June 17, 2025 -Anointed v/s Appointed

2 CHRONICLES 21:8-20

2 KINGS 8:23-29

2 CHRONICLES 22:1-7

2 KINGS 9:1-10:17

2 CHRONICLES 22:8-9

2 KINGS 10:18-31

Chronological Bible Readings

2 Kings 9:1 The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of olive oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2 When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. 3 Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; don’t delay!”

This reminded me of Samuel anointing David king. It is done in a private secretive manor. But when Elisha tells the unnamed prophet to run away afterward it seemed strange. Also, I find it interesting that the prophet that is sent is not named.

2 Kings 9:6 Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu’s head and declared, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the Lord’s people Israel. 7 You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord’s servants shed by Jezebel. 8 The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 9 I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’” Then he opened the door and ran.

Then we see the rest of what the prophet is called to tell Jehu it's not surprising that he was to run. Unlike David who refused to harm the Lord's anointed king Jehu is told that he is to destroy the house of Ahab. I wonder if the fact that all these other kings were appointed by man not anointed by God was why it was okay in God's eyes for Jehu to do this. Saul, David and Solomon are the only kings who were anointed by God. Absolom was anointed but he had his followers anoint him it was not an anointing from God. God could have destroyed the house of Ahab without Jehu needing to do it but He had a reason for Jehu to be the one to initiate this work.

2 Kings 9:22 When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?”

“How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”

23 Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!”

24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart and he slumped down in his chariot.

Jehu speaks truth to Joram about his sin and the sin of his entire family. And God sent Joram's arrow to the exact right spot to kill him and he also kills Ahaziah. Then God sees to the death of Jezebel and the rest of Ahab's sons. Seventy in all. Just as He had promised.

There are times when God gives us a promise of what He has for us to do but like David we need to wait because God has placed a person or thing in a particular place for a reason. Other times He tells us what He is calling us to do and He makes it clear that we need to act and put an end to some kind of humanly appointed person or situation. We must be careful to listen to the Lord and those who He speaks through to know what we are to do. The only way to do so is to be obedient to Him and walk in His way and His word.

2 Kings 10:30 The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” 31 Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.

Jehu wanted to please God and did many good things. That is why he was anointed as king and able to serve God and do what he was called to. But he was also human, so he didn't turn away from the sins of Jeroboam. The best we can do is to live seeking God's will and walking with Him as best we can in our personal life, and He will use us to accomplish what He has for us to accomplish for the kingdom. And when we fail because of our sinful humanness we can thank Jesus for the grace He gives and do our best to turn from it. Thanks be to God!