ANOINTED MURDER BY JEHU ?
By : Ng Wah Lok
Text 2 Kings 9:1-13, 30-37
Introduction
Elijah was a famous and powerful prophet, but he suffered defeat under Jezebel’s hand. In 1 Kings 19, he flees from Jezebel and wanted to die.
Jezebel was famous because he killed many of the prophets of Israel. He then threatened to kill Elijah, the greatest prophet of Israel.
But who is Jehu ? We rarely hear his name. Jehu is an army commander whom God raised up to destroy Jezebel. He later became King of Israel. Yet we rarely hear about him.
1 Kings 19:17 – Whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
1. JEHU WAS ANOINTED BY THE PROPHETS.
Notice the following in Jehu’s anointing.
a) Only a son of the prophet anointed Jehu, not Elisha himself.
2 Kings 9:1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophet and said to him….
b) The prophets were given clear instructions how to anoint Jehu
V1 – take a flask of oil
V2- make him rise among his associates
V2 – take him to an inner room
V3- pour oil on his head
V3 – ….anoint you king over Israel
V4- Then, open the door, flee, do not delay.
c) The prophets were not well received by Jehu’s men.
V3- Open the door and flee.
The prophets could be in danger at that time and were asked to flee immediately.
V11 – Why did this mad man come to you ? You know the man and his babble.
The prophets were given no respect and regarded as mad or a laughing stock.
Even when you have the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, it does not automatically mean you will be well received.
2. JEHU WAS INSTRUCTED TO DESTROY THE FAMILY OF AHAB AND JEZEBEL
a) The destruction of the house of Ahab was described.
V8 - For the whole house of Ahab shall perish. I will cut off from Ahab all the males of Israel, both bond and free.
b) The destruction of Jezebel was described.
V10 – The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the vicinity of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her.
c) The reason for the judgement was given
V7 – You shall strike down the house of Ahab, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.
3. JEHU FULFILLED HIS CALLING BY DESTROYING THE FAMILY OF AHAB AND JEZEBEL.
a) Jehu killed Jehoram, King of Israel, the son of Ahab
V24 – Now Jehu drew his bow with full strength and shot Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow came out of his heart….
V26 Surely I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons……….take and throw him on the plot of the ground.
God avenged the murder of Naboth. 1 Kings 21
b) Jehu killed Ahaziah, King of Israel, the son of Ahab
V27 – Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him also in the chariot.”. And they did so at the ascent to Gur…then he fled to Meddigo and died there.
c) Jehu killed Jezebel , wife of Ahab, the Baal worshipper.
V 33 – “Throw her down”. So they threw her down, and some of her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her underfoot.
V35 – So they went to bury her, but found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.
Jezebel’s body was eaten by dogs. She had no tombstone to remember her. Yet at her prime, she was more powerful than Elijah. It took an anointed rebellion by Jehu to totally destroy her.
Conclusion.
a) Sins of Ahab 1 Kings 17,18 21
Ahab’s greatest mistake was his unequally yoke marriage to Jezebel. He allowed his wife Jezebel to bring the worship of Baal to Israel. He did not stand up to his wife’s idolatous ways. Eventually, he was destroyed and his entirely family was wiped out according to God’s command.
He also did not stop the murder of Naboth by Jezebel. He instead took over his land after his murder – 1 Kings 21
b) Sins of Jezebel. – I Kings 19, 21
Jezebel organized the murder of the prophets of Israel systematically with the help from her husband King Ahab. 1 Kings 18. She imported hundreds of prophets of Baal from Phonecia. Elijah destroyed many of her prophets. However, when Elijah was challenged by Jezebel, somehow Elijah went into seclusion and wanted to die. He thought that all of God’s prophets had been killed.
Jezebel also arranged the murder of Naboth over a piece of land. 1 Kings 21
After Ahab’s death, she continued her dominance over Ahab’s 2 sons, King Joram and King Ahaziah.
For all her sins, she received her rightful judgement.
2 Kings 9:36 “ On the plot of ground at Jezreel, dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel”.
Jehu was raised to bring the judgement of God on the household of Ahab. Perhaps, we can say that he was anointed by God to conduct the “Anointed Murders ? of God’s enemies.
