The narrative of less than faithful rulers continues. In the north, the Lord said to Jehu, “Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat” (16:2-3). Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri . . . the names begin to pile up, one after another, of those who so treacherously lead the people.
Of the last in this lineup, Omri, it is written, “Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him” (16:25). He did, however, accomplish something of note: he established the city of Samaria, the name of which is often used to refer to the northern kingdom of Israel. Now, there are lots more names of rulers to come, but I am struck, once again, of the historicity of all this. We are not simply reading religious platitudes or being given commands or learning new doctrines but all this is taking place within history. This is real and, as history, it all points forward to the One who will rule his people with righteousness: “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:7). Ah! Israel’s hope! And ours!
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart. -- Charles Wesley (1792)