This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing 
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s 
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

Years earlier, Elijah prophesied
Israel in the north, Judah in the south,  

and their common enemy Syria would all 
experience a dramatic transfer of power.

A new king strangles Syria’s old king in his sleep, 
and begins a brutal campaign against God’s people.

Meanwhile Israel and Judah are ruled by loyalists
to Ahab and Jezebel, the old king and queen

who murdered God’s prophets, and
replaced worship of God with worship of Baal.

But like Elijah prophesied, Elisha anoints Jehu to be
Israel’s new leader. He calls him a “messiah”.

Now, a messiah is a chosen
savior for God’s people.

The word literally means “anointed one.” 

Jehu is anointed to avenge the blood spilt by
Ahab’s family, and he will reduce Jezebel to dog food.

Jehu is the only northern king to be 
anointed, and when the people hear it,  

they lay their clothes down 
at his feet and call him king.

Jehu then initiates seven acts of destruction 
against Ahab’s legacy and idolatry.

On the same plot of land Ahab and
Jezebel assassinated Naboth for a vineyard,  

both Israel and Judah’s
Ahabic kings fall.

As Jehu approaches Jezebel, her 
servants throw her from a high tower.

And she’s trampled by horses, and dogs
eat and excrete her over nearby fields.

Elijah’s prophecies have come
true again; Ahab’s line is dwindling.

Ahab's remaining descendants 
are concentrated in Samaria.

Jehu sends letters to the leader
of the city and encourages them

to appoint one of
Ahab’s sons to the throne.  

The leaders interpret this as a veiled threat 
and emphasize their fealty to Jehu over Ahab.

Jehu then demands they bring the leaders
(but he says “heads”) of Ahab’s sons to Jezreel..

The leaders interpret this message 
literally, and decapitate 70 of Ahab’s sons.

Like Elijah predicted, Jehu wipes
out every loyalist to Ahab in Samaria.

The seventh and final act of destruction is against the Baal
cult that Ahab and Jezebel introduced to Israel.

On the threat of death, Jehu invites 
all the priests and prophets of Baal  

to a grand celebration and 
sacrifice to their false god.

But it’s a trap.

Jehu makes a show of sacrificing to
Baal but locks the doors behind him,

kills the revelers, and turns
the temple into a sewer.

Jehu wipes out Baal from Israel and avenges
those lost to Jezebel, Ahab, and their blood cult.

[music]

In many ways Jehu is a
flawed messiah for Israel,  

and he will fail to push back the 
brutality of Syria’s king as a result.

But he is the only northern king to roll back Israel’s
idolatry. He’s also the only northern
king who does “right” in God’s eyes.

And shockingly, his vengeance is proof that, 
like David, he is a king after God’s own heart.

As a messiah, Jehu shows us
that vengenage against the wicked,

particularly vengeance against those who attack 
God’s prophets, is part of God’s heart.

In a parable directed at the religious 
elite and Pharisees, Jesus says the same.

Opponents to God’s prophet will be broken to 
pieces by a coming Anointed One, a coming Messiah.

Jesus is a new Jehu. Jesus is the final avenger against
powers and religions that steal from the poor, murder
God’s prophets, and promote a destructive spirituality.

Only king Jehu and King Jesus walk on
the freely offered clothes of their citizens.

And both do so on the warpath against 
temples dedicated to false gods in Israel.

Jehu’s vengeance failed to right Israel’s 
idolatries, but Jesus’ vengeance will not.

In the book of Revelation, Jezebel 
reappears as a false teacher.

And the figure of an idolatrous woman stained with the
blood of God’s people and prophets is a frequent theme.

The Bible understands that the conflict between Jehu
and Jezebel is not over. The powerful, the corrupt religious
elite, and murderous world views are all “Jezebels.”

They’re still deceiving, threatening, 
and killing God’s people.

But Jesus is coming to avenge the blood 
spilt by the idolatrous and the powerful.

Like Jehu, Jesus’ clothes will drip with 
the blood of the evil and the violent.

Jesus will leave no idolatry unavenged.

And all God’s people who have been 
oppressed will finally live in peace forever.

So, I pray that the Holy Spirit would open
your eyes to see the God who avenges evil.

And may you see Jesus as a greater Jehu who wipes
out all evil and corrupt religion, giving his people peace.