Hidden in My Heart

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15; NKJV)

God Relented

Jehovah will forgive even the most wicked of sinners if they repent (see Jonah (3:2-10; 4:2, 11) 

3000 found forgiveness for putting the Son of God to death:  “you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death” (Acts 2:23)

If the Ninevites found forgiveness, and the folks who crucified Jesus, found forgiveness, then you and me can find it too.

The Lasting Influence of Jeroboam

Jeroboam II, the fourteenth king of Israel, continued the downward spiral of disobedience of Jehovah's people.  Jehovah would send the prophets Amos and Hosea to seek to turn their hearts back to Him.  The influence of Jeroboam I was still strong, even one hundred-seventy years later.


"And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin." (2 Kings 14:24; NKJV)

Consider the lasting influence of Jeroboam I and determine to live in such a way that you influence people for good.

2 Chronicles 24:19

"Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the LORD; and they testified against them, but they would not listen." (2 Chronicles 24:19; NKJV)

As bad as things were in Israel, they were not much better in Judah.  "Yet," Jehovah was not willing that any of them perish, but that they all come to repentance (see 2 Peter 3:9).  They were lost because "they would not listen."

Listen.

The Christ of Joel

Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit after His ascension to the Father (John 16:7-8; Acts 1:8).  

When this was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, Peter said, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16-12; quoting Joel 2:28-32).

Joel also portrays Christ as the One who will judge the nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat in 3:2, 12.

Jehu

However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.  And the LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."  But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin. (2 Kings 10:29-31; NKJV)

Jehu continued the downward spiral of disobedience in the northern kingdom of Israel.  He failed to follow Jehovah completely and as a result, he suffered and the nation suffered.  Let us learn from his mistakes and be a blessing to others by walking in the law of Christ with all of our hearts.

Jezebel

No one names their daughter "Jezebel."  I mean no one.  She was terrible.

Jezebel was the wife of Ahab, king of Israel (1 Kings 16:31).  She was a tyrant who corrupted her husband, as well as the nation, by promoting Baal worship.  She quickly became the power behind the throne.  Obedient to her wishes Ahab erected a sanctuary for Baal and supported hundreds of pagan prophets (1 Kings 18:19).  When the prophets of Jehovah opposed Jezebel, she had them "massacred" (1 Kings 18:4,13). After Elijah defeated her prophets on Mount Carmel, she swore revenge.  Jehu disposed of Jezebel by having her thrown from the palace window. In fulfillment of the prediction of the prophet Elijah, Jezebel was trampled by the horses and eaten by the dogs (1 Kings 21:19). Only Jezebel's skull, feet, and the palms of her hands were left to bury when the dogs were finished (2 Kings 9:30-37).

Jezebel got what she deserved.  May we live in such a way that we get mercy and forgiveness.  Live in such a way as to glorify Jehovah.