2 Kings 10

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

(2Ki 10:16)

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.

(2Ki 10:29)

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.

(2Ki 10:31)

Jehu was SO ZEALOUS. His zeal for the Lord burned red-hot, and got the job done. Ahab dead? Check. Ahab’s family? Check. Baal worshippers eradicated? Check. He was doing the job the Lord had set before him, and he was doing it with ZEAL. The word ZEAL here describes an INTENSE PASSION, one that is far greater than wrath or anger… It is all consuming emotion, and it can be either good or bad. We see this in Jehu’s life. With this zeal, he accomplishes great things… but he also does some things out of zeal that are not consistent with God’s character… the height of the deception when he kills the prophets of Baal, he actually MAKES A SACRIFCE to Baal to really sell his point. This is not something God commanded! It seems that Jehu didn’t really care too much about God’s commands. It wasn’t about what God wanted for Jehu and from Jehu; it was all about what JEHU wanted to do FOR GOD.

This is a problem. We can do, and do, and do for God… but if it isn’t in line with His will and His ways, then it’s just a bunch of DOO-DOO. In Titus we are told that we are to be a people who are ZEALOUS for good works; but if that Zeal isn’t tempered and brought under control by submission to God’s will and word, then it is inappropriate. Zeal must be properly directed to be truly pleasing to God. We see that for all of his zeal, Jehu never really walked according to God’s ways… sadly, it was all about Jehu.

What about you? Are you zealous, or are you lazy when it comes to your faith? Jehu is a great model of zeal. If you are zealous, my next question is this; what are you doing with that zeal? Is it just going all over the place, or is it directed by the WILL and WORD of God? God wants us to be zealous, but He wants that zeal to be harnessed… He wants to be able to direct that zeal and use it for His glory. The question is simple, are you letting Him direct it?