2 Kings 8-10: He Drives Like a Mad Man

For a brief period of time, just when it was necessary, the zeal of the Lord burned in the heart of Jehu.  Elisha sent a young prophet to Ramoth Gilead to anoint Jehu as king with the mission of destroying the house of Ahab, Jezebel included.  Just the act of anointing Jehu King was so dangerous that Elisha told the young prophet to:  take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; don’t delay!” - 2 Kings 9:3 NIV

'Get out of there fast,' Elisha told the young man, 'It's going to be an explosive situation.'  And it was.  The Zeal of the Lord consumed Jehu and he set out to take care of Joram, and all the descendants of Ahab.  The messengers that Joram sent to see if the approaching troops were coming in peace were all told the same thing by Jehu.  “What do you have to do with peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” (2 Kings 9:18 NIV)

Joram's lookout watched what was going on and:  reported, “He has reached them, but he isn't coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman.” 2 Kings 9:20 NIV

Jehu saw nothing but what the Lord had commissioned him to do.  Extract vengeance for all the evil that had been done by Ahab and his descendants.  Fittingly, Joram dies on the plot of ground that belonged to Naboth who was killed so Ahab could have his vineyard. 

Jehu was not a perfect king.  While he destroyed all of the priests of Baal, he did not keep the law of the Lord with all of his heart.  But for this one brief moment in time, he was relentless in doing what God called him to do.  He drove like a madman.

2010 Post - 2 Kings 8-11:  The Zeal of the Lord