2 Kings 9 - Elijah's Commission #2 Fulfilled

LINK: 2 Kings 9
Parallel Passage: 2 Chronicles 22

BACKGROUND

Israel's King Jehu - 2 Kings 9:1-10:36

Reigned: 841-814 B.C. for 28 years 
Character: Bad mostly 

Overlap with Judah's Queen: Athaliah (841-835 B.C.) and her son Joash (835-796 B.C.)

Manner of Death: Natural
Parallel Story: 2 Chronicles 22:7-12

 Jehu "destroyed Baal worship in Israel. However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam . . . the worship of the golden calves" (2 Kings 9:28).  

In 2 Kings 8, commission #1 was fulfilled by Elisha. Today, we see commission #2 fulfilled in the anointing of Jehu as king of Judah by one of the prophets under Elisha's tutelage. Pouring olive oil on the head of Jehu illustrated in a symbolic way the coming of the Spirit of God on a man to enable him to become king. He was commissioned to destroy the house of Ahab. This would fulfill the prophecy made by Elijah to Ahab in 1 Kings 21. Quickly, he killed Joram (king of Israel), Ahaziah (king of Judah), and Jezebel (wife of Ahab). Appropriately, Jezebel died on the ground of Naboth's vineyard since she had caused the unnecessary death of Naboth and his sons. The rest of the prophecy will be fulfilled in 2 Kings 10. Stay Tuned!

By the way, Jehu was NOT the son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah but the son of another Jehoshaphat. 

PRAYER

Lord, we know that You raise up kings and You bring them down. You are sovereign in all things. We worship You for Your sovereignty and trust in Your absolute control over all events. Amen.