but continued to walk in the sins of Jeroboam: he did not have a “perfect heart.” He did not follow the LORD with “all his heart.” He drew back from following all the ways of the LORD (2 Kings 10:31). And this left a door open for the evil of Ahab to return (Micah 6:16).

Nevertheless, Jehu was God’s chosen king for Israel (2 Kings 9:1-10). He executed wrath against those who weaponized government against the people and who aggressively promoted the abominable practices of the pagan worshippers of Baal.  Like those who advocate for the perverse practices of those who follow Baphomet in our culture, and seek to take dominion from the people and give it to evil rulers.

No political “Party” can save a nation, but sometimes a Jehu will be raised to power to retard the degeneration for at least four generations. What we do with that space to repent determines whether another extension will be given allowing us to preach the Gospel freely (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I presented my supplications, prayers, and intercessions, to preserve our freedom and liberty, giving thanks for the freedom and liberty we have, and praying fervently He will have mercy, and continue our peace. I appealed to Him on the premise that our God will have “all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

Jesus Christ our Lord, prince over the kings of the earth, to Whom is given all power in heaven and in earth, spoke: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup intermingled with His grace. Goodness and mercy sidled up, signaling it was time that we walk together into the Harvest. I rose but hesitated, till I heard my Shepherd speak: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v7h76bk-shepherds-pasture-imperfect-hearts.html

[*Ironically, Dan means straight. The children of Dan hold a path decided upon. See Judges 18-19. Jacob prophesied that, in the last days, Dan would be “a serpent by the way, an adder in the path” (Genesis 49:1, 17).]