Jezebel

Day 1

Jezebel: "Where is the prince?"

Paired with Israel's worst king, Jezebel was the nation's worst queen and one of the Bible's most infamous women. How different her story would have been had she harnessed her power, her drive, and devotion in the service of God. A strong character, Jezebel could have been a female apostle Paul, whose misguided zeal was redirected toward the kingdom of God. Instead, unlike many biblical figures who are depicted with a mixture of good and bad traits, she stand out as someone purely evil, whose moral character is one-dimensional. Totally devoted to her gods, she reflected their image completely. Despite obvious miracles and repeated warnings, she was a women who chose to harden her heart and suffer the consequences.

Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 16:29-33, 18:1-19:2, 21:1-25, 2 Kings 9

1 Kings 21:1-25

Naboth's Vineyard
1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, "Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth."
3 But Naboth replied, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, "Why are you so sullen? Why won't you eat?"
6 He answered her, "Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, 'Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I will not give you my vineyard.' "
7 Jezebel his wife said, "Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city with him. 9 In those letters she wrote: "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."
11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth has cursed both God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: "Naboth has been stoned and is dead."
15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, "Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead." 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth's vineyard.
17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 "Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?' Then say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!' "
20 Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!" "I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. 21 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.'
23 "And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.'
24 "Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country."
25 (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.

Day 2

Baal Worsip

Baal Worship involved the use of incense and sacrifice so common in the forms of worship of that day. The sacrifice at times involved innocent humans (Jeremiah 19:5) Also, since the main function of the god Baal was to make the land and animals and people fertile, fertility rites formed the chief part of Baal worship. Male and Female attendants performed sexual acts in order to induce Baal to lavish fertility on the land.

The worship of Baal held a unique attraction for the people of Israel. When they wandered from their faith in the one true God, they often wandered toward trust in the false god Baal. The Israelites worshiped Baal during the time of Barak and Balaam (Numbers 22:41), as well as during the time of the judges (Judges 2:13; 6:28-32). Even after Elijah's triumph over Baal on Mount Carmel and the death of 450 priests of Baal that day, Baal worship continued off and on all during the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah.

The worship of any false god is, of coarse, hateful to the true God. To us, Baal worship seems like a disgusting and foolish practice. We are too sophisticated to understand its appeal. But aren't false gods just as prevalent today as in Jezebel's day? Consider, for instance, the popularity of New Age religion or the way we worship sports heroes, movie stars, and millionaires. Ours, unfortunately, is a society that bows to gods of money, sex and power. It would do us well to remember that anything, no matter how good, that supplants God's place in our lives can become an idol if we let it.

Day 3

1 Kings 18:4
While Jezebel was killing off the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)

What does Jezebel's actions in this verse tell you about her devotion to Baal?

What makes it obvious to people you meet that you serve the Lord?

1 Kings 18:39; 19:2
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!"

2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."

Compare Jezebel's and the Israelites' reactions to the Mount Carmel duel. What do you think made Jezebel so dedicated to Baal?

How dedicated are you to the Lord? What might cause you to rethink that dedication?

2 Kings 9:31-37
31 As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, "Have you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master?"
32 He looked up at the window and called out, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. 33 "Throw her down!" Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
34 Jehu went in and ate and drank. "Take care of that cursed woman," he said, "and bury her, for she was a king's daughter." 35 But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. 36 They went back and told Jehu, who said, "This is the word of the LORD that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel's flesh. 37 Jezebel's body will be like refuse on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, 'This is Jezebel.' "

The Story of Jezebel's demise is a disturbing one. She eventually got what we think she deserved, but consider: What do any of us truly deserve? And what, if we're followers of Christ, will we get instead?

Day 4

Promises in Scripture

Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. ~Jonah 2:8

Where sin increased, grace increased all the more. ~ Romans 5:20

We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. ~2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Mercy triumphs over judgement! ~James 2:13

Day 5

Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. ~Psalm 90:11-12

Reflect on 2 Kings 9

Praise God that he does not allow evil to go unpunished.

Give thanks, for justice, even when it seems delayed.

Confess any tendency to take God's mercy for granted.

Ask God to give you a healthy fear of offending him.

Lord, I don't want to fear you for the wrong reasons, but for the right ones-- to stand in awe because of who you are. Gracious God, let me never make light of your justice or your power. Instead let me live in a way that honors you. For you are Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.