Title: Stay away from the wicked and love
2 Kings (25) Stay away from the wicked and love
(2 Kings 10:1-17)
"Away from the wicked and love"
The text depicts the Ahab family being wiped out by Jehu. First of all, Jehu killed 70 princes in Samaria without getting a single blood on his hands in a highly psychological warfare, and finished the revolution without kinship war (verses 1-11). Then Jehu, on his way to Samaria, met 42 brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and slew them all by the shearing pool (verses 12-14). Jehu killed them too, because they were the relatives of Ahaziah and, after all, belonged to the family of Ahab.
As Jehu continued his journey to Samaria, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him, and he won his heart, took his hand and put him in his chariot. Then he went to Samaria and killed all the remnants of Ahab (verses 15-17). At that time, the Rechab family was a family that was trusted by the people by leading a nomadic life in order to avoid luxury and indulgence and live a godly life. At that time, Jehu killed many people and raised Jehonadab son of Rechab for the political purpose of gaining public support in order to justify his revolution.
Eventually, those who had relations with the Ahab family were completely withered. If you are friendly with the wicked, you will be judged when the wicked are judged. Therefore, you must keep away from evil, but also from the wicked. To keep cherishing the wicked to keep the command to “Love your neighbor!” is to misunderstand and misuse the command to love your neighbor. Even the wicked must love as a whole, but we must exercise the wisdom of loving away from them so as not to be tainted by evil and not to compromise with evil.
Pay attention to whether the person you meet is a soul-lifter or a soul-breaking person. So find someone who encourages you to make yourself a better saint, a better parent, a better spouse, a better leader, and a better person. Constant encouragement makes even geese fly like eagles, but constant judgment does not make even eagles fly like geese. It's a pity, but don't be in a deep relationship with a wicked person who drowns you in the pit. It is also the way for the wicked as a whole.
< Abandoning greed opens the way >
Another lesson to be learned from the annihilation of the Ahab family is the lesson to “abandon greed!” All the strength, power, talents, and possessions you have are given by God. Misuse and abuse of it will one day inevitably lead to disastrous results. Therefore, do not live according to greed, but live according to God's mission. If you live according to your greed, even if you get what you want, your words will be miserable.
Romans 12:1 says this. “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” You have to excel in giving to experience grace. Abraham had a profound experience of faith when he offered his only son Isaac, and Mary moved the heart of Jesus when she broke the alabaster jar of perfume. Therefore, “How do we preach the Gospel? How can I save souls?” and always try to give your strength, abilities, offices, talents, possessions, and even your children.
Jesus came to this earth and sacrificed for us to the point of dying on the cross for us. It is shameful to ask for blessings without sacrifice while claiming to be following Jesus. “Now, what are you going to do for Jesus? How should I live?” and embark on a more dedicated path. You receive more when you dedicate yourself to it with no intention of receiving it.
The other day, I was coming to church around 3 am, and a couple was diligently picking up paper towels. Seeing that happy working figure touched my heart with a certain emotion. At that time, I began to think about what kind of image God would be most pleased with. Most of all, God will be most moved by the way the couple give up their greed and come out to pray together at dawn.
The time of the day when a person is most pure and reverent is at dawn. That is why even unbelievers who are cynical about Christianity respect only the spirit of constant prayer at dawn. If you list only your requirements and seek physical blessings at dawn when you are so clean, your life seems contradictory and empty. On the other hand, if you have a cleansed heart at dawn, seek God's will, and do a lot of intercession for those you love, God will see it, and you will be deeply moved and open the best path in front of you.
If you want to live a happy life, let go of greed. If you pray with greed, the answers to your prayers keep getting delayed. On the other hand, if you cast away worldly desires and have holy desires for your soul, you will be given happiness, followed by overflowing blessings beyond your imagination. If you let go of your greed, the road will start to open up somewhere mysteriously. In the end, the more you let go of greed, the greater the grace you receive.