READING: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21
“This is the word of the Lord.”
2 Kings 9:36
I had not been a Christian for long when I first heard the story of Ahab and Jezebel’s encounters with Elijah, followed by their demise just as the prophet had proclaimed: “And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Have you killed and also taken possession?. . . . In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood” . . . . And of Jezebel the LORD also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel’” (1 Kgs. 21:19, 23). I heard the story when my pastor introduced our church to the sermon, “Payday Someday” by the famous Baptist preacher, R. G. Lee (in fact, I was so young in my faith that I thought for years that my pastor had said, “Payday Sunday”—and I couldn’t figure out what Sunday had to do with the story!).
Vividly do I remember the descriptions of bodies cast down and dogs licking blood, including this violent end for Jezebel seen in today’s reading: “But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands” (2 Kgs. 9:35). More specifically, though, what I remember thinking about is that God keeps His Word. I had been learning to trust that truth when it came to His promises, but I had not considered that same reality and commitment concerning His words of judgment. I cannot say with integrity that I’ve always considered that truth every day, but I can say that its reality caught my attention as a young believer.
Simply stated, sin carries a cost. I am so grateful that Jesus already paid the ultimate cost for my sin, and I don’t want to make stupid decisions today that cost me foolishly now.
ACTION STEPS:
- Remember again that sin is never without some cost.
- Pray for someone you know who is living in sin without considering the cost.
PRAYER: “God, help me to remember that You always keep Your word—even when it means judgment.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24
