Confronting the Shadows: A Devotional on 2 Kings 9:22
"And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?" - 2 Kings 9:22
In the midst of the tangled narratives of kings and kingdoms found throughout the book of 2 Kings, we stumble upon a poignant moment that speaks volumes about righteousness, the confrontation of evil, and the true nature of peace. The verse, "And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?" (2 Kings 9:22, KJV), serves as a powerful springboard for reflection on the nature of peace and the moral responsibility we bear as believers in a world rife with corruption.
To understand the depth of this exchange, we must first situate ourselves within the historical context of the Israelite monarchy. Joram, the king of Israel, is a descendant of Ahab and Jezebel, notorious figures known for their idolatry and sinfulness. In this moment, Jehu has been anointed by God to purge Israel of its evil, particularly the influence of Jezebel. Joram's inquiry, "Is it peace, Jehu?" is charged with irony. He is asking Jehu whether all is well as if to dismiss any notion that there could be turmoil brewing under the surface. Yet, Jehu’s response cuts through the facade of peace and presents a stark contrast: true peace cannot coexist with rampant wickedness.
Jehu's answer, "What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?" illuminates a crucial truth: peace is often a shallow pretense in the presence of unrepentant sin. In our contemporary lives, we might often hear the question, "Is it peace?" We might respond with a calm assurance that all is well. However, this is only true if our lives are aligned with God’s righteousness. The answer posed by Jehu serves as a challenge to us—can we truly have peace when sin and wickedness proliferate around and within us?
This biblical narrative urges us to examine our own hearts and the environments we inhabit. Just as Jehu was chosen to confront the evil of his time, believers are called to recognize and address sin—both within ourselves and within our communities. This does not merely entail surface-level corrections but a deep-rooted confrontation of systemic and personal iniquities. We must ask ourselves, are we comfortable with the peace that ignores the sin lurking beneath?
The examples of Jezebel’s idolatry and manipulation reveal how easily one can be entangled in the web of compromise when the environment nurtures unfaithfulness to God. Jezebel represents not just a singular historical figure but an archetype of persistent rebellion against God—pushing us to question our values in a world that often celebrates moral ambiguity. How can we claim to seek peace while turning a blind eye to the whoredoms of our own lives or the injustices around us?
In confronting our personal "Jezebels," we must not shy away from God's calling to righteousness—this might mean advocating for justice, speaking truth in love, or ensuring our actions match our faith.
As we engage with this passage, we must remember that while Jehu’s mission was brutal—a divine decree of judgment—our call as followers of Christ is different. We are called to embody grace while exposing darkness. We are to confront evil, not with violence—but with the love of Christ that compels us to stand firmly against injustice and sin.
In conclusion, let us strive for peace that flows from a heart aligned with God, standing unyielding against the shadows of this world. As we move beyond mere pleasantries, may we embrace the profound call to righteousness embodied by Jehu and seek the peace that resonates with divine truth. Perhaps, when we are asked if there is peace, our response echoes Jehu’s, rooted in a full understanding of righteousness, mercy, and the transformative power of God’s love.
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2 Kings 9:22 - "And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?"
2 Kings 9:22 (KJVA) 22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
"And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?" - 2 Kings 9:22
2 Chronicles 9:22 - "And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom."
"And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom." - 2 Chronicles 9:22
2 Kings 22:9 - "And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD."
1 Kings 22:9 - "Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah."
2 kings 9:34-36
2 Kings 23:22 - "Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;"
2 Kings 13:22 - "¶ But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz."
2 Kings 2:22 - "So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake."
1 Kings 9:22 - "But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen."
2 Kings 14:22 - "He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers."
1 Kings 22:2 - "And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel."
2 Kings 21:22 - "And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD."
2 Kings 22:7 - "Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully."
2 Kings 22:6 - "Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house."
2 Kings 15:22 - "And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead."
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 22:11 - "And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes."
2 Kings 22:2 - "And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left."
2 Kings 9:21-22 (KJVA) 21 And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
2 Kings 22:12 - "And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,"
2 Kings 17:22 - "For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;"
2 Kings 22:10 - "And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king."
2 Kings 8:22 - "Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time."
"Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah." - 1 Kings 22:9
2 Kings 22:15 - "¶ And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,"
2 Kings 9:4 - "¶ So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead."
2 Kings 9:23 - "And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah."