Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 9-10; Psalm 78
Have you ever known someone you would quickly describe as fickle? Do you have a friend, coworker or family member who is quick to change their loyalty or affection? It is difficult to keep up with our fickle friends. They speak and live one way today, but tomorrow they seem like a completely different person wanting different things out of life than they did yesterday.
GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE A HISTORY OF BEING INCONSISTENT AND DISLOYAL.
Today’s passage of scripture reveals the fickle hearts of God’s people. They would worship God for a time and everything would go well. But time and time again, they would go back to their selfish, evil ways. They would turn their hearts to God but not wholeheartedly. They would keep things in their life that would cause them to be distracted and disloyal. This pattern led to the eventual decline and exile of the people of Israel, as well as the destruction of Jerusalem.
Elisha sent a young prophet to anoint Jehu the next king of Israel. The call God had on Jehu’s life was to destroy the family of Ahab. But when he found King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah together, he killed them both. Jehu accomplished what God had commanded him to do, also destroying every trace of Baal worship from Israel except the gold calves at Bethel and Dan.
Jehu did a good thing and the impact of his righteousness made a difference in both Israel and Judah. But Jehu, too, showed himself to have a fickle heart; his faithfulness did not last. At first, Jehu was faithful to the call God had placed on his life, but his heart proved to be as fickle as the rest of the Israelites.
Jehu did not obey the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with ALL his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. – 2 Kings 10:31
God had anointed Jehu for a special purpose, choosing him from among all of the Israelites. Jehu enjoyed the power but he never fully submitted his life to the One who had called him. Just like generation after generation of God’s people, Jehu’s loyalties were fickle.
IT’S TIME TO DO A HEART CHECK.
Why is it that our hearts are so easily turned away from God after all that He has done for us? What a great opportunity this morning to do our own heart check — to allow the Spirit to reveal any inconsistencies in our lives. In what areas of my life am I struggling to fully trust God? Have I been testing the Lord’s patience?
For he divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls!
In the daytime he led them by a cloud, and all night by a pillar of fire.
He split open rocks in the wilderness to give them water, as from a gushing spring.
He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow down like a river.
Yet they kept sinning against him,…
Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him…
Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer.
But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues.
Their hearts were not loyal to him.
They did not keep his covenant.
Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all…
Again and again they tested God’s patience… – Psalm 78:13-17a,32b-41a
MAY OUR HEARTS REMAIN LOYAL TO THE GOD WHO HAS PROVIDED FOR US OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
Lord, help me to fully trust in you. May my life be marked with consistency and integrity as I walk with eyes focused on you. I want to be fully available for whatever you have for me today, and I want my faithfulness to last through every tomorrow. Thank you for your mercy and patience as I daily learn from your scriptures. I am so grateful for the way you consistently provide your presence and protection in my life. I love you with my whole heart! Amen.