Do you think all Israel was happy or relieved when Jezebel died? I guess I’ve always seen it that way.
She was a wicked woman who commanded King Ahab and encouraged him to do evil.
She had prophets of Baal at her disposal and used them. Baal worship was not a good thing. I mean, it included child sacrifice. I still wonder how and why anyone in Israel embraced it. And yet, we know they did.
And Jezebel not only supported Baal worship, she demanded and required it. Meanwhile, she had the prophets of God killed. So yes, I’ve always imagined Israel was relieved when she died.
But I wonder now. It seems to me that if she was a great oppressor of Israel — the one all evil could be blamed on — that upon her death, there would have been great reform. But there wasn’t.
Israel persisted in idol worship. King after king led them in wickedness. I’m thinking there were plenty of people who supported Jezebel. I know there were righteous prophets, of course, like Elijah.
But Elijah, at one point, felt that he alone was left (1 Kings 19:10). So it looks to me like not just a few people supported Jezebel’s wickedness, but the great majority.
Why do people love wickedness? Why, especially when righteousness is boldly and plainly offered?
God, the One True God, offered Israel peace, blessings, health, protection. They were offered everything they could possible want. And it wasn’t enough.
They wanted to be like the other nations (1 Samuel 8). Sure, they’d keep their identity as God’s chosen, but they’d also take the identity of those around them: the worship of false gods, wickedness, Molech and Baal worship, violence, debauchery. They’d take both.
Again, why? Why is sin so enticing? Why is righteousness not enough?
Righteousness requires death. I die daily, Paul said (1 Corinthians 15:31).
Jesus said to consider the cost (Luke 14:28). Our flesh likes sin and without dying to our flesh, we’ll want it.
Jezebel killed the prophets of God. Choosing righteousness required quite a price back then. It requires quite a price today.
I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. 8 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 1 Corinthians 7:21-8:2
And praise God, there’s my answer. The battle wages, yet we know the end. Jesus conquered sin. He conquered death. He sets people free.
This is my answer. Press into Jesus. Repent, believe, proclaim, be saved. Amen.
