Scripture: But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.” 2 Kings 35-37 ESV
Observation: This same Queen Jezebel, who worshipped Baal, unremittingly perpetrated evil. Whether leading God’s people astray with abhorred pagan rituals (like sacrificing firstborn sons) or ruthlessly seeking to destroy those who opposed her (such as Elijah and Naboth), Jezebel had no regard for the one true God. Hence, instructed by the Lord, Elijah foretold the fate of Israel’s reprobate queen (1 Kings 21:21-24). Now, in her old age, the prophecy would reach its fulfillment. Commanded by her usurper, Jehu, Jezebel’s eunuch attendants chuck her out her palace window, plummeting her to the ground where wild dogs pounce on her lifeless body and consume her flesh (above verses).
Takeaway: Stories like that of Jezebel’s fate are a bit challenging. Yes, she was wicked and took innocent lives during her reign. But why would our loving and gracious God command so hideous of an ending to her life? If we have no concept of sin’s ravenous, destructive power, then such action would seem contradictory to a loving God. But would a loving God ignore the ravishes of evil? Or would he expose its destructive ways and utterly destroy it?
While this argument might make sense regarding “truly” evil people, the difficulty arises when we look to ourselves: “I’m not that bad of a person.” Paul disagrees. Indeed, he contends that all of creation is corrupt (Romans 1). So while we may think that we are nothing like Jezebel, the truth is that given the same life circumstances, each of us can act like this self-indulgent, power-grabbing queen. Now, when I read passages like the above, I am reminded why Jesus had to suffer such a gruesome death for me. The destructive power of sin warrants a radical remedy.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for utterly dismantling sin’s power over our souls through the sacrifice of your Son. Would you please help us cooperate with your Holy Spirit when he exposes our sinful habits by encouraging us to put these destructive vices to death resolutely? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
Leave a Reply