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Extreme prejudice: 2 Kings 10.1–27 (Day 302)

Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.

Pray

Pray

Lord, open my ears to hear what you have to say to me; open my heart to love your word, and open my mind to understand your truth.

Reflect

Daily reflection: 2 Kings 10

King Jehu was determined to purge Israel of every trace of Ahab's family and the Baal-worship they had promoted. The list of his murders is deeply depressing, especially because it was done in the name of the LORD. Jezreel became a killing field on which everyone with any connection to Ahab's clan was executed.

At one level, this is an example of what happens when religion goes bad. But in this chapter, no moral judgement is passed on Jehu: the terrible story is told in a purely factual way.

That doesn't mean, though, that God approved of his actions. Much later than this, the prophet Hosea had a son with his wife Gomer. God told Hosea to call the child 'Jezreel', because 'it will not be long before I punish the king of Israel for the murders that his ancestor Jehu committed at Jezreel. I am going to put an end to Jehu's dynasty' (Hosea 1.4).

The Bible isn't always tidy in what it teaches us. Sometimes stories are told in a way that makes God appear to approve of extreme violence. When we read those, we should remember the other side of the story, which may not always be told: that evil is always judged, and that God is good. Jehu thought he was doing God's will; he was not.

Perhaps today, if we're puzzled about moral questions and don't see clear answers in the Bible, stories like this remind us that we won't go far wrong if we remember that God is love.

Pray

Pray

God, help me never to become so used to human wickedness that I cease to lament. And let me never approve what's wrong because I'm misled by those who tell me it's right.


This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor

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