The Undercover God Series

When we read the events of the last few chapters in II Kings, we did not see God appearing or saying much. But we know that He is the primary Actor.

• He might not be prominent but He is present, and working behind the scenes even when we don’t see Him much.

• We see that again in 2 Kings 11. God keeps His promise alive despite human failures.

I entitled the sermon THE UNDERCOVER GOD because God is present and working out His purposes, but we are not seeing Him on the surface.

• It is important for us to see Him, because simply looking at what has transpired can give us, sometimes, the wrong impression that evil has triumphed because the situation is so messy and looks out-of-control.

• But the truth is that the unseen God is watching over every scene.

God’s will is to remove the evil house of Ahab, and it will come about through JEHU.

King Joram (ISRAEL) Killed by JEHU who was anointed at Ramoth Gilead

Son of Ahab

King Ahaziah (JUDAH) came visiting

Son of Athaliah (daughter of Ahab)

• In 2 Kings 9 we see the commander of Israel’s army, was at Ramoth Gilead warring against ARAM and he was prophetically told and anointed to be King of Israel.

• Subsequently he committed treason and took the throne by force, killing King Joram, as well as King Ahaziah from Judah.

2 Chron 22 tells us this was God’s will too. 22:7 “Through Ahaziah’s visit to Joram, God brought about Ahaziah’s downfall.”

• 2 Chron 22:3-4 explains why. “3He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. 4He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father's death they became his advisers, to his undoing.”

JEHU was God’s chosen instrument to bring about judgment against Ahab’s house, decided way back in ELIJAH’S TIME (1 Kings 19).

• See the emphasis the author gave us: When King Joram was killed, JEHU said to his chariot officer, recalling what he heard in ELIJAH’S TIME - 2 Kings 9:25-26

• 25Jehu said to Bidkar, his chariot officer, "Pick him up and throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Ahab his father when the LORD made this prophecy [Elijah] about him: 26Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the LORD, and I will surely make you pay for it on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.' Now then, pick him up and throw him on that plot, in accordance with the word of the LORD."

JEHU then proceeded to the palace in Jezreel and killed Queen Jezebel.

• His men were asked to bury her: 2 Kings 9:35-36 “35But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. 36They went back and told Jehu, who said, "This is the word of the LORD that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel's flesh.”

JEHU continued in 2 Kings 10 to exterminate all Ahab’s sons.

• He did it in a messy way - manipulative, deceitful, and very much self-serving.

• But he did accomplished the purpose of God in destroying the house of Ahab, as God commented (10:30 “done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do”).

After Ahab’s sons were beheaded, JEHU addressed the people – 2 Kings 10:9-11.

• 10:9-11 9The next morning Jehu went out. He stood before all the people and said, "You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these? 10 Know then, that not a word the LORD has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail. The LORD has done what He promised through his servant Elijah." 11 So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his chief men, his close friends and his priests, leaving him no survivor.

Jehu then set out to Samaria.

• 10:17 “When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who were left there of Ahab's family; he destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD spoken to Elijah.

Can you see all these references to ELIJAH?

• We are reminded again and again that everything that has happened here, happens according to the Word of God spoken to ELIJAH.

• God is working out His purposes in history. Whatever we are reading here, happens because it is the declared will of God.

• He may not be prominent in the proceedings but God is there and He is playing the lead role, the main character.