Wicked Women Of The Bible DevotionsНамуна

Jezebel: Day 5

Painting by Gustav Klimt titled Hygeia

Her lips blush red against skin the color of the seashore. As she walks, you can hear the tinkling of tiny ornaments fastened to feet and ankles. Back straight, head held high, a gold band encircling her forehead, she is the picture of a wealthy and powerful Phoenician woman. If not for the sly look that dances around her eyes, she would seem quite lovely.

After marrying Ahab, Israel’s king, Jezebel is determined to establish Baal as Israel's highest reigning deity. Though she massacres every prophet she can find, some elude her. The worst of these is Elijah, who humiliates her by inciting the people against Baal and his prophets.

Unused to opposition, Jezebel threatens bloody murder. While she is hunting Elijah, the God who knows and sees all things—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel—notes every wicked thing she does.

After a time and a season, when King Ahab no longer walks in the land of the living, God anoints a new king whose name is Jehu. At the command of the Lord, Jehu begins marching toward Jezebel's house.

When she hears he is coming for her, the Queen goes straight to her makeup table. Picking up a silver mirror, she surveys her face, no longer young. The slyness around her eyes has hardened. Lips that had once been round and full pinch together like a slash across her face. With a trembling hand she begins to paint her eyes. Outwardly calm, she can feel the wild beating of her heart as she stands by the window watching Jehu approach.

Looking up at the servants who stand beside her, Jehu shouts: "Who is on my side? Throw her down!"

In an instant, the woman who had made herself God's enemy by murdering his prophets and stealing the hearts of his people, comes tumbling out of the window, landing with a great thump upon the ground, where she is trampled by horses.

So ends the story of the Bible's wickedest queen, who discovered, rather too late, the truth of the Scripture, which says,

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; 
the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath. (Psalm 2: 4-6)

Blessed be the name of the Lord.