That Woman Named Jezebel

As mean as this sounds, I can’t think of anything else but “Good riddance to bad rubbish” when I think about Jezebel. Some commonly use her name to allude to someone who is a traitor and or a seductress. Who was she anyway and why was she the most wicked woman recorded in the world’s best selling book, the Bible? Below is a crash course on Jezebel and why her wickedness is forever to be remembered. It is straight copy and paste verbatim of her story as written in the NIV. I intended to do this so you don’t have to grab your bible since it’s right here.

Ahab Becomes King of Israel – 1 Kings 16:29-33
“In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.”

Naboth’s Vineyard – 1 Kings 21 (Entire Chapter)
Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”
3 But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”
6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”
7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. 9 In those letters she wrote:
“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”
11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”
15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.
17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”
20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”
“I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free.[a] 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’
23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of[b] Jezreel.’
24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.”
25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

Jezebel’s Violent Death – 2 Kings 9:30-37
Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window. 31 Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, “Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?”
32 And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot. 34 And when he had gone in, he ate and drank. Then he said, “Go now, see to this accursed woman, and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” 35 So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. 36 Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel;[b] 37 and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, “Here lies Jezebel.”’”

Wow, she was quite some woman huh? I’m glad you stuck around. Do you know someone who might be under the influence of the spirit of Jezebel? Believe it or not, asserting Feminism is a Jezebel-like trait because it is accompanied by none other than rebellion and challenging what is revealed in God’s word. Genesis 2:15 accounts God appointing man to work and be in charge of the whole garden, and Genesis 2:18 clearly indicates a woman’s role as the helper.

Why address this? Because it is obvious the same spirit working in Jezebel in her time is the same spirit roaming around to influence women of today, even some professing Christians who have the spirit of defiance and has not yet learned submission. Honestly I can be defiant when I don’t walk in the Spirit (Who isn’t?) but if we truly love God, we are to do what the Bible teaches regarding how wives ought to conduct themselves toward their husbands (Ephesians 5:22). It is all the more expected from women who profess to follow Christ because it differentiates us from the rest of the world. Being submissive does not actually make me feel like a second class citizen. On the contrary, when women do that, it is making a conscious decision to practice humility and meekness, Christlike traits. It’s definitely hard at times but with the Holy Spirit’s help, it is attainable.

I can say unequivocally that Beyonce (a.k.a. Sasha Fierce – I feel even sad for her because she had some semblance of Christianity when she was young) is the number one proponent of this spirit. I am not being judgmental but no amount of professing to be a follower of Christ can nullify the act of being an enabler of men’s downfall especially when men are struggling from lust/porn addiction. I don’t blame her per se, but the spirit that takes hold of her which enables her to be different from her normally “reserved” self. Then there’s Rihanna, Ke$ha, The Kardashians, and plenty of others in the entertainment industry. These people are far from being positive role models to women and yet they are highly esteemed with their lifestyle of fame, blatant love for mammon and crass materialism, promiscuity and failed marriages (Kardashians).

I was in bed when the thought came to me to write about Jezebel. As I was looking for a picture to put up for this post, I stumbled upon a fellow blogger’s image via Google (which happens to have a list on it too, how convenient) and as I read through it, I conclude it is a concise description of the essence of Jezebel prevalent in our society. I have refrained from reading the original post since I did not want to taint whatever thoughts I had for this entry. However, I couldn’t pass up on sharing her list via this image which by the way is clickable to redirect to the original post.

The essence of Jezebel can be found in Revelation 2:18-26. I don’t doubt Jezebel had the characteristics listed above because the Bible also warns believers that “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice“ in James 3:16. She was an idolater in the highest degree which caused the Kingdom of Israel to keep them completely from ever seeking God by giving the order to kill the prophets (1 Kings 18:4). Her idols robbed the glory that was due to none other than God. Imagine a mere creation setting herself up to be God’s enemy.

If you suspect you may have the Jezebel syndrome, (can you identify yourself with a few traits within the list?) you got all the chance in the world to get delivered from this. If you are a believer, repent. For those who do not happen to know the Lord, it is as simple as asking Jesus Christ to be your Savior and meaning it with your heart, mind, and soul that you want to be delivered from such demonic influence. Help is only one sincere prayer and lifechanging decision away.