Is there a fire burning inside you? In your innermost being is there an intense and eager desire to please your Master and to be used by Him? Can you say to God what Isaiah the prophet said, “Here I am. Send me”? If so, then you must learn what the characteristics are that dominate the thoughts and actions of a person who is on fire for God. 2 Kings 8-10 describe the actions of a man who had a “zeal for the Lord.” Much can be learned from his life and the exploits he did for his God.
Picture in your mind the perfect warrior, a man born and bred to fight. Demanded of him would be an extreme loyalty to his Master and a willingness to die for the cause for which he fought. A restless, flame-like emotion derived from an intense devotion to his beliefs will compel him to display vigorous and untiring activity in its support. He would have to be a leader of men, a skilled marksman, fervent in spirit, and most important of all, he would have to possess and maintain an excessive zeal for whatever undertaking he was engaged in. Such a man was Jehu, the son of Nimshi. He drove his chariot with vigor and speed, he was an expert with the arrow and bow, and he was a naturally born leader who commanded the respect of his loyal followers.
One day Jehu was gathered together with the captains of the Israelite army when a messenger sent from the prophet Elisha came to him at Ramoth-gilead. After taking this fearless warrior into an inner room the messenger, one of the sons of the prophets, poured oil on his head and said, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel!’” Next was spoken the mission for which Jehu was to accomplish, “You shall strike down the house of Ahab, your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish.”
A fierce and passionate fervor rose up in the heart of Jehu as he immediately set out to obey the orders just given him. His first destination was Jezreel, the home of the evil Jezebel and her equally wicked son, Joram, the ailing king whom Jehu had replaced. After piercing his fleeing predecessor in the heart with a perfectly aimed arrow, Jehu gave the order to the servants of Jezebel to throw their treacherous and sinful queen down from a balcony on which she sat. When they did, Jehu drove his chariot over her body and shortly there-after a prophecy spoken by Elijah was fulfilled when wild dogs tore her body to pieces. After this, Jehu had every member of Ahab’s family put to death along with all his close acquaintances and priests. Jehu boldly proclaimed that he was doing this because Ahab’s people had served the false god Baal whereas he wanted to honor the Lord.More killings followed as Jehu faithfully continued in his pursuit of fulfilling the assignment bestowed upon him. One day a messenger named Jehonadab met the anointed king on the roadway and after learning of his favorable intentions Jehu invited him to climb up into his chariot so they could ride together. Jehu then made a unique invitation to his new passenger, “Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.” Shortly thereafter Jehu uncharacteristically made one of the greatest turnaround ever made by a king anointed by God. Or so it seemed.
After killing all that remained to Ahab in Samaria, Jehu announced that God was no longer his Lord and that he had decided to follow and worship Baal, the god of Ahab and all his followers. He boldly declared to all the people, “Ahab served Baal a little but Jehu will serve him much.” He then arranged for a great feast and sent for all the worshippers of Baal to come to a temple and make a great sacrifice to their god. People came from all over the kingdom and the temple was filled from one end to the other. After clothing them with royal vestments, Jehu ordered his men to “search and see that no servants of the Lord are here, but only the worship-pers of Baal.” When this was completed, Jehu commanded his soldiers to surround the temple and to kill every Baal priest in the place. Afterward they went out and destroyed every idol throughout the land and only the worship of the one true God was allowed.
This great slaughter was carried out because Jehu had a “zeal for the Lord.” His aggressive actions may appear to be quite gruesome to those of us living under the new covenant but nonetheless Jehu carried out precisely the orders given to him by the prophet of God. Jehu was a warrior to the utmost and zeal is a weapon used in warfare. It creates in you a deep desire and willingness to be used by God to help destroy the works of the enemy. Eccl. 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with might…” Also, Col. 3:23 tells us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men.” Zeal births in you an intense enthusiasm and eagerness to do what is good and it gives you the confidence to complete whatever you begin.
The story of Jehu reveals that zeal was an every day part of his life and this great legend of a warrior personified the words of Deut. 30:20a, “that you may love the Lord your God that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him…” This verse describes perfectly the three main attributes of having a “zeal for the Lord.” First and foremost, you should love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). Next, you will obey His voice with no reservation or doubt. 1 Sam. 15:22 says, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” Finally, we are to cling to Him. Jesus tells us in John 15:4 to “Abide in Me, and I in you” and James mirrors this sentiment when He writes, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
Under the old covenant zeal was used by people such as Jehu to help destroy the physical enemies of the people of Israel. Today, however, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the dark-ness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). As Christians we are all called to be warriors for the Lord. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). Zeal is an expression of our faith in Jesus as our military commander and since faith is an action so then must zeal lead us to action. Tell your Heavenly Father that you are ready and willing to be used by Him to destroy the works of the enemy. Stand tall and follow the words of Moses recorded in Deut. 31:6, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One Who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Follow in the footsteps of Jehu and be aggressive and determined as you set out to fulfill your calling from the Lord. Be like Jesus Who “was clad with zeal as a cloak” (Is. 59:17) and be consumed by your desire to please and serve Him. Develop in your life a “zeal for the Lord” and get on fire for God. You won’t regret it.
