Tuesday, 19th October 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-14 Anoint Jehu as the King
We can see the relationship of Elisha and Elijah. When God asked Elijah to anoint Elisha, he only put a robe on him, he even told Elisha not to follow. But Elisha had the hunger and thirst for God, he followed Elijah with his action by burning the tools he used for his living. He was determined to follow, and showed God that he would never turn back, once he chose to follow.
V1-3 ‘And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Get yourself ready, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. Now when you arrive at that place, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from among his associates, and take him to an inner room. Then take the flask of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee, and do not delay.”’ This time Elisha did not go himself, instead, he let one of the sons of the prophet to go. Elisha knew his master, Elijah, did not want to anoint Jehu; but he also knew the promise of God must be fulfilled. Therefore, he told his servant to go, and told him to run away after speaking to Jehu, so he would not be tempted like what happened to Gehazi.
It seemed to be a mission impossible, but nothing is impossible for God. V4-5 ‘So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. And when he arrived, there were the captains of the army sitting; and he said, “I have a message for you, Commander.” Jehu said, “For which one of us?” And he said, “For you, Commander.”’ When the Word is from God, it will not fail. The young man knew straight away who he was to anoint, despite of seeing all the captains in the room. When we speak on behalf of God, He will take responsibility to the end. Furthermore, the young prophet continued to pass on the Word of God to Jehu that he was to kill Ahab’s household and became the king of Israel.
When we walk in the way of God, He will lead us step by step. Elijah and Elisha did not know why God wanted to anoint Jehu, but when the young prophet took the action by faith, followed Elisha’s instructions, and went to Jehu, God revealed the whole plan about the destruction of the household of Ahab. We often thought that we know a lot, and everything is in our hands, but in fact, we are ignorant, only when we follow God’s way, then the plan will be revealed to us. V13 ‘Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!”’ When the Word of God is spoken, the promise of God will be fulfilled. God’s Word and Promise may be delayed but will never fail.
Section Two V14-29 The Death of Joram
V14 ‘So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram.’ The name of Jehu means ‘He is the Lord’. Jehu’s life represents God is the Lord, and when he was anointed as king, he took the action straight away. He accepted the word from the prophet and carried out the mission of God.
V18 ‘So the horseman went to meet him, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.”’ Jehu knew exactly what he needed to do, he did not kill innocent, instead, he let people follow him to fulfil his mission of killing Ahab’s household. Furthermore, we can see that Jehu had the power and authority as the captain, even the king Joram, on his sickbed, came out to meet him.
V25-26 ‘Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Pick him up, and throw him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together behind Ahab his father, that the Lord laid this burden upon him: ‘Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will repay you in this plot,’ says the Lord. Now therefore, take and throw him on the plot of ground, according to the word of the Lord.”’ God continued to give opportunity for Ahab and his generations to turn back, but when they did not turn back from their wicked way, then whatever God said will happen. Both Jeram and Ahaziah did not listen nor repent from the wicked ways of their forefathers, therefore, they had to pay the price.
Section Three V30-37 The Death of Jezebel
V30-31 ‘Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head and looked through a window. Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, “Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?”’ Zimri was the first person in Israel, who betrayed the king. Even until this time, Jezebel wanted to entice Jehu, but Jehu did not even go up, he did not even want to see Jezebel.
V32-33 ‘And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot.’ Nobody liked Jezebel so when Jehu rise to fight against Ahab’s household, everyone followed. Even the eunuchs, who served by Jezebel’s side, rebelled against Ahab’s household, and followed Jehu’s instructions.
V36-37 ‘And he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, Here lies Jezebel.”’ God’s Word never fails, whatever he spoke though Elijah about Ahab’s household and Jezebel was fulfilled in Jehu’s time. We must believe in the Word of God through His prophet and turn back when we had the opportunity. God will take care of it when we are willing to follow by faith.
列王纪下 9 – 耶和华的话
2021年10月19 日 星期二
潘锡安牧师
在末世的时候，我们好像看到很多不公不平不义的事情发生，恶人却安然无恙，于是人便怀疑神的真实。媒体上报道出来的事情有很多是人们如何活在分辨善恶树下而不是活出生命树，与权柄唱反调的事也被现在的文化所鼓励。今天的经文对我们愿意顺服神话语的人是很大的鼓励。
一、膏耶户作王 v.1-13
V1-4 神曾要以利亚膏立哈薛和耶户为王，并且膏以利沙为接续他的先知（列王纪上19:15-16），然而他没有去做，只是心不甘情不愿地将自己的外袍披在以利沙身上。以利沙看重这个新身份，愿意放下自己原本舒适的生活。以利亚多次想要撇下以利沙，但以利沙无论如何都紧跟着师傅。以利亚没有做到神对他说的话，然而，神“命立就立”，不会因为人的不配合而落空。以利沙去膏立了哈薛（王下8章），又吩咐了“一个先知门徒”去膏立耶户（9:1）。以利沙还嘱咐他在说完预言后“就开门逃跑，不要迟延”，因为他不想这少年先知像以前他的仆人基哈西一样留下来拿好处以致受咒诅。
V5 以利亚和以利沙都没有按照神的命令去膏立耶户，以利沙也没有告知这少年先知如何去找到耶户。这少年人被差派后找到一群都不认识的军长，然而在神没有难成的事，他一开口就问到耶户本人。
V6-10 少年人并没有担心他所膏立的人是不是耶户，因为从神而来的拣选是不会错的。少年人说完本来神要以利亚、以利沙跟耶户所说的膏立他为以色列王的话（V6）之后，又补充了一段话（V7-10）。从后面这段话来看，耶户要做的是一场很大的革命，神并未告诉前两位大先知，然而这个少年先知愿意顺服，就得了神进一步的启示，知道神要借着耶户“申我仆人众先知和耶和华一切仆人流血的冤”。少年人说完就谨遵以利沙的叮嘱，逃跑了。
V11-13 耶户并不是王位继承人，只是王的其中一个仆人。在场的人本觉得那少年先知是“狂妄的人”，但当耶户愿意将耶和华神借着少年先知告诉他的话讲出来之后，众人便都愿意“将自己的衣服铺在上层台阶，使耶户坐在其上”，宣告“耶户做王了！”耶和华原本吩咐以利亚的话虽经过许多波折，但并未迟延，都成就了。神是给我们机会的神。
二、约兰之死 v.14-29
V14 神看重他所拣选的耶户，将他家三代人的名字都记录下来。“耶户”的意思是“耶和华是他”，说明他在地上代表耶和华神的身份。
V17-19 耶户并没有滥杀无辜，那些被约兰王派来问耶户是否平安的人没有被耶户杀死，反而可以转到耶户所带的一群人背后得到保护。
V20-21 从记载看出，耶户被众人所识，又有兵权，所以能受到以色列王的“迎接”。
V22-23 约兰王听到耶户讲的大逆不道的话，知道耶户“反了”，就让犹大王亚哈谢跟他一起逃跑。
V24-26 当初约兰的父亲亚哈王觊觎耶斯列人拿伯的葡萄园，最后拿伯遭陷害被杀，先知以利亚就曾跟亚哈王预言过神对他们家的审判（王上21章）。神的话永不落空，他一代又一代给我们机会。可惜，亚哈的后代约兰没有悔改，最终被耶户杀死。
V27-29 我们蒙召的人要小心选择伙伴，因为“信与不信不能同负一轭”，他们的价值观与我们不一样，不愿活在生命树下，只想分辨善恶。当我们因为神在圣经说的话还没发生就心生怀疑的时候，我们没有看到神是在给人机会回转。犹大王亚哈谢没有听神的话与拜偶像的以色列王分别为圣，最后自己也被杀死了。
三、耶洗别之死 v.30-37
V30-35 “心利”是以色列第一个背叛王而篡位的人（王上16:9-20）。耶洗别是一个极其会掌控的人，她面对要杀她的耶户，还想用自己的美貌来诱惑他，因为在当时的社会，一个新起的王若与前一个王的妃嫔发生关系，就代表新王取得王权。然而，耶户知道自己是属于耶和华的，就分别为圣，没有理会耶洗别，而是吩咐愿意太监将耶洗别“扔下来”。从那些太监对耶户的顺从和耶洗别被践踏到几乎尸骨无存可以看出，其实耶洗别身边很多人早就不服她了。
V36-37 神当初借着以利亚说的这番话，如今耶户愿意遵行，神的话果然应验了。
神的话永不落空，我们若不珍惜神给我们的机会，时间到了，我们就后悔不及了。我们若愿意谦卑跟从，神就会看顾我们。
*追求与回应：
神说要“寻找”，我们是否有信心愿意顺服神的话，出去寻找那些被蒙蔽的世人，将福音传给他们，建立他们成为门徒？求神饶恕我们没有谦卑听从他的话。
当我们愿意像那少年先知和耶户一样跨出第一步的时候，哪怕我们的信心像芥菜种一样小，神的话都会成就！求神帮助我们成为多结果子的葡萄树！奉耶稣基督的名祷告！阿门！