Have you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master? (2 Kings 9:31)Jehu was purging the house of Omri from the nation of Israel, and Jezebel was next. Some manuscripts state Jezebel's question like this: Did Zimri have peace who murdered his master?
However Jezebel originally framed her question, her intent was the same. She was reminding Jehu that many years earlier a similar coup had been engineered by a man named Zimri. Once the gate was cracked open, no one could hold back the floodwaters of rebellion. Zimri sat on the throne only seven days before lighting his own palace on fire - committing suicide to save himself from death at Omri's hand.
If Jezebel was going to die, she would at least do what she could to curse her killer. She attempted to sow doubt in Jehu's mind: Zimri only lasted seven days after he seized the throne. How long do you think you'll last? Watch your back. Recipe for paranoia.
Even when we're confident our mission is from God (it was Elisha who ordered that Jehu be anointed as king) enemies will do their best to fill our heads with fear. But when God is on our side, though our foes taunt us with songs of destruction, we can know peace. Despite Jezebel's warning, Jehu's purge was effective and his son succeeded him as king of Israel when Jehu died in his sleep 28 years later.
Is your enemy taunting you with thoughts of failure?
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