Sermon outline, Fifth Epiphany

INTRODUCTION
Jehu has destroyed the leaders of the house of Ahab. But Elijah prophesied that the house of Ahab would be totally destroyed, and now Jehu sets out on a war of utter destruction, a war like the original conquest of Joshua. Like Joshua too, Jehu destroys the most important idolatrous shrine in the northern kingdom.

THE TEXT
“Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who reared Ahab’s sons, saying: ‘Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you . . . .’” (2 Kings 10:1-36).

NEW CREATION
Richard Nelson has noted that the story of Jehu’s coup includes seven acts of destruction, culminating in the destruction of the temple of Baal:
1. Joram (involves deception)
2. Ahaziah
3. Jezebel (peace, queen mother)
4. 70 sons of Ahab (involves deception)
5. 42 brothers of Ahaziah (peace, queen mother)
6. All remaining loyalists in Samaria
7. Temple and worshipers of Baal (involves deception)

Jehu is Yahweh’s instrument for clearing away the debris and begin a new Israel (cf. the flood). The sevenfold pattern not only connects this with creation, but specifically with Sabbath. Jehu does not initially bring peace, but he is ultimately a bringer of rest to troubled Israel. Throughout, Jehu fulfills the word of the Lord (cf. 9:36-37; 10:10-11; 10:30).

YOUR MASTER’S HEADS
Jehu controls Ahab’s “second city,” Jezreel, but to solidify his rule he needs Samaria. Jehu’s plot is carried out through letters. On the surface, the first letter invites the leaders of Samaria to elect a successor to Ahab and defend the capital from Jehu. They take the letter as a threat, because they know they cannot stand against the “meshugga,” the madman gripped by divine frenzy. They offer themselves as Jehu”s servants (v. 5). The second letter tests their loyalty, beginning with the conditional “If (or, since) you are on my side” (v. 6). It is also ambiguous. In Hebrew and in English, “head” can mean either the literal sphere at the top of your neck or a chief or leader. Jehu plays on the ambiguity, instructing the elders to bring the “heads” of the men to Jezreel. Jehu has deniability; he can always say “I didn’t mean literal heads.” The leaders of Samaria thus help Jehu remove a considerable obstacle to his power, and demonstrate at the same time that they are Jehu’s men.

TEMPLE TO TOILET
Jehu sets a trap for the worshipers of Baal. In one respect, Jehu is a man after Yahweh’s heart, who possesses some of Yahweh’s own cunning. Jehu carries out the same herem warfare, the war of utter destruction that he has already carried out against Ahab’s house. He turns the great temple of Baal into a toilet, again showing utter disregard for the sensitivities of Baal-worshipers.

As zealous as Jehu is about the worship of Baal, he tolerates the golden calf shrines of Dan and Bethel (v. 31). And, Yahweh continued to slice off pieces of Israel, gradually reversing the conquest and settlement of Israel and reducing her boundaries (vv. 32-33). Yet, Jehu is commended as no other king in the Northern kingdom is commended, as one who “did well” and did “what was right in My eyes” (v. 30). This compares Jehu favorably to David, and because of his faithfulness he is promised a dynasty (v. 30). He is the only king of Israel to reverse the trend toward idolatry, and his zeal provides a model for the great reforming kings of Judah who were to come – Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah.