2 Kings 10:29-36: a reflection

29However, Jehu didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin—the golden calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan. 30The LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to Ahab’s house according to all that was in my heart, your descendants shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” 31But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin. 32In those days the LORD began to cut away parts of Israel; and Hazael struck them in all the borders of Israel 33from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan. 34Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. 36The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Jehu had done what God commanded in removing the wicked house of Ahab, and God commended him for it. But the account adds a sobering qualification: Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did the outward task God had given him, and did it thoroughly; yet his own heart was not wholly given to God. He kept the sins of Jeroboam, the golden calves; he did some right things while his heart remained divided. His obedience was partial, outward, not the wholehearted following that God desires.

Notice the partial nature of Jehu's obedience. He carried out the specific task God gave him, and God commended the doing of it; but Jehu did not go on to walk in God's law with all his heart. He did some right things, outwardly, while his heart was not wholly God's; he kept his idols even while carrying out God's command against Ahab. His obedience was real in part, but partial; he did the outward act without the wholehearted following. It is possible, Jehu shows, to do some right things, even things God commends, while the heart is not fully given to God. Partial, outward obedience is not the same as a whole heart.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can settle for partial, outward obedience while our hearts are not wholly God's. We can do some right things, even things God would commend, while keeping back part of our hearts, holding onto our own idols, not walking with God with all our heart, as Jehu did the task yet kept his calves. Partial obedience can look like faithfulness while the heart is divided. Do not settle for partial, outward obedience while your heart is not wholly God's; walk with him with all your heart, not merely doing some right things while holding part of yourself back. Give God your whole heart, not settling for a partial, outward obedience that does some right things while keeping back part of yourself, as Jehu did God's command yet did not walk in his law with all his heart; for God desires not merely outward acts but a whole heart, and partial obedience, however commendable in part, is not the wholehearted following he calls us to.

Lord, Jehu had done what you commanded in removing the wicked house of Ahab, and you commended him for it. But the account adds a sobering qualification: Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did the outward task you had given him, and did it thoroughly; yet his own heart was not wholly given to you. He kept the sins of Jeroboam; he did some right things while his heart remained divided. Show me the partial nature of Jehu's obedience. He carried out the specific task you gave him, and you commended the doing of it; but Jehu did not go on to walk in your law with all his heart. He did some right things, outwardly, while his heart was not wholly yours; he kept his idols even while carrying out your command. His obedience was real in part, but partial. It is possible to do some right things, even things you commend, while the heart is not fully given to you. Take that to my heart, for I too can settle for partial, outward obedience while my heart is not wholly yours. I can do some right things, even things you would commend, while keeping back part of my heart, holding onto my own idols, not walking with you with all my heart, as Jehu did the task yet kept his calves. Keep me from settling for partial, outward obedience while my heart is not wholly yours; help me walk with you with all my heart, Lord, not merely doing some right things while holding part of myself back. Help me give you my whole heart, not settling for a partial obedience that keeps back part of myself.