Jehu’s Zeal Without Reward

This passage deals with the scene in which Jehu, king of the northern kingdom of Israel, judges the house of Ahab and wipes out the worshipers of Baal. Jehu was used as an instrument of God's judgment and pressed zealously ahead, wielding great power, but inside him, rather than true love for God, there was a pride that wanted to display his own might and sense of achievement. Rather than acknowledging that what he did came from God, he prided himself that it was the result of his own ability and zeal, and acted as though he had already received his whole reward.

Jehonadab the son of Rechab, a Gentile, by contrast chose a life of serving God alone rather than worldly security or power. He followed God without hesitation when Jehu questioned him, kept his distance from idolatry all his life, and charged his descendants to hold on to an eternal hope. Although Jehu seemed outwardly to be working for God, his motives came from human righteousness and boasting, so he did not receive true spiritual reward. Instead, he followed in the sin of idolatry that Jeroboam had committed and in the end fell into the way of corruption.

The sermon asks believers to reflect on their motives when they take up God's work. It points out that even if we look devoted and zealous on the outside, if pride and self-boasting are mixed into our hearts, that cannot be the faithfulness God delights in. It reminds us that we must lay aside our own righteousness and work with a heart that gives glory to God alone. The sermon puts questions to the reader, so that they can look back at the motives of their life of faith and devotion, and choose the path of faith that gains the true reward.