Jehu.

Brother Satya Raj.

January, 2016.
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Sincerity

I was reminded of the words spoken by Br Phil Coulson in 2009 when he was visiting India. It is about the need to be sincere in our assembly relationships, explained very beautifully from Phil 1:10. "That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ."

The original Greek word for the English "Sincere" is HEILIKRINES (heile - sun's ray) and (krino - to judge or call in question), which means judged by sunlight or tested as genuine, (figuratively) pure.

When the idols or figurines of Philippi are being made, a small cut or crack can be filled with wax to cover it up and make it look perfect from the outside. However, when the buyer tests such items in the sunlight, the wax melts and the imperfection is brought out. He explained that we must live our lives in the light of the fact that the Day of Christ will reveal all our insincere efforts at ministry as also in personal lives.

Jehu's Negative Example

Continuing the thought on Phil 1:10 Sincerity as Br Phil Coulson's explained, a very apt example of right action but insincere intention is found in Jehu, the prophet and king in Israel (2Kings 9 &10).

Jehu is the 10th King in Israel during 843-816 BCE, until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight - 2 Kings 17:23. In the northern kingdom there were 9 dynasties and 19 kings in all and every one of them was evil, while 8 of these kings met death by violence. The ruthless and cruel Assyrians (under Sargon II) besieged Samaria for 3 years and finally hauled them away into captivity (722 BCE). These Samaritans never returned back, unlike the Jews who returned from their Babylonian captivity after 70 years, when Cyrus the Great ended their exile in 538 BCE.

After Jehu annihilates Ahab's family and Israel's Baal worshippers along with the brethren of Judah's King Ahaziah, the LORD blesses him (2Kings 10:30). This is the outward appearance of Jehu's zeal and obedience, and its resultant blessing apparent on his House.

But Hosea 1:4 brings in the other side of Jehu's zeal and obedience in blood shedding - subtle and self vested instincts to taste and wield royal power, for which the Judgment of God falls in His own appointed time.

Jehu first destroyed royal blood of Ahab's family, coz they were wicked in the Lord's sight. But only God knew his inner instincts were rather on the throne, and not on His real interests (2Ki 10:31). Secondly, he destroyed all Baal worshippers rightly, but did not destroy the golden calves in Bethel and Dan, which caused Israel to sin (2Ki 10:29).

Jehu presents the spiritualized force of revival in OT Israel, which God sends to cleanse the perverted form of His institutions - worship and government. If one is openly known to follow God's commands; it suffices for his blessings of providence. But judgment falls suddenly on ground of the inner intentions which are unknown / unknowable, leaving the world clueless. The NT on the other hand reveals God's spiritual principles based on the abstraction of His eternal nature, which brings in the perspective of eternal death and eternal life.

Hence, as we pursue things of God, let us steer clear of unseen intentions, but be sincere in all things, being still reminded of Paul's words referring to "God's judgment of the secrets of men by Jesus Christ" in Rom 2:16 AND God, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts in 1Cor 4:5 -- and then shall every man have praise of God.

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