Understanding the Call to Courage: Jehu's Choice

In 2 Kings 9:19, we witness a moment steeped in tension and urgency. The verse states: "Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me." This passage highlights a fervent call to action, and it serves as an instructive story of courage, urgency, and the significance of discerning our allegiances.

At first glance, the question posed by the second messenger reflects the political environment of the time—one steeped in conflict and unrest. Jehu was being approached not with a gesture of peace but with a challenge that implied subservient compliance. The need for peace was paramount, but what Jehu understood was that true peace could not come at the cost of compromising his God-given mission. By declaring "What hast thou to do with peace?" Jehu bluntly adjures the messenger to recognize that he was not in pursuit of mere tranquility, but rather a divine calling.

This conversation holds deeper implications for us as Christians today. It invites us to contemplate our own situations: when faced with demands or temptations for ease and safety, are we prepared to recognize when we must choose a higher calling over worldly peace? In pursuing the things of God, there will always be moments when the world presents us with its version of peace—a peace that often sidesteps our purpose.

Jehu was no ordinary man; he was anointed for a pivotal role in the history of Israel. At that moment, he was tasked with executing God's judgment upon the house of Ahab. This mission was not just a political maneuver but a God-ordained action aimed at restoring righteousness. Jehu’s strong and unequivocal stance reflects the conviction that comes from knowing one’s purpose. He understood that, although peace was desirable, it could not come through silence or compromise regarding divine commands. Jehu's emphatic rejection of the messenger's peace inquiry serves as a powerful testament to unwavering obedience to God's instructions.

As followers of Christ, we too are called to discern our priorities in the face of societal pressures. Whether in the workplace, amongst friends, or within family dynamics, the question of peace often arises. In our pursuit of the Kingdom, we may find ourselves confronted with choices that challenge our convictions. Do we choose to stand firmly for what we know is right, even if it disrupts the peace around us? Jehu’s response encourages us to evaluate the cost of silence in our own lives—to discern when we must assert God’s truth, even at the risk of division or personal discomfort.

Moreover, when Jehu instructed the messenger to "turn thee behind me," it signifies a definitive rejection of the distraction posed by false promises of peace. It reminds us that sometimes we have to reposition ourselves away from distractions that pull us away from our mission. We need to surround ourselves with voices that encourage us toward righteousness rather than those that lure us into complacency.

Additionally, this verse beckons us to reflect on our own allegiances. Are we following the path set by the world, or are we committed to pursuing God's will, irrespective of the disturbances that might follow? Just as Jehu prepared for an uprising by confronting the inquiries of peace, we must brace ourselves for the repercussions of choosing to stand firm for Christ in a world that often upholds the very opposite.

Ultimately, 2 Kings 9:19 serves as a clarion call to cultivate bravery in the face of uncertain and hostile environments, urging us to embrace our divine call with fervor. May we follow the spirit of Jehu, prioritizing obedience to God over the fleeting security of worldly peace, and may our lives be a testament to the power of courage.

Artwork for 2 Kings 9:19

2 Kings 9:19 - "Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me."

"Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me." - 2 Kings 9:19

2 Kings 19:9 - "And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,"

2 Kings 19:2

2 Kings 19:2

2 Kings 19:2

2 Kings 19:17 - "Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,"

2 kings 9:34-36

2 Kings 12:19 - "¶ And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"

2 Kings 3:16-19

2 Kings 16:19 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"

2 Kings 19:5 - "So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah."

2 Kings 19:36 - "So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh."

2 Kings 19:13 - "Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?"

1 Chronicles 19:9 - "And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field."

2 Kings 19:11 - "Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?"

2 Chronicles 9:22 - "And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom."

2 Kings 9:9 - "And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:"

2 Kings 19:2 - "And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz."

2 Kings 19:34 - "For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

"Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands," - 2 Kings 19:17

2 Kings 24:19 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done."

2 Kings 17:19 - "Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made."

1 Kings 9:19 - "And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion."

1 Kings 19:9 - "¶ And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

2 Kings 19:33 - "By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD."

2 Kings 11:19 - "And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings."

2 Kings 19:27 - "But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me."

2 Kings 2:19 - "¶ And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren."

2 Kings 5:19 - "And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way."