2 Kings 9:1-13

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Jehu Anointed as Next King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God can accomplish His purposes through unholy instruments.

  2. God avenges the blood of His people.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Never take your own revenge.

  2. Don't be surprised if people call you “mad.”

QUESTIONS

  1. Why is it that Elisha anointed Jehu as the next king of Israel, when it was Elijah who was commissioned to anoint Jehu?

  2. Who was Jehu before he became king?

  3. Did Elisha anoint Jehu?

  4. Of what did the anointing ceremonial consist?

  5. In this story, who was the unholy instrument that God used to accomplish His purposes?

  6. Does God avenge the blood of His people?

ANSWERS

  1. We read in 1 Kings 19:16 that Elijah was to anoint Jehu. That was twenty years prior to the commission given to Elisha to anoint Jehu. We don't know the reason, but it could be that Elisha was to give the second anointing, or that the original commission was just being carried out.

  2. He was a military commander, over all the Israeli army that was fighting the Syrian forces at Ramoth-Gilead, near the Syrian border.

  3. Actually, Elisha delegated this responsibility to one of his subordinates, a servant, one of the sons of the prophets.

  4. He was anointed with oil.

  5. Jehu had been appointed by God Himself to do the Lord's work of judgment and remove the dynasty of Ahab. Jehu, however, was a proud, ruthless and godless person, who took every advantage to advance his own agenda. But God used Jehu, an ungodly instrument, to erase the evil dynasty of Ahab.

  6. Yes. Under Ahab's reign, many prophets and servants of the Lord had been killed. Read 1 Kings 18:4. But now their blood was about to be avenged.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Jehu's fellow military officers spoke ill of the prophet, calling him a madman. Why? Have you observed a similar reaction today as people watch the Lord's servants?

  2. Can you think of instances other than in this passage where God has accomplished His purposes through unholy instruments?

CHALLENGE

  1. Do you ever want to take revenge on someone who has maligned you? What should be your course of action?

KEY VERSES

  • “…that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord…” 2 Kings 9:7

  • “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord.” Romans 12:19

2 Kings, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 KINGS 9:1-13