2 Kings 9:20, commentary and pictures

The watchman knew it was Jehu approaching Jezreel by his rapid, forceful driving. His furious driving was rushing headlong onward without considering the situation, a picture of impulsive zeal without discretion or patience. True religion is not such rushing, but fixed purpose to serve God with salvation and eternity kept in view, and restless force that discourages and harms those Christ died to save does not have God's approval. The driving pictures leaders who press rapidly ahead to take on what they cannot carry without waiting for God to lead, who domineer in council to compel others, and who headlong destroy confidence in faithful workers to set up their own authority. It also pictures professed believers who crave excitement and throw themselves into political strife God never gave them, dividing the faith and linking with evil, while workers in slow-moving work like camp-meeting labor are taught not to lose heart because progress is not as swift as hoped.

Jehu's Driving Described

The watchman recognizes the approaching driver as Jehu by his rapid, forceful driving toward Jezreel as a distinctive sign. Driving furiously means rushing headlong onward without considering the situation. To be Jehu-like therefore means to be bold, forceful, and aggressively energetic. That description can characterize a public, crowd-gathering method of preaching, such as that of the Plymouth Brethren, rather than the truth or accuracy of what is said.

Jehu-like Zeal Reproved

The furious driving is a picture of impulsive zeal, rushing headlong onward without considering the situation, but true Bible religion is not such impulse and is not a rushing on in that manner. It requires a fixed purpose to serve God, with the whole plan of salvation kept before the mind, eternal life to win and eternal death to shun. It is zeal without discretion or patience, and such restless, forceful activity does not have God's approval when it discourages and harms the people Christ died to save. Those in positions of trust should instead seek to win them, to encourage and strengthen them with Christ's love and care and tenderness.

The verse applies to men who press rapidly ahead to assume responsibilities they cannot carry, without waiting for God to lead them. Their haste reflects little true godliness and too little experience in building up God's work gradually. Its furious riding pictures professed believers in present truth who long for some exciting engagement and throw themselves into political strife over money and currency, a work God never gave them. Lifted up to vanity, self-sufficient and beguiled, they do not know whether the principles they defend come from heaven or from Satan, and their excitement divides those of the same faith. In riding furiously they link themselves with Satan, the fallen exalted angel who retains heavenly manners to lure many whose life is not hidden with Christ in God, and they will have opportunity enough to distinguish themselves in helping create an evil condition of things.

The verse supplies an image for forceful, domineering leadership like Jehu, seen when leaders press ahead in council meetings to compel others and rule over them, despite the unselfish interests of God's work. It supplies an image for leaders who act forcefully and self-confidently rather than accepting instruction, whose zeal is misdirected when they rely on their own righteousness and disregard their duty to God's work. It supplies an image for a headlong, forceful course in which men in responsibility press ahead to destroy and uproot God's people's confidence in faithful workers, to establish their own authority, to betray God's cause, and to present oppressive human orders as God's voice. The image of rapid chariot movement contrasts with the slower progress of camp-meeting work and teaches that workers should not lose heart when their efforts seem to advance slowly and do not move as quickly as hoped.