Elisha’s Ministry – Elisha Organises The Anointing Of Jehu King Of Israel 2 Kings 9 And 10 Series

ELISHA’S MINISTRY – ELISHA ORGANISES THE ANOINTING OF JEHU KING OF ISRAEL 2 Kings 9 and 10

SERIES – MESSAGES ON ELISHA – HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY Number 20

There are longer than normal scripture passages in this message. We will see the overthrow of the wicked empire of Ahab and Jezebel. This is PART 2 of the political moves given to Elisha from God.

2Kings 9 v 1 Now Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Gird up your loins, and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2Kings 9:2 When you arrive there, search out Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and bid him arise from among his brothers, and bring him to an inner room.

The time had come for the cleansing of the land of Israel of the evil dynasty of Ahab and Jezebel. In the end evil will not triumph. Wickedness wins many battles but it won’t win the war. Wickedness has victories in Queensland and Victoria in Australia, and all throughout the world, but it will not win the war. Evil will continue, and may I say, in greater proportions, until the final victory at the Battle of Armageddon when all Satan’s forces meet defeat and the Lord Jesus Christ sets up His kingdom.

Elisha appointed one of his learners to go to this man called Jehu and take him into a private place.

2Kings 9 v 3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the LORD, I have anointed you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee and do not wait.”

There you have the strange command. It is the anointing of Jehu to be the king of Israel. Ahab’s wicked son was still the ruler but God is going to bring it all to an end. This oil was olive oil, and in Israel, the priests and kings were anointed. I don’t think prophets were. It was all connected with authority, the symbol of authority, and gives rise to the statement “the Lord’s anointed”. God anointed Jehu for kingship, not because he was good, but because God had a purpose for him.

Did you think it was strange that the young man was told to scramble out of there as fast as possible? This is the last mention we have of Elisha until his death and that will be the last message in this series. Perhaps Elisha was getting too old to be running around.

2Kings 9 v 4 so the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 2Kings 9:5 When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting, and he said, “I have a word for you, O captain,” and Jehu said, “For which one of us?” and he said, “For you, O captain.”

Here is the record of the man’s meeting with Jehu and the events that followed.

2Kings 9 v 6 He arose and went into the house, and he poured the oil on his head and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel, 2Kings 9:7 and you shall strike the house of Ahab your master that I may avenge at the hand of Jezebel, the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD. 2Kings 9:8 The whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male person both bond and free in Israel, 2Kings 9:9 and I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 2Kings 9:10 The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.

Jehu was stunned but the man shot through. What was Jehu to think of all that? Did he know this came through Elisha? He may have suspected. This is the commissioning of Jehu to be the king of Israel, but it came with a charge from the Lord. So offensive was the wickedness of Ahab that sat like a scourge all over the land, that it had to be swept away as God had to do with Jeroboam and then Baasha. It was a solemn command and responsibility for one who was not yet even king.

Verse 7 is very important. The content in verse 7 is a fixed principle with the Lord. He will always avenge the blood of His own people, be they Christians or Jews. God is an Avenger. We are not. It is not appointed for us to avenge, but to hand it all over to God, but He has the record and all persecution and death will be avenged, much of it at the great white throne. On earth the great day of vengeance is coming. Hear these verses –