13. ZIMRI
ZIMRI
"It came to pass when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king’s house, and burned the king’s house over him with fire; and he died for his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of Jehovah, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, making Israel to sin."
Zimri, who had conspired against Elah, son of Baasha, and had killed him, did a quick but thorough job of wiping out the house of Baasha, even to killing all his friends. But his effort went only that far. He made absolutely no effort to repent, to turn to the Lord, or to walk in His ways. His brutality was totally self-seeking and led to swift disaster for himself and Israel.
Zimri had led a conspiracy but did not have the people on his side. This led to an extended civil war. The first moves were against Zimri himself. Besieged in his capital city, Tirzah, when it fell he committed suicide, burning the citadel of the palace over his own head. If he could not have it, no one else could have it either! What a frightful end to the life of this rash, impulsive man! But the flames he kindled, in which his life came to its fiery end, were nothing compared to those in which he will suffer throughout eternity in the torments of hell. The heart-knowing God knew Zimri’s heart well. He owes us no apologies. Zimri "died for his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of Jehovah." God had seen them all. The Judge of all the earth will ever do right. Whether He allows man to go on in his sins for many years or only a week, as in Zimri’s case, is immaterial. All His ways are right and not to be questioned. Thankfully, today His offer of salvation is still open. Accept it while you can. Tomorrow may well be too late.