Sermon Tone Analysis

Story of man who died and his brother pays off the pastor to say something good about his brother.

Jezebel

Baal Worshipper

Kills the prophets of Yahweh

Threatened Elijah

Stole Naboth’s vineyard and had Naboth killed.

Wife of King Ahab of Israel

After marrying Jezebel, Ahab promotes the worship of Baal in Israel (1 Kgs 16:31–33).

Two chapters later, the narrative credits Jezebel with killing the prophets of Yahweh, while Obadiah hides 100 of them in a cave (1 Kgs 18:4).

After hearing of the massacre, Elijah confronts Ahab and challenges the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah “who eat at the table of Jezebel” (1 Kgs 18:17–19).

In the showdown on Mount Carmel, Baal fails to respond to his prophets, but the “fire of Yahweh” rains down and consumes Elijah’s sacrifice (1 Kgs 18:20–38).

Having witnessed Yahweh’s power, the Israelites obey Elijah’s command to seize the prophets of Baal and execute them (1 Kgs 18:39–40).

Jezebel then threatens to kill Elijah, who flees into the wilderness (1 Kgs 19:2–4).

Jezebel plotted to steal the property of Naboth.

Taking the property, she had Naboth killed to procure it.

It is this theft and murder that prompts God to say “Enough”.

Elijah declares that God will avenge Naboth’s blood and Queen jezebel will be eaten by dogs.

To fully understand this story, background is necessary.

That background is everything in this chapter prior to what we just read, 2 Kings 9.1-29

The entire story can be understood in the context of 2 verses- 2 Kings 9.6-7

2 fold purpose:

Destroy the house of Ahab

Avenge the blood of God’s prophets and servants

Jehu’s commentary on the prophecy (v.

37) is in harmony with Elijah’s words.

The king’s complete lack of respect for Jezebel in her death reflects how he and God, as well as the godly in Israel, viewed this callous sinner who had been directly and indirectly responsible for so much apostasy and wickedness among God’s people.

The greatest delinquent in the house of Ahab was Jezebel.

She knew how to stir up trouble.

EVIL KNOWS NO AUTHORITY

I. Jezebel challenged all authority.

She had heard that Jehu had slain her son, for her evil- and had buried him in Naboth’s vineyard at the direction of the Lord- and she knew he was now coming to Jezreel to find her.

Notice what she does:

1.

She puts herself in a window to challenge Jehu.

Jehu was God’s judgment for her evil.

A heart hardened against God will stare him down to the last- will ignore his pleas- will never never never give in to the Holy Spirit.

Job spoke of the heart of an evil person...

2.

She put on her makeup and did her hair.

She wanted to appear as royalty.

She wanted to appear majestic, she thought she was unstoppable and Jehu would end his mission.

In the book of Isaiah, God called Israel to repentance, and there is this strange couple of verses that speak to this scene in 2 Kings with Jezebel.

The prideful heart that cannot be tamed is an evil heart.

It will come to ruin.

The evil heart has no authority and will submit to nobody- even God.

3. Instead of trembling before God’s messenger, she expected God’s messenger ( and therefore God) to tremble before her spectacle.

Zimri- you trader who will ultimately die.

A. She didn’t notice that the hand of God (Jehu) had gone out against her family.

All she could see was Jehu- when she should have recognized Yahweh.

That’s how evil she had become.

We all have the thumbpring of God upon our lives, but evil steals that from even our own self awareness.

B.

She believed that even though she may die, she was taking Jehu with her.

Notice how evil misguided “authority” believes that anything against them must be in the wrong.

C. Had Zimri peace?

Zimri was a king of Israel who ascended to the throne not by God’s direction but by Zimri’s ambition.

To associate Jehu with Zimri was not a truth, but an insult.

Jehu was there by God’s anointing, God’s direction , and God’s plan.

Zimri was not.

That is why his kingdom only lasted 7 days.

RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS FEW FRIENDS

Where Jesus is the only attraction the crowds will be small.

Jehu asked for help.

Who’s on my side?

Who?

Jehu was called to do God’s work, and he calls for assistance.

There are times when the Righteous will stand alone, as in Isaiah 63.5

Moses raised the standard of yahweh in Exodus 32.26

The Psalmist asked the same in Psalm 94.16

when it is time to reform, the question must be asked, “Whose side are you on?”

LET GOD BE YOUR GUIDE

Her own attendants threw her down- a form of stoning.

Why did they do it?

Secret hatred for her?

Fear of what would happen to them?

Perhaps, if God had ordered and justified Jehu’s actions, they knw what was right and God would justify theirs.?

EVIL’S ULTIMATUM

It will end.

EVIL’S ULTIMATUM

It will end.

Jehu remembered that Jezebel, in spite of her evil way, was a human- was a son, a daughter, a wife, a person.

she must be buried.

Jehu also forgot that God had already decreed that the dogs would destroy her presence on the face of the earth.

There would be no burial, no tombstone, no remembrance of her wickedness.

EVIL KNOWS NO AUTHORITY

RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS FEW FRIENDS

LET GOD BE YOUR GUIDE

EVIL’S ULTIMATUM

Jesus- It is Finished.

Church at Thyatira- Revelation 2.21-23

EVIL’S ULTIMATUM CAN BE GOD’S INVITATION