Lesson 33: The Potential of Zeal

E‌ven in this study tonight, we are going to be able to see this truth illustrated in two different kings. We are going to cover four kings tonight, and they were are all kings of the Northern kingdom of Israel.

I. 10TH NORTHERN KING – JEHU – A KING WITH POTENTIAL

God has made us all for something great - that is a relationship and purpose of life in Him. Sin is a poor unfulfilling replacement for those things. Men may pretend today like never before that they are fullfilled and happy - but the truth is that they are putting on a front - living a lie - when they miss out on God’s plan for their lives.

In everyone of us there is potential.

Jehu - The Lord is He

A. The anointing of and prophecy concerning Jehu

1. This was the Lord’s doing

1 Kings 9:1-3

No matter how you read it, it was God’s will to anoint Jehu king. He may not have been the first born, it was not required even by the evidence we have already seen the lives of other kings of Israel to have the firstborn to be king. Even if it is the kings will, it may not happen.

But Scripture 2 Kings 9:1–10:36; 2 Chronicles 22:7–12

Dates 841–813Duration 28 years

2. An unusual anointing

2 Kings 9:4-6.

It was unusual in the sense that the prophet was sent in to do it quickly and then to basically run for his life - the way it sounds here.

a. An impromptu coronation

But no crown would be placed on anyone’s head, no pomp and circumstance - this was the captains of the host meeting together for dinner by a fire most likely at what was likely the military encampment of the Norther kingdom in Ramoth Gilead.

b. An unplanned opportunity

Jehu did not know what was coming

God instigated this, by His will and prophecy.

3. A violent prophecy

vv.7-

He was anointed by a messenger from Elisha.

The general destruction of Ahab’s family

Like the house of Jeroboam.

Like the house of Baasha

The specific death of Jezebel v.10

B. Why Jehu? His zeal

2 Kings 10:16 KJV

And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.

The Benefits of zeal

1. Zealousness pleases God

Dare I say, He is impressed by it.

In Numbers 25:13

Numbers 25:13 KJV

And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

Numbers 25:11 KJV

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

2. Zeal is beneficial toward repentance

2 Corinthians 7:11 KJV

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Revelation 3:19 KJV

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

3. Zeal moves us to action

Psalm 119:139 KJV

My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

Zeal motivates others to action

2 Corinthians 9:2 KJV

For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

Zeal helps with repentance

Zeal without knowledge is dangerous

Paul said of Israel.

Romans 10:2 KJV

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

It has cost many a person the way of salvation because they caught on to the ride

Even Paul was so zealous for religion that he was persecuting and imprisoning Christians:

Philippians 3:6 KJV

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Concerning Epaphras:

Colossians 4:13 KJV

For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

C. The Prophecy fulfilled and then some

Some of these were ordered by God but others were assassinations out of unbound zeal of Jehu.

1. The northern king Jehoram

2. Judah’s King Ahaziah

(not to be confused with Ahab’s oldest son), grandson of Jehoshaphat

3. Jezebel

4. Ahab’s seventy sons, relatives, and friends

5. Forty-two royal princes of Judah

6. The Baal-worshipers

II. 11TH NORTHERN KING – JEHOAHAZ - Jehovah has seized

Dates 814–797 Duration 17 years - the only Scripture about his reign is in 2 Kings 13:1–9

A. He did that which was evil in the sight of God

2 Kings 13:1–2 KJV

In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

He was the son of Jehu, a zealous man for God when it came to doing but not being. Therefore, his son was not going to do well either.

God chastised them all their days in verse 3 from Benhadad and Hazael of Syria.

B. He showed humility but not repentance

2 Kings 13:4–5 KJV

And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.

By the way, think about how ready God is to forgive and to show mercy to us.

You can show humility without repentance, but you cannot have repentance without humility.

He did just like as Ahab had once done, see 1 Ki. 21:27–29

C. His army was almost wiped out by the Syrians

2 Kings 13:7 KJV

Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.

He was oppressed by the Syrian king Hazael during his entire reign, and his army was finally reduced to fifty mounted troops, ten chariots, and ten thousand infantry men.

III. THE 12TH NORTHERN KING – JEHOASH - Jehovah fired

2 Ki. 13:10–14:16; 2 Chron. 25:17–24

Dates 798–782

Duration 16 years Scripture 2 Kings 13:10–14:16; 2 Chronicles 25:17–24

A. Another evil king of the Northern kingdom

2 Kings 13:11 KJV

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.

B. His lack of zeal in dealing with the Moabites

2 Kings 13:14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. 16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. 17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. 18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. 19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

C. He defeated Amaziah on the battlefield

He led Amaziah back to Jerusalem as a captive and left the city, taking both wealth and hostages. He plundered Jerusalem, taking many hostages and much wealth.

IV. 13TH KING - JEROBOAM II - The people will contend

(2 Ki. 14:23–29)

He was the son of Jehoash.

A. He was an enduring king

Reigned longer than other king in Israel, he ruled for forty-one years (793–753 B.C.).

2 Kings 14:23 KJV

In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.

B. He was an empowered king

He recovered the lost territories of Israel surrounding the Dead Sea - and prospsered enlarging the kingdom. Whether he understood it or not - his power was not of himself, but of God.

2 Kings 14:26–27 KJV

For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

C. He was an evil king

2 Kings 14:24 KJV

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

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