In a time when both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah had turned from the Lord, a brief revival occurs in both under the leadership of two kings.
Jehu was anointed by Elisha indirectly to become king of Israel. He would be the instrument to fulfill the prophetic words of judgment against Israel’s previous leaders. Jehu killed both Joram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of Judah, executed Jezebel, the sinister woman who plotted evil from the time of Ahab, wiped out all of Ahab’s descendants, and in his final act of restoration, Jehu slaughtered every prophet of Baal along with many worshippers. All of this was done as judgment from God. The Lord was pleased and said to Jehu, “You have done well” (10:30).
Jehoash began to reign in Judah while Jehu was reigning in Israel. At just seven years of age, Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord because he listened to good counsel from a priest. Under his leadership, the people set about to repair the temple. As the people would give, the repairs would continue. It was certainly a time of excitement, unity, and return to the Lord.
However, Jehu and Jehoash would not finish as well as they started. Jehu failed to remove the golden calves made by Jeroboam, and Jehoash paid off Hazael, king of Syria, with all the sacred gifts and gold in the house of the Lord! Both kings led something of a renewal in their day. In the end, however, total faith in the Lord was lacking and therefore these revivals would be short-lived. In our prayer for revival, let us remember that a good thing needs a good finish as well as a good start!
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