This message is to help understand the anointing of Jehu, the king of Israel at the time when the evil influence of Jezebel was raging. It should help us in order to stand against this power in the boldness of Jehu.
Jezebel was the wife of king Ahab and they operated from the territory of Jezreel, whose region belonged to the tribe of Issachar.
Issachar carried a prophetic calling that involved recognizing the times of God, as well as instructing God’s people what to do at the appointed times (cf. Joshua 19:17-18a; 1 Chronicles 12:32).
Joshua 19:17-18a:
17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar according to its clans.
18a Their territory included: Jezreel, …
1 Chronicles 12:32:
… 32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do – 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; …
… 32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do – 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; …
Jezreel (Note: ‘God sows, or God scatters.’) was a place located in the region of Samaria (Note: ‘watching mountain or belonging to the watchman’). The location is a reference to the position of prophetic overview and proper prophetic communication in time as well as understanding about investing in the Kingdom of God to scatter the enemy.
The Adversary’s Plan to tear out of God’s Promise
It is the enemy’s plan to occupy and control our time field or the promise set by God within time or even to tear us out of God’s promise.
One of these influences that the adversary uses is that of ‘Jezebel’, who seeks to attack the authority of the saints in order to intimidate, control and manipulate them with the aim of finally bringing them down.
Since authority in a spiritual context is associated with men and can also be described as ‘manhood in Christ’, it is Jezebel’s intention to rob ‘manhood’.
Masculinity in Christ has nothing to do with sexual masculinity in the natural realm. When we speak of ‘masculinity’ in Christ, it implies the authority, power and fruitfulness of Christ in the spiritual realm. Thus, ‘manhood in Christ’ refers to men and women in the ecclesia, as it is about life in Christ Jesus (cf. Galatians 3:28).
Galatians 3:28:
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, …
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, …
Saints who encounter the evil influence of Jezebel are urged to practice spiritual vigilance in order to remain steadfast in their ‘manhood in Christ’, that is, authority in Him.
In order to shed more light on this revelation, an explanation of Jezebel and her court will serve us at this point.
The Influence of Jezebel in her ‘Court’
At the time of Jezebel, there was a strong influence of temple prostitution and idolatry. The officials who were employed at Jezebel’s court were not normal officials as we know them today, but her servants were eunuchs (cf. 2 Kings 9:32).
2 Kings 9:32:
32 He (Note: Jehu) looked up at the window and called out, ‘Who is on my side? Who?’ Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
32 He (Note: Jehu) looked up at the window and called out, ‘Who is on my side? Who?’ Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
A eunuch is a man who has undergone castration and whose genitals have been removed or mutilated, sometimes in different regions.
Granting the influence of the demonic principality of Jezebel has devastating results, which are expressed, for example, through fornication, manipulation, control and domination as well as betrayal.
Jezebel knew how to murder the prophets and intimidate them through her communication, even bringing them to a state of despair so that they no longer wanted to live, which is made clear to us by the life of Elijah, who suffered under her rule (cf. 1 Kings 19:1-4).
1 Kings 19:1-4:
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.’
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.’
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’
The Anointing of Jehu as King of Israel
At this time, Jehu was not yet king of Israel, as he was only later publicly confirmed as king of Israel by the anointing of Elijah, commissioned by God, and by one of his servants on behalf of Elisha (cf. 1 Kings 19:16a i.c.w. 2 Kings 9:1-3.6-7).
1 Kings 19:16a:
16a Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, …
16a Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, …
2 Kings 9:1-3.6-7:
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!’ …
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.
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!’ …
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.
The anointing of Jehu as king of Israel reveals how important it is to be confirmed in the respective God-ordained authority at the right time in order to effectively oppose the present influence of evil at the predestined time determined by God.
Through the anointing and the prophetic word spoken over Jehu, he stood boldly against the intimidating and manipulative communication and seduction of Jezebel.
The name ‘Jehu’ means ‘YAHWEH is HE!’ and was an important proclamation before the visible and invisible world to curb the evil influence of Jezebel.
The name ‘Jehu’ means ‘YAHWEH is HE!’ and was an important proclamation before the visible and invisible world to curb the evil influence of Jezebel.
The Result of Jezebel’s Evil Influence
The evil influence of Jezebel can be seen in the fact that the saints who have become victims of this power are kept in a spiritual, unfruitful realm so that no true fruit can be produced.
The satanic and evil spirit of Jezebel abuses people in order to keep the saints low in their gifts or talents so that they are prevented from developing spiritually.
She puts her victims on the siding in order to force them to give up.
In such situations, we should ask for open eyes of the heart to recognize the ‘anointing of Jehu’ that comes with ‘dust’ (cf. 2 Kings 9:17a).
In such situations, we should ask for open eyes of the heart to recognize the ‘anointing of Jehu’ that comes with ‘dust’ (cf. 2 Kings 9:17a).
2 Kings 9:17a:
17a When the lookout standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching (Note: like a dusty cloud), …
17a When the lookout standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching (Note: like a dusty cloud), …
The anointing of Jehu is designed by God to reveal ‘manhood in Christ’ in terms of spiritual authority, empowerment, fruitfulness in the Spirit in the midst of intimidating wickedness in order to confront it and help destroy it.
No matter where we face the influence of Jezebel in our environment, we should be ready to recognize the ‘anointing of Jehu’ and be connected with it.
If the goats of Jacob were already multiplying and only by looking at shaved sticks of wood were animals of different colours and strength conceived (cf. Genesis 30:37-39), how much more is it in God’s interest to bring His people into a powerful and bold anointing to defeat the evil principality of Jezebel.
Genesis 30:37-39:
37 Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches.
38 Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, 39 they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.
37 Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches.
38 Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, 39 they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.
The biblical passage from 2 Kings 9:30-33 gives us information about this divine connection or cooperation during Jezebel’s evil influence.
2 Kings 9:30-33:
30 Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window.
31 As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, ‘Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?’
32 He looked up at the window and called out, ‘Who is on my side? Who?’ Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
33 ‘Throw her down!’ Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
30 Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window.
31 As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, ‘Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?’
32 He looked up at the window and called out, ‘Who is on my side? Who?’ Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
33 ‘Throw her down!’ Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
From this we can infer a strategy.
Jezebel wanted to intimidate Jehu by saying that he was Zimri in order to tell him covertly that he would take his own life by burning like Zimri (cf. 1 Kings 16:18).
Jezebel wanted to intimidate Jehu by saying that he was Zimri in order to tell him covertly that he would take his own life by burning like Zimri (cf. 1 Kings 16:18).
1 Kings 16:18:
18 When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died, …
18 When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died, …
But Jehu was not intimidated by Jezebel’s manipulative appearance and her bewitching statement nor was he distracted by it.
Even though it appears that the enemy is at his peak of evil and is using the influence of ‘revelation’ (Note: window) by mixing witchcraft (Note: makeup, cover up and whitewashed appearance) in it to manipulate so that the victory of God is not established on earth, we as the people of God should not be intimidated by it.
As people of God, it is our task to go forward sovereignly in the boldness of ‘Jehu’ or the ‘manhood of Christ’ and assist in the fall of evil.
When the eunuchs noticed the ‘manhood of Christ’ in Jehu, they were seized by the boldness of heaven and acted on his command to overthrow the evil and false prophetess from her palace of dominion (cf. Revelation 2:20 i.c.w. 2 Kings 9:32-33).
Revelation 2:20:
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
2 Kings 9:32-33:
32 He looked up at the window and called out, ‘Who is on my side? Who?’ Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
33 ‘Throw her down!’ Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
32 He looked up at the window and called out, ‘Who is on my side? Who?’ Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
33 ‘Throw her down!’ Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
Here it is important that we move forward in the ‘manhood of Christ’ that encompasses His sonship, reflecting the consuming and holy nature of God with our gaze and continually moving forward in the holiness of God.
This is the presence of how Jesus appeared to the church at Thyatira, which was in spiritual warfare with the influence of Jezebel (cf. Revelation 2:18).
Revelation 2:18:
18 ‘To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
18 ‘To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
As the eunuchs saw Jehu, the ‘divine manliness’ passed to the spirits of the eunuchs so that they no longer submitted to Jezebel’s power in its forms of witchcraft, control, manipulation and censorship.
They recognized their barrenness and seized the fruitfulness of the spirit to make themselves one with the triumph of God. We already know the outcome and it is worth risking something for it.
Let us therefore be bold and courageous like Jehu, for the LORD is with us!
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
