Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

to cooperate with her scheme; how could they refuse and live? (First Kings 21:11-16)3. after all that Jezebel has done to torture Elijah, this is the deed that caused God to wait nolonger (First Kings 21:17-19, 23-24)E. Death1. God finally carried out his vengeance on Jezebel some time later as Jehu was anointed tobecome king (Second Kings 9:1-3, 6-10)2. this gave Jehu the confidence and legitimacy he needed to conspire against the sitting king,Jezebel’s son, Joram, who was already sick (see Second Kings 8:29); the two rivals would meet in anironic setting (Second Kings 9:21-22)3. Joram tried to defend his mother’s honor, but as she had none, this was not easy (Second Kings9:25-26)4. and so Jezebel prepared to defend herself in her own meretricious way (Second Kings 9:30-37)a. she calls him Zimri, a cutting insult as Zimri was also an army commander who hadusurped the throne of Elah (see First Kings 16:9-18)b. his reign lasted only seven days and Jezebel is trying to warn him that it won’t be worth itunless he keeps her aliveII. Some ApplicationsA. Helpmeet1. we often mine the Old Testament looking for examples of New Testament ideals–faith, family,hope, charity–but in Jezebel, we see only warped versions of these thingsa. Jezebel’s faith was in an idol, her family was a tool for her own advancement, her hope wasto satisfy her greed and lust and she possessed no charity at allb. she is most significantly a failure in her role as wife, fully incapable of any kind ofsubjection or loyalty to her husband2. as bad as Ahab was on his own, the text indicates that he would not have become half as evilhad it not been for his marriage of political conveniencea. marriages, even in throne rooms, should be made on love and never convenience, money,ambition, sex, looks or the simple desire to get away from one’s parentsb. we are reluctant to apply this passage completely to marriage, and yet it stands as a cautionto any Christian who would yoke himself in marriage to an unbeliever (Second Corinthians 6:14-16)3. although it is politically incorrect and clearly old-fashioned, the biblical roles for men andwomen are unchanged even in modern times (Colossians 3:18-21)a. too many marriages are constructed on the model of Ahab and Jezebel, and many more, atthe very least, are lacking any leadership in a husband who fears to take on headshipb. Eve was created to be Adam’s helper, for he needed it, just as modern men needcompanionship and assistancec. his wife, however, is not simply an instrument to his power and happiness, but is thesubject of his adoration and attention, so that his headship is consumed with her satisfaction (Ephesians5:28-29, 33)4. it is not helpful when a wife nags her husband or disrespects him publicly or privately, or prodshim to violate his conscience or be less than he could be spirituallyB. Lust and Greed1. Jezebel cuts a pathetic form, painting her eyelids and adorning her head, as Jehu approaches;did she expect to seduce him?2. Jezebel was a woman given over to her passionate ambitions for lust and greed; she waswilling to worship idols, flirt with boys and steal poor men’s land in order to feel powerful and satisfied3. how much do lust and greed determine how we live our lives?a. probably more than we might thinkb. lust can determine whom we marry and when, what we look at on the street and in theprivacy of our living rooms and bed rooms, and how we think (Titus 1:15-16)c. greed can determine what we study and what we do, how far we extend ourselves at workand through credit, and whom we are willing to injure for our own gain (James 4:1-3)4. lust and greed are the enemies of love and God and whenever we attempt to appease the oneand cozy up to the other, we will find ourselves conflicted and doomed188