258 JEHU’S

right? It was right to destroy
Baal, but very wrong to do it so de-
ceitfully. Deceit can never be right
in any thing. All we do ought to
be done in truth and sincerity.
When the worshippers of Baal
were gathered together, Jehu sent to
see that none of the Lord’s servants
were among them; for only Baal’s
people were to be there. Then
Jehu called a great many men, and
told them to stand outside the
house. The people within were of-
fering their sacrifices, little thinking
of the danger that was so near to
them. Then Jehu commanded the
men to rush in, and slay all the
worshippers of Baal, and not let
one escape. It was a dreadful sight.
The soldiers ran into the house of
Baal, with their swords in their
hands, and smote every one there ;
men, and women, and children ; all
perished in their sin! Then the
men broke down Baal’s house, and
destroyed the images, and burnt
them; so there were no worship-
pers of Baal left in Israel. This
was well, but the people had idols
still. They worshipped the golden
calves that Jeroboam had put in
Bethel andin Dan. And Jehu had
his idols too. He had done many
things that were right. He had
obeyed God’s command about
Ahab’s family, and he had des-
troyed the worship of Baal; and
Jehu was very proud of the good

 

 

REIGN.

things he had done, and boasted
about his zeal for the Lord. But
Jehu was not a true servant of
God. He had never repented of
his sins, nor prayed for a new heart,
nor served God with all his strength,
He served God a little; but he
served the world, and his own_plea-
sures and his sins much more,
Could God love and bless Jehu?
No; for He wants a// the heart, and
love, and service of people; not only
a part of them, but all. Those can-
not be the children of God, who
pretend to honor Him, but do not
really love Him.

Many people now are like Jehu.
They talk about God, and say they
are His servants, and pretend to be
very anxious for His honor, and
perhaps boast of the good things
they do. But all the time these
people’s hearts are not right. God
looks there. Their neighbors can
see only what they do, and what
they say; God knows what they
feel, and what they think. If they,
in heart, love the world more than
they love God, they are not really
His people; and they cannot de-
ceive Him. We ought to pray as
David did, “ Search me, O God, and
know my heart; try me, and know
my thoughts; and see if there be
any wicked way in me, and lead me
in the way everlasting.” Psalm
CXXXIX. 28, 24.