2 Kings 9:2

Elisha's ministry of grace was practically fruitless. Israel sinned more and more. The time had come therefore for the sword to be unsheathed. So we have the ministers of wrath appointed — Hazael, in 2 Kings 8:7-15; and Jehu, in 2 Kings 9:1-10.

At last, after more than fifteen years' delay, the blood of Naboth, crying, like Abel's, for vengeance from the ground, was about to be repaid. God, when judging men, is never in haste.

Instead of anointing Jehu himself, he entrusts this mission to one of the sons of the prophets. This young man must not remain for an instant with Jehu, but he must flee as soon as his deed is done. All is done secretly and in haste. When it is a matter of judgment, Elisha's soul neither rests nor stays there. Judgment must take place, for God has spoken. But God finds His delight in grace, and He approves His servant's way of acting.

Here this son of the prophets must make Jehu rise up "from among his brothers." He must lead him far away from all eyes into "an inner chamber," and anoint him there without witnesses, in haste and in secret. Samuel, on the contrary, anoints David king of grace "in the midst of his brothers"… Jehu is God's rod against Israel and Judah. God cannot have communion with an instrument of judgment, however necessary it may be. Later He will approve (2 Kings 10:30) the way Jehu carried out his task, but without communion with him.

The private anointing tells us of God's working behind the scenes to show whom He desires to rule. At first only the household of David's father saw this choice of God. In the same way, today only the household of faith recognises that Jesus is God's chosen King. At the end of the tribulation Judah will be the first to recognise Him, then the rest of Israel, and Christ will be publicly acclaimed.

Twenty years before, Elijah had probably anointed Jehu already, just as Samuel anointed David long before the people did. The anointing of the king over Israel was not an established custom or rule. It was done when the circumstances were out of the ordinary, or when there might be some question about his title to the crown… "With Jehu, the kingdom of Israel would pass out of the direct line of Ahab's family into another family. That family had no legal right to the kingdom — only the appointment of God. His anointing was necessary. It gave him a title and put him in actual possession of the kingdom."

God named the instrument of judgment on Ahab's house long ago to Elijah, and now he appears. The young man was to look out for Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and anoint him King over Israel. Then he was not to wait, but to flee. Jehu means "Jehovah is He"; Jehoshaphat, "Jehovah judges"; Nimshi, "Jehovah reveals." Significant names!