Behold Your Master

Originally published January 27, 2015

“And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she (Jezebel) said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?”

2 Kings 9:31

Jehu the son of Nimshi had been anointed by a son of the prophets for one express purpose: to destroy all that remained of wicked King Ahab and his Queen, Jezebel. He tore through the combined forces of the kings of Israel and Judah on his mission. His vengeance propelled him to Jezreel, to the haunt of Jezebel herself.

Is there ever peace in rebellion against authority?

In the history of the Israeli monarchy, in 1 Kings 16, we read of Zimri, lieutenant captain of the drunken King Elah of Israel. God pronounced thru his prophet a judgment against Baasha, Elah’s father, and Zimri took it upon himself to rid Israel of the sot. No sooner had he destroyed the house of Baasha, the people chose another king, the captain of the host, Omri, and the realigned army of Israel marched against Zimri. He barricaded himself in the palace, and burnt it down over himself. The Bible recounts: “For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.” The Lord calls what Zimri did, “his treason that he wrought.” (1 Kings 16:19-20)

Jehu revolts against Jezebel, at the Word of the Lord, and the rest of the story is that God blesses him for it to his fourth generation. Zimri revolts against Baasha, fulfilling God’s prophecy, and the Lord calls it treason- and the household of Zimri is never mentioned again. Why the different treatment of these two men?

I believe it has everything to do with authority- to whom you answer, in whose behalf you act, and for whose advancement.

Zimri derived his authority from his position as vice-captain of Israel’s army. Though his actions reflected what God said, God’s Word was not the reason for his rebellion. He sought his own advancement, a promotion, and if it happened to line up with prophecy, big deal. God was not in all his thoughts.

Jehu received his calling directly from the Lord’s prophet. The prophet gave him his orders, and he carried them out to the letter. He became king because God anointed him so, and not for any other cause.

Some people consider themselves ‘in the will of God’ or ‘blessed’ simply because they know how to stay in God’s good graces. They run for political office, say ‘God bless you’ during the interview after their winning game, or genuflect on the field for publicity. They will give an occasional motivational speech and do lip-service to ‘Jesus’, but, much like Zimri- they have another master.

“Thus saith the Lord” should be the prime consideration of your life. If you push against the worldly current for personal gain, you will find no peace. You’re rebelling against your master. If however, you live and serve the Lord Jesus Christ, warfare against the world’s system brings the greatest peace of all. If the Prince of Peace be your Lord and Master, then service to him brings the “peace that passeth all understanding.”

Who is your master?