As part of my chronological reading plan, I was reading 2 Kings 9-11 this morning.  Much of those chapters spoke about Jehu and his reign.  I learned a lot from him, both what “to do” and what “not to do”.  Check it out.  

Starting in Second Kings, chapter 10, I noted some shifts in Jehu’s actions.  

• In verse 10, he stated, “Know then without any doubt that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the Lord has done what He said through His servant Elijah.” He knew God was a Keeper of His Word.  That’s a GOOD THING.  
• And then in verse 16, he said, “Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord“. Zeal (eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something; fervor) for God.  That’s a GOOD THING.
  • This did make me reflect inward. Could I say that? –  Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord?  Is there enough evidence in my behavior to support that?  If people came along with me, what would they really see? 
• And then in verse 31, sadly it is stated of Jehu, “But Jehu did not take care to walk in the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin“.  That’s NOT A GOOD THING.

If I don’t want to be described like Jehu was in verse 31 above, I need to understand what a couple things mean.  Let’s look at a few definitions from that verse in the Hebrew language.   

• “did not take care“ (shâmar) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; take heed to self.  This is a conscious, on-purpose action.  Just like a garden needs a fence and needs regular weed-pulling, so it is with people’s hearts.  
• “to walk“ (hâlak) to traverse; to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk.  Think about the words “cause to”.  That indicates another on-purpose action.  If I have to “cause” myself to do something, it means the action doesn’t come naturally.  
• “with all his heart“ (lêbâb) inner man, mind, will, heart; inclination, resolution, determination (of will); mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory.  

PAUSE TO PONDER the word “heart”.  It encompasses so much.  Take a minute to sit in the following questions.  (Be honest.  You can’t change what you won’t acknowledge”).  

• What is my natural inclination?  
• What do I resolve to do?  
• How is my thought life?  Is it self-focused or God-focused?  
• Do I reflect God both inwardly AND outwardly? (ouch). 
• Do I consciously strive to put God’s word to memory?

Taking care to follow God with all your heart is an inside job.  

While Jehu did a lot of good things (outward), he didn’t take care to guard his heart (inward).  As evidenced by his choices, His heart was divided.  While he had torn down the temple of Baal, he didn’t turn from the idol worship of two golden calves set in place by Jeroboam.  

Above all else, GUARD YOUR HEART,
for everything you do flows from it.
~~Proverbs 4:23~~