2 Kings 9:4-10 – Vengeance belongs to the Lord

The prophetic intern went into action at Elisha’s instruction. Second Kings 9:4-10 tell us that he went to Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu. Meanwhile, Joram had already returned to Jezreel to recuperate from his wounds. And Jehu with all the other captains of the army of Israel was left to continue dealing with Hazael and the Arameans.  When he arrived where the army of Israel was, he approached Jehu. Addressing him, the prophetic intern said, “I have a word for you, O captain.” Taken by surprise, Jehu responded by asking, “For which one of us?” And he said, “For you, O captain.” 

The two of them then went into the house. Quickly the intern poured oil over his head and prophesied over Jehu saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel.’”  In verses 7-10, he proceeded to tell Jehu what the  Lord expected him to do. He said, “You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.  For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male person both bond and free in Israel.” I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.’” 

Immediately after he had declared the word of God over Jehu, he opened the door and fled. Notice the reason why Jehu was to strike and annihilate Ahab and Jezebel's household. It was because of the cruelty they had dealt to God’s prophets and His worshippers. As God’s instrument, Jehu was to avenge the blood the cruel couple and his posterity had shed.

There are two lessons that we can pick up from here. Firstly, we know that vengeance is the Lord’s, and He will repay it. The blood of the righteous shed by Ahab and Jezebel did not go unnoticed. From how God had scheduled their punishment, we learn that God had appointed a time of judgment for all wickedness. Hence if we feel that we are being unjustly treated, take heart, God is in control. He has a scheduled time to right all the wrongs we have unjustly received.

Here's the second lesson: The terrible end of Ahab and Jezebel and his household affirmed that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the Lord. How Jeroboam and Baasha’s households ended should have been adequate warnings to Ahab and Jezebel of how terrible it would be to face God’s judgment. But obviously, the wicked pair did not learn. They continued to act godlessly toward the Lord and ruthlessly against His servants and worshippers. Looking at how the wicked pair ended must now be a warning for us not to live life in ways that will set us up for divine retribution. Be wise, live life honorably for the Lord! Blessings will be the reward!