2 Kings 10:15–16

Jeremiah 35:6 tells us that Jehonadab commanded his sons not to drink wine, not to build houses, not to sow seed or plant a vineyard, but to live in tents. The reason for this is clear. He saw that the state of Israel under Ahab was offensive to God. He wanted to keep himself and his family separate from it.

He was not an Israelite but was of Kenite background, living among the Israelites. He was a true stranger in the land. Hundreds of years later his descendants were still obeying what he had commanded them... God commends them and promises them blessing for obeying their forefather's command. Oh, that we too might learn to be strangers and pilgrims on this earth, obeying God's Word from the heart!

Jehonadab can answer, "It is." But there is a difference here. His heart was upright with respect to the Lord; his principles have shown us this. Jehu's heart was upright toward Jehonadab, the man he trusted with his plans. But was it upright toward God? ... If zeal for the Lord is wholehearted, the servant of God hardly speaks of it. There was more true zeal, more understanding, and more power in Jehonadab's holy separation than in the impulsive walk of Jehu.

Jehu shows his self-satisfaction when he meets Jehonadab the son of Rechab. He took him into his chariot with an air of superiority and gave him his hand. In the East that hand signified a pledge (see Ezra 10:19). Then he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord." His showy display of reforming zeal revealed how little he had God's glory in mind in all his feverish activity and tearing down. What a sad contrast to Him who always hid Himself and sought only His Father's glory.

When he goes to meet him (v. 15), Jehu at once displays his true character. "Come with me and see my zeal for Jehovah" is the language of a man whose heart was empty of faith and piety toward God. It was empty of love and pity for man too. His methods were brutal and treacherous. Yet he longed for the approval of man, especially a man like Jehonadab, who no doubt had a reputation for religion.

Jehu appeared like a great revivalist in the middle of the evil, commissioned by God to punish Israel for their sin. Jehonadab may have thought: "Here comes the change I have longed for. Now the worship of Jehovah will prosper. Now the people will learn God's righteous ways." Jehonadab was clearly known as a man who would rejoice to see God's glory displayed, and Jehu invited him to ride in his chariot. So he gave him both heart and hand, to see his zeal for Jehovah.

Jehu had told him his plan. He went with Jehu, but he did not appear (v. 23) except to make sure that no servant of the Lord was counted among the servants of Baal. Is this not a beautiful role, similar to that of Jeremiah: "If you take out the precious from the worthless, you shall be as my mouth" (Jer. 15:19)?

Jehu's heart was upright toward Jehonadab, and he told him his plans. But could anyone say it was upright toward God? What follows will show us: "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD." Yet how greatly divided was this zeal! If zeal for the Lord is wholehearted, the servant of God barely speaks of it. He is more likely to say, "I am an unworthy servant." No one can doubt that Jehu was zealous. But how much of that zeal was for the Lord?

With Josiah the Word of God was the governing factor... But in Jehu we see a great deal of activity that came from the flesh. Personal ambition had a large place in his mind, even when he was doing what was right in the eyes of God. When he met his friend Jehonadab the son of Rechab, he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD." True souls do not parade their good deeds like this. They care little about people's approval and admiration. It is enough that the Lord sees their zeal in His service.

His showy display of his reforming zeal revealed how little he had God's glory in mind in all his feverish activity and tearing down. What a sad contrast to Him who always hid Himself and sought only His Father's glory! He too had a zeal; but oh, of what a different character from Jehu's! "Zeal for Your house will consume me," He could say. But Jehu's zeal consumed and destroyed everybody and everything that stood in the way of his own advantage or advancement. It never touched himself.

God's motives were not Jehu's. God was dealing with evil, avenging the blood of His servants, and maintaining His own glory. Jehu was getting rid of all those who could oppose his ambitions. Jehu is very zealous against evil when it suits his own purpose. He is quite indifferent to evil when he decides it is wise to leave it alone.

He was perhaps sincere in believing that the Lord was God, and quite ready to honour Him when his own interest agreed with his convictions... Still, his vengeance has no fear of the Lord in it; it comes from the flesh. At the same time the golden calves still existed... This Jehu did not care to touch. God recognises a zeal which had judged evil uprightly.

It is not that Jehonadab was not faithful. It is not that he was not a separated one, a saint of God... Jehonadab has not this divine sense of what Jehu was. He gets up into his chariot. He joins hearts with him, if I may put it that way. He rejoices in his work. But Elisha and the Lord have no delight in him.

We have here two distinct types of service contrasted... The one is all fire — zealous, energetic, and self-assertive. It seeks the fellowship and approval of people known to be godly. But faith, obedience, and dependence are strangers to such men. "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD" expresses their real character.