Daily Devotional

“Then Jezebel his wife said to him, ‘You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite’ ” (1 Kings 21:7). 

The Delias eucharis, a butterfly found in Southern and Southeast Asia, is also known as the Common Jezebel. Beautiful to behold, this medium-sized butterfly is jewel-like in its brilliant red and yellow coloration. But birds beware! The Common Jezebel is filled with hazardous toxins accumulated while in its larval stage. 

Likewise, King Ahab’s wife might have been outwardly appealing, but inside lurked a heart of pure poison! As soon as Ahab made the tragic mistake of marrying this pagan princess, “the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians” (1 Kings 16:31), she turned him away from the true God and coaxed him into worshiping the false god Baal. 

Jezebel was thoroughly wicked, scheming, and cruel. Besides her idolatry, which she relentlessly promoted, she massacred God’s prophets and persecuted Elijah, using every available resource in an attempt to kill him. And, in one of her most cold-blooded acts, she used her power as queen to murder an innocent man. 

Ahab wanted to purchase a particular vineyard because it was near his palace. But Naboth, the owner of the vineyard, refused. When Jezebel saw her husband pouting and learned the reason, she had Naboth framed and then stoned for a crime he didn’t commit. 

Because of her wickedness, the Lord sent an ominous prophetic message regarding Jezebel’s death. After Jehu was anointed king to replace Ahab, Jezebel’s own servants threw her out a window. As had been prophesied, dogs ate most of her body before she could be buried. 

It’s easy for most people to look at Jezebel’s life and feel quite righteous in comparison. But the Bible says the human heart “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). In our fallen state, we are enemies of God. Without His redeeming grace, there are aspects of Jezebel in all of us. 

Precious Lord, please live in our hearts right now and purge away anything contrary to Your law of love.