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While Joram was still ill at
Jezreel, Elisha called one of the sons of the prophets, and gave him a
message from God. Elisha said to the young man, "Go now quickly
to Ramoth-Gilead. Take a box of oil in thine hand; and when thou
comest to Ramoth-Gilead, seek there for a man named Jehu, and call him to
thee, and take him into a room alone, and pour the oil upon his head, and
make him king over Israel. Then open the door and flee."
The young prophet obeyed Elisha directly. He did not wait to ask
why, nor murmur at the command. The sons of the prophets were taught
obedience. Obedience to God, and obedience to their master
Elisha. Young people should always obey those who are over them,
without lingering, and without unwillingness. This is Christ's
command, "Obey them that have the rule over you." Hebrews
13:17. The young prophet
went to Ramoth-Gilead, and soon found Jehu. Jehu was a captain of
the army, and he was sitting with the other captains when the prophet came
to him. Jehu was not thinking about being king; he did not know how
God was now going to honor him; but the prophet called to Jehu, and said,
"I have a message for thee, O captain." So Jehu arose, and
went into another room with the prophet alone. Then the young man
took out the box of oil, and poured it upon Jehu's head, and said,
"Thus saith the Lord, I anoint thee king of Israel. Thou shalt
smite all the family of Ahab, and punish them for Jezebel's cruelty to my
holy prophets. All the family of Ahab shall perish, and the dogs
shall eat the flesh of Jezebel in Jezreel." Then the prophet
opened the door, and fled. Jehu wondered, perhaps, to hear all this;
but he went quietly back again to his friends, and sat down. They
all wanted to know who the young man was who had called Jehu; and one
asked, "Why did that mad fellow come to thee?" Jehu
answered, "Do not you know?" They said, "No, we know
nothing; tell us why he came." Then Jehu said, "He
anointed me king over Israel in God's name." Did the captains
wonder very much? Yes; but they were all willing to have Jehu for
their king; for God made them willing. They all arose, and took
their garments, and put them under Jehu, upon the top of the stairs; and
they blew the trumpets, and shouted, "Jehu is king." Jehu
told the captains to keep the secret from the people in Jezreel; and then
he rode in his chariot, and went to Jezreel, where Joram and Ahaziah were
still staying. The watchman upon the tower in Jezreel, saw Jehu
coming, but he did not know at first who it was; so he went and told the
king; and Joram sent a horseman to meet the chariot. When the
horseman came up to Jehu, he said, "The king asks, is it
peace?" But Jehu, answered, "What hast thou to do with
peace?" Then another messenger came to ask, "Is it
peace?" But Jehu answered as before. The watchman on the
tower looked very attentively, and said to Joram, "The messengers who
went to meet the chariots, do not return; and the man in the chariot
drives like Jehu, for he is driving very furiously." When Joram
heard this, he commanded his servants to make his chariots ready, and he
and Ahaziah rode to meet Jehu. When they came near, Joram cried,
"Is it peace?" But Jehu answered, "What peace can
there be while thy wicked mother Jezebel is living?" Joram
began to be frightened, and cried out to his friend Ahaziah. But
Ahaziah could not help Joram now. The time was come when both these
wicked kings must be punished for their sins, and none could save
them. Jehu drew his bow with all his strength, and shot an arrow
into Joram's heart; and the king fell down dead in his chariot. This
happened in Jezreel, near the place where Naboth's vineyard was, and where
Naboth had been so cruelly stoned. Then Jehu said, "Take
Joram's dead body, and throw it into the field of Naboth; for I remember
that God said to Ahab, when Naboth was killed, Here will I punish Ahab for
shedding Naboth's blood." So they cast Joram's dead body into
the field as Jehu commanded. Where
was Ahaziah? He did not live long after his wicked friend's
death. Jehu smote him in his chariot; and the wounded king fled to
Megiddo, and died there. This was the sad end of these two wicked
kings. And why did they die in this dreadful way? Because they
had sinned against God, and served idols, and rebelled against His holy
laws. God had not forgotten Ahab's sins. He had not forgotten
the murder of Naboth. God cannot forget sin which is unrepented
of. Ahab had not repented, Joram had not repented, Jezebel had not
repented; and, therefore, punishment came upon them all. What a
dreadful thing sin is! And does not God punish sin now? Yes;
not, perhaps, as He punished Ahab's sins. People may live many years
in wickedness, and die at last quietly in their beds;—not as Joram and
Ahaziah did. But has God forgotten their sin? No; He has
written all in His book of remembrance; and, if not before, these wicked
people must be punished for their sins when they die, and be cast away
from God for ever.
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