“But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.”
II Kings 10:31 NKJV
There’s an illustration I use with new interpreting students that took on a new perspective for me today. (I wrote about it originally on 2/15/2022). While I’ve always emphasized the “sacred trust” aspect of our role, I haven’t talked much about our responsibility to guard the communication we are entrusted with.
In the passage above, Jehu did not “take heed” of how he lived. He honored G-d with his mouth, but he didn’t fully follow the ways of G-d. It’s like “obedience” in a child. If I ask my son to do something – and he does it BUT complains the whole time and stomps around angrily, did he truly obey? His actions might say yes – but his heart, certainly not.
Likewise, following G-d – taking heed of his ways – is an issue of the heart.
To Take Heed: to pay attention to something and be careful about it.
Hebrew: Took Heed: šāmar, šāmar: to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
There is no place for half hearted obedience to G-d. We either walk fully in His ways or we don’t. Everything we do either honors and exalts Him or or honors and exalts the enemy. There is no middle ground. Walking in this way requires diligence – it’s turning of the channel, walking out of the movie, or closing the book when it is draws our heart away. It’s pressing into His presence over the noise and distractions. It’s making space for Him to speak and use instead of filling the silence. It’s diligently guarding our gates – knowing that the enemy is lurking, waiting, watching to a lonely, weak moment to come knocking.
If we truly want to please Him, it means laying down our flesh. He wants all of me. Not part.
It’s time to take heed lest I become like Jehu.
Father – thank You for Your mercy and truth. Your Word is life. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: 2 Kings 9-11
July 4, 2022