Saturday, November 13, 2021

The Bloody Reckoning of Jehu Jezreel & Jesus (Hosea 1:4)

 

Then, the LORD said, “Call his name Jezreel,

For in a little while

I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu,

And bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.

Hosea 1:4.

 

God doesn’t’ waste words. He speaks volumes with few. After all, He is The Word. The Master Craftsman of words. He formed and created the world, with His Word. It’s no wonder, His Word, has and always will be, the best of best-sellers.

These few words spoken to Hosea, paint a prophetic picture of His plan for the planet. Perfectly.

 Many times, prophecy has interpretation, near and far; spiritual and natural. Here we see all of this and (at least) three timeless lessons:

  1. Blood Speaks.
  2. There is a Divine Reckoning
  3. There is a Holy Reckoning

 

 

Blood speaks. God set that precedent, right away, in the beginning, when He said to Cain, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” Genesis 4:10.

Jezreel is a bloody place. A LOT of blood cried out from the ground of Jezreel.

Jezreel is where at least thirty-four battles have occurred, and one more big one is on the horizon.

At Jezreel, Crusaders fought four separate battles in the 12th century. Napoleon called the Jezreel Valley the most natural battleground of the whole earth.

It’s where King Josiah & King Saul were killed. Where dogs licked Ahab’s blood and ate Jezebel’s flesh.

For fear of Jehu, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel.

Fueled by bloodlust birthed in Jezreel, Jehu slaughtered forty-two brothers of King Ahaziah of Judah (2 Kings 9:30-10:36).

 

The blood of this place cried out, God heard, and exacted vengeance. Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord, (Deuteronomy 32:35).

That can be a daunting thought, since we all are guilty. We all have blood on our hands. We all took part, by our sin, in the shedding of innocent blood, in the nailing Jesus to the tree…which is exactly where we find the remedy.

Blood speaks, either, justification or condemnation.

Which will it be?

It’s up to thee.

Do we accept and receive the healing, cleansing blood of Jesus? (1 John 1:7). (Hebrews 9:14).

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

 

Or, do we reject Him, and receive the just recompense of reward?

 

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing…
(Hebrews 10:29)

 

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10).

 

There is a Divine Reckoning.

Although, Jehu was commissioned and positioned by God to execute judgement on Ahab and family. The motives of his heart were laid bare, when after taking the throne, he continued in the evil ways of the kings who had gone before him.

In God’s Divine Justice, he promised Jehu that his sons would sit on the throne of Israel for four generations; because of his obedience—in spite of his disobedience, (2 Kings 9:30-10:36).

And it came to pass, when the fourth generation of Jehu, (Zechariah), was seated on the throne, Hosea and Gomer had their first son.

 The LORD told Hosea to call his son, Jezreel. For in a little while I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu (Hosea 1:4).

Zechariah had reigned only six months when he was struck down (publicly assassinated) by Shallum, (Shallum means: retribution), (2 Kings 15:8-10).

Thus, ended the dynasty of Jehu just as the LORD had spoken.

Every jot and tittle of the Word is always fulfilled.

If anyone was paying attention back then, that would’ve been quite a story. A wake-up call. Front page news. But, alas, most folks weren’t (and still aren’t) paying attention.

From that day to this, it stands as a sign, permanently planted: God Remembers. His Word is True. Justice is Served.

God likes posting signs.

And this will be a sign to you: You shall find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger (Luke 2:12).

Now, that was a sign.

Yet, very few saw. Fewer still recognized. Nevertheless, multiplied multitudes, celebrate that Sign, to this very day. It was and is, a powerful, pivotal, point in HIStory.

But what about new born baby Jezreel, and long-time dead, Jehu?

It too was and is a sign, but we are foolish and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken (Luke 24:25).

The death of Zechariah wasn’t much more than a footnote to most folks living back then. It hardly seems relevant to us, here and now. So, what’s the big deal? Why go to the trouble of naming a baby to memorialize it, and recording it in the Bible, to immortalize it?

An even bigger question is: how was justice served, when judgement wasn’t enforced until four generations after the offender (Jehu) was dead?

God doesn’t waste words, or time.

He does nothing out of frivolity.

This event wasn’t simply a matter of, prophecy made—prophecy kept.  

It was: A sign for those living then. An eternal message of hope and justice for us living now. An unending, Divine Reckoning for Jehu, then, and now.

 At first glance it looks like Jehu got away with murder, and then lived like a king. Because, well, because, he did. He slaughtered many, then reigned as king of Israel for twenty-eight years, and then died of natural causes.

It’s easy to think the wicked do wickedly without consequence. They murder, lie, cheat, and steal, then rise to power in their ivory tower. Untouchable from golden throne, dictator from House Chamber dais, executioner from Oval Office.    

But the Truth is, nobody gets away with anything.

The truth is, justice is served.

God doesn’t miss a thing. There is a Divine Reckoning, and Jehu, knew.

What? What do you mean, Jehu knew? How? He’d already been dead for about a hundred years before Zechariah was killed.

Jehu’s body died. He didn’t. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, once to die and then the judgement, (Genesis 3:19; Hebrews 9:27).

Just like the rich man in Hades and Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:19-31).

Jesus taught us that even though they died, yet, they lived.

They still remembered their former life, their family, their friends.

They could feel. The rich man felt, thirst and pain, and regret. Lazarus felt, joy and peace and rest.

Justice was served. And the rich man, mournfully, knew it.

Jehu did too.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Galatians 6:7).

 

Thus far, we have seen, how God has shown; Blood Speaks and There is a Divine Reckoning, but there’s more. It’ deep. It matters most to you and me.

A Holy Reckoning

God’s Divine Reckoning, may balance the scales of justice on earth, and propel His Divine purpose for the planet; however, His Holy Reckoning, balances the scales in eternity; and forever echoes His Divine purpose.

Here we need to stop and pray.  

LORD, we ask for Spiritual discernment, eyes to see and ears to hear.

 

The original text, as written, holds the key, to open a hidden treasure. Hidden for us, not from us.

 

For in a little while

I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu,

And bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.

Hosea 1:4.

 

For in a little while calls to remembrance the familiar words from Hebrews:

“For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry”
 (Hebrews 10:37).

 

Take heart, lift up your head, for His redemption draws nigh. In a little while, He (Jesus) will come. His visitation is sure and certain, and will not be delayed.

Look deep into the original text and hear The Voice echoing His plan, to defeat the kingdom of darkness, and bring an end to the strife between God and man.

 

I will avenge (paqad: to attend to, visit, muster, appoint)

the bloodshed of Jezreel (yiz-reh-ale' - God sows)

on the house of Jehu (Yehu: "the LORD is He)

and bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel (Yisrael, God strives).

 

Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear:

 

I will visit; the blood I sow, is Mine, to end the kingdom that strives against Me.

 

It is finished (John 19:30).

 

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone;
 but if it dies, it produces much grain (John 12:24).

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:13-14).


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