2 Kings 9:2

And when thou commest thither, looke out there Iehu the sonne of Iehoshaphat, the sonne of Nimshi, and goe in, and make him arise vp from among his brethren, and carie him to an inner chamber. 2 Kings 9:2 (KJV)

Context: The book of 2 Kings records the history of the kings of Israel and Judah. At this point in the narrative, Jehoram, the son of Ahab, was the king of Israel. Jehu, a commander in the Israelite army, had been anointed by a prophet to be the next king and to execute God’s judgment on the house of Ahab.

Jehu’s anointing:

In this verse, the Lord instructs an unnamed prophet to find Jehu and anoint him as the next king of Israel. The prophet is told to look out for Jehu, who is identified as the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. This Jehu should not be confused with Jehoshaphat, the righteous king of Judah.

The significance of anointing:

Anointing with oil was a significant ritual in the Old Testament used to set apart individuals for a specific role or task. Anointing symbolised God’s choosing and empowering of someone for a specific purpose. In this case, Jehu was anointed as the instrument of God’s judgment upon the house of Ahab for their idolatry and wickedness.

Jehu’s mission:

The prophet was instructed to make Jehu arise from among his brethren and bring him to an inner chamber. This private setting was likely chosen to ensure that the anointing remained confidential until the appropriate time. Jehu’s mission was to confront and overthrow the wicked rulers of Israel, including King Jehoram, Jezebel, and all those associated with the worship of Baal.

God’s judgment and faithfulness:

Through Jehu’s anointing, God revealed His faithfulness to His promises and His commitment to executing judgment on those who turned away from Him. The house of Ahab had led Israel into idolatry and wickedness, and God was raising up Jehu to bring about their downfall.

Lessons for us:

The account of Jehu serves as a reminder that God holds individuals accountable for their actions. Jehu’s obedience to God’s call, despite the challenges he would face, is an example of following God’s commandments even in difficult circumstances. It also demonstrates God’s sovereignty in using individuals to accomplish His purposes.

Overall, 2 Kings 9:2 highlights the anointing of Jehu as the next king of Israel, marking the beginning of God’s judgment on the house of Ahab. It emphasises God’s faithfulness to His promises and His authority in choosing and using individuals for His divine purposes.