King Jehu gets justice

II Kings Chapter 9

King Joram is lying wounded back at Jezreel to recover.King Ahaziah pays him a visit. Meanwhile Elisha the prophet summoned a member of his group of prophets and told him to got to Ramoth-gilead and take the vial of olive oil along and find Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat. Call him to a back room and pour the oil over his head and anoint him to be the king over Israel in God's name. Then he told the prophet to run for his life. So the young prophet did as he was told.

When he got Jehu alone, the prophet anointed him, saying "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anoint you king over the Lord's people, Israel. You are to destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the Lord's servants who were killed by Jezebel. The entire family of Ahab must be wiped out- every male, slave and free alike, in Israel. I will destroy the family of Ahab as I destroyed the families of Jeroboam and Baasha. Dogs will eat Ahab's wife, Jezebel, and no one will bury her." Then the young prophet ran for his life.

Jehu went back to his fellow officers and they asked him what the prophet wanted. At first, Jehu did not divulge anything. But then they insisted on being told, and he told them he was just anointed king over Israel. The men spread out their cloaks and blew a trumpet shouting, "Jehu is King!"

So Jehu formed a conspiracy against King Joram. Joram had been wounded in his battle with Hazael, so Jehu told his men that if they wanted him (Jehu) to be king, they should not let anyone escape to Jezreel to report what they had done. Then Jehu got into a chariot and rode to Jezeel to find King Joram. King Ahaziah was there too. The tower watchman reported seeing a company of troops coming and Joram shouted out to send a rider to see if the troops came in peace. The rider met Jehu and asked if he came in peace. "What do you know about peace?" Jehu said, "Get behind me."

The watchman reported that the rider had met the troops but was not returning. So the king set out another rider and the same reply came and the rider did not return. The watchman recognized Jehu and Joram and Ahaziah rode out in their chariots and asked Jehu if he came in peace. Jehu replied that there could not be peace as long as the idolatry and witchraft of his mother Jezebel was all around. King Joram fled, but Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram with an arrow that pierced his heart and he died in his chariot. Jehu had his body thrown into the field of Naboth of Jezreel to make the Lord's message come true.

When Ahaziah saw what was happening, he fled with Jehu after him. Ahaziah was shot in his chariot. When Jezebel heard that Jehu had come to Jezreel she painted herself, fixed her hair and sat at a window. When he entered the palace gate she shouted that he was a murderer. Jehu looked up and shouted, "Who is on my side?" When three eunuchs saw him, Jehu shouted, "Throw her down!". So the eunuchs threw her from the window and her blood spattered on the wall and horses and Jehu trampled her body under his horses hooves.

Then Jehu went to the palace and ate and drank and told someone to go bury Jezebel, for she was the daughter of a king. But when they went to bury her, only her skull,feet and hands were found. And Jehu said, "this fulfills the message from the Lord, which he spoke through his servant Elijah: that at a plot of land in Jezreel, dogs will eat Jezebel's flesh and her body would be scattered like dung on the field of Jezreel, so no one would be able to recognize her.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Elijah had prophesied that many people would be killed when Jehu became king. If Israel was to survive, the followers of Baal had to be eliminated. Jehu fulfilled the prophecy of justice.

When the riders met Jehu and asked if he came in peace. His response was "what do you know about peace?" Because peace had to come from God and love of God.

Joram was wicked and his body was thrown into the field of Naboth, the land owner who would not sell his land to Ahab.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Power and wealth can make you feel as if you will live forever. But death strips us all of external security. Just like Jezebel whose life was gone and nothing remained of her power, money, no family, no spiritual heritage.The time to set your life's course is now while you still have time. Don't hesitate. Pray to our Lord and ask his forgiveness for your sins and walk in his path from here forward.

Yours In Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Update on Stella: I’m sorry to report that this tiny baby has finally passed and is in heaven with our Lord. She fought a long fight and endured much in her few months. Pray for her family.
Pray for Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for Brian and Ashley, as they lost the expected baby boy. It was so sad because she was 4 months and we had seen the sonogram of him moving and sucking his thumb.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.