What is true? We live in a world full of half-truths and misleading information. Those in authority are experts at spinning and bending the truth. Only God’s truth is consistent and to be relied upon. There is an example of this in 2 Kings 9. It was an evil time with the godless sons of Jezebel reigning on the thrones of both Judah and Israel. We are told that “Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets … take this flask of oil … go to Ramoth-gilead … look there for Jehu” (verses 1,2) who we learn in verse 5 is a commander in the army. This son of the prophets is to “lead him to an inner chamber. Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the LORD … I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee …” (verse 3).

This is carried out and “when Jehu came out (of the chamber) to the servants of his master, they said to him, ‘Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?’ And he said to them. ‘You know the fellow and his talk.’ And they said, ‘That is not true: tell us now” (verses 11,12). So, despite calling Elisha’s messenger a “mad fellow” they did not really mean it and were keen to know what he said. When Jehu explains he has been anointed king “they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, Jehu is king” (verse 13). Jehu then destroys both bad kings and then Jezebel herself. King Joram’s body is thrown onto the plot of ground that had been Naboth’s, according to the word of the LORD (verse 26).

Even in spiritual darkness some will call to mind God’s words as the divine drama unfolds. In 2 Corinthians today, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ …” (4:4). “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness, has shone into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God’ …” (verse 6). Is that light shining in our hearts? Do we declare to those in darkness – “That is not true!” and spread the light?