2 Kings 9 (Part 1) Bible Study (Jehu Anointed King of Israel) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Second Kings Chapter 9. I'm curious to know if anyone

2 Kings 9 · chapter mention

here saw the recent Wall Street Journal article about Bible

sales recently. Anybody read that?

If you have lift your hand. Nobody read it.

Yes, one couple people. Well, if you haven't read it, it

was a December report and it was a review of Bible sales in the

United States. In 2024.

There was a 22% increase of Bible sales in comparison to

2023. And so the first ten months of

2024 there were 13.7 million Bible sales in this country.

And the report also said that from one particular bookstore

manager, she expressed by way of personal testimony that she's

she has seen so many first time buyers coming into her store

primarily looking for the Scriptures.

And when asking about why they were buying the Bible, there was

a large number of people who are admitting that they were on a

quest for something. Can you guess what that quest is

for? Truth is a good answer, but more

specific hope. People are looking for hope.

And that shouldn't surprise us in our age, right?

With the growing global chaos and the cultural confusion

that's surrounding us, people are desperately looking for some

answers. And a lot of those sales are

coming from Gen. Z, which is so encouraging

because so many people have written them off and just

thought that there are lost cause.

All, even secular reporters and analysts are saying otherwise.

People are hungry. They're looking for answers, and

they're not getting answers from gurus or celebrities or secular

prophets. And I wanted to say, if you are

here today listening or in person, and you're starting out

on that quest, know that this church is dedicated to

explaining and expounding the Bible.

And we hope and pray that what you hear week after week will

guide you through the truth and it will provide you greater

clarity and confidence. And the Lord has been faithful

to us week after week, hasn't he?

He has been so good to us. And tonight, as we come to this

book, as we usually do, we continue in our study of

Elijah's efforts to complete what Elijah granted to him and

passed on to him, particularly in the area of appointing

specific leaders who will be God's instruments of judgment

against the people of Israel. And we read and studied last

week that Elisha crowned Hazael to be the next king of Syria.

And tonight, as we approach this chapter.

We will witness how this man named Jehu will become the new

king of Israel. So if you're there, meet me in

verse one of Second Kings Chapter 9.

2 Kings 9 · chapter mention

Let's read the first 3 verses together.

Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets

and said to him, Tie up your garments and take this flask of

oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.

And when you arrive, look there for Jehu, the son of

Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, and go in and have him rise from

among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber.

Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head, and say,

Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.

Then open the door and flee. Do not linger, Lord, we come to

this word, but we ask yet again that you would help us

understand this word. As you open the minds of the

disciples in Luke chapter 24, we pray that you would give us that

Luke 24 · chapter mention

same gift. Open our minds and as we sang,

surely you make the woeful heart singing.

We pray that what we discover here will only add to our praise

and also add to our worship as living sacrifices dedicated and

consecrated to the person of Jesus Christ.

We trust you now. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen. Hazael has been anointed.

He has already occupied the throne in Syria and began his

work to harass the people of Israel.

But that is not all that God has in mind.

And dealing with this stubborn people, there is a king to arise

from among the brethren, Jehu, who will occupy the throne and

do the bidding of the Lord in terms of discipline.

Now, interestingly, Elijah, though he was in Syria to

proclaim Hazaela's king, does not do the same concerning Jehu

in Israel. He delegates that task to one of

his students and we're not given an explanation, we're not told

why he dispatches one of his pupils to perform this awesome

responsibility. And though there isn't immediate

explanation, there is a great clue within this chapter that

can help us understand why Elijah is doing it this way.

We didn't read it, but let's turn to it quickly.

It's in the same chapter, but look at verse 15 of Second Kings

9. What you have here is what Jehu

tells those who learn of his anointing.

Accept it and celebrate it, right?

And so this is what we read in Second Kings 99 verse 15.

But King Joram now pause. Joram is just another name for

Jehoram, who is the current king of Israel.

But. King Joram had returned to be

healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him

when he fought with Hazael, King of Syria.

Pause again. That's what we learned in the

last few verses of chapter 8, that the king of Israel went to

war with Hazael. He was injured, and so he

retreats to Jezreel to recover. But notice what we read here,

the second part of this verse. So Jehu said, if this is your

decision, pause yet again, sorry.

In other words, because the people learn of his anointing in

his immediate context, and they said, yes, you are our next

king. He goes, OK, if this is your

decision, notice his instruction.

Then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in

Jezreel. In other words, let let's make

sure that this isn't get to who? Who's in Jezreel?

The king of Israel, who's recovering.

We can't let him know. We can't give him any

inclination that his government is threatened, though in reality

is ready to be toppled. And so he tells his group,

listen, keep it to yourselves. We have to plan strategically

and carefully in order for us to be successful.

So he wants to keep this discreet.

And I am persuaded that Elijah sending one of his students is

for the same purpose. He wants to ensure that

everything is under the radar. Now we saw in chapter 8 how

Elijah was very well known, not just among his own people, but

even even among the neighboring nations.

When he arrived in Damascus, what did we learn?

The king of Syria heard of it very quickly and try to summon

him, though he did not come for the king of Syria, Ben Haddad,

remember that this man could not go anywhere without being

recognized and noticed and new spreading that he was in the

neighborhood. And so in understanding this, he

is wise. I'm not going to personally go

to Jehu and anoint him. That would be too suspicious.

That would invite a quick investigation.

Instead, I'm going to take one of my students to do the job for

me. And here we have one of the rare

occasions where we learn that being so well known has its

disadvantages and how God looks for unknown servants to do great

things. At times you and I should be

comforted by the fact that we don't need large followings and

we don't need so many people to acknowledge us in order to be

recruited by God to do notable things for His Kingdom.

Here you have this unnamed student who will go out and do

an awesome thing. It is a great responsibility to

appoint and anoint somebody into a specific office.

And this young man is going to do it.

And I know that there are some people.

This is mainly for those who want to be used by God.

There is always that temptation that in order for me to do

something effective and worthwhile, I have to try to

make myself known. I have to try to gain notoriety

or some attention. I I need to be recognized in

some way, but instead of being preoccupied with that, be

preoccupied with knowing God. Just know God, love him, seek

him, honor him whoever you are, wherever you are, Let God take

care of the rest. Let the Lord take care of the

rest. We don't know anything about

this student, but I think that there are insights in these

first 3 verses, specifically with Elijah's instructions to

him that give us some kind of idea of his qualities that made

him a candidate to go and do this specific work.

So I want you to consider at least two things that I think

are applicable to us if we long to be summoned by the Lord to

serve him in any way he sees fit.

The first thing that I noticed is that this young servant was

available. He was available.

Look at verse 2 says here verse one.

Rather in the initial command, Elijah says tie up your

garments. In other words, stop what you're

doing, get your shoes on, and get going.

This required this young man to do what?

To prioritize the purpose of God, to abandon whatever he was

doing at this moment, and to make sure that he did what God

called them to do. And So what I see here is

something so important. I see here that there must be a

willingness to sacrifice. For the Lord, in order for us to

be a significant impact for the Lord, if we want to be

positioned, if we want to be prepared to make any impact, we

have to be willing to make any sacrifice.

This is a small sacrifice, but small sacrifices count.

And in this case, this man had to stop what he was doing, stop

what he had planned, and to make this priority number one.

That's what I mean by availability, making God's

purposes in your life ultimate priority, preeminent above

everything else. And that's what this young man

does here. So let me say this as kindly as

possible. God does not seek people who

view serving Him as an inconvenience.

God does not recruit people who see anything connected to His

Kingdom in terms of service or ministry as an inconvenient

thing. He looks for those who see as

the greatest honor and joy in their lives to please Him in any

way that He sees fit for your life.

That's who He looks for. And there's another quality here

that I see about this man, not just his availability, but

something equally important, his dedication.

Notice in verse 1 he says tie up your garments and take this

flask of oil in your hand and go to Raymouth Gilead.

And the follow up command is quite striking.

And when you arrive, look there, Look there for Jehu, the son of

Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. This is not King Jehoshaphat, by

the way. This is a different Jehoshaphat.

This is not the one who ruled in Judah.

This is just a different individual, the same name.

So Jehu is not of royal descent. This is different Jehoshaphat.

But notice the instruction. He's in Reymouth.

Gilead, young man. But you have to look there for

him. When you get to this town, it is

your duty to be discreet, diligent and patient to locate

him. And then anoint him.

He could not afford to give in to any fear because it was a

dangerous thing to anoint somebody as a king while there

was a king and you couldn't give up due to any frustration.

God looks for committed men and women and it is only through

commitment will any person in God's Kingdom taste of the full

fruit of their labor and dedication.

People give up too easily these days.

I've seen many over the years who get excited about starting a

new thing or heading in this direction or starting this

project, but very few stick with it.

So I want to counsel you to cultivate a certain mentality.

And here's the mentality that we all need that whatever God has

called you to do, you do it with all your might.

And the only way you would stop doing it is if He tells you to

stop doing it. If He clearly closes the door.

And you realize that he is leading you elsewhere.

Cultivate that mentality. This young man needed it.

When you get there, look there. Be loyal to this cause.

Loyalty in our day is becoming weaker and weaker in every

sphere may not be so in the Church of Jesus Christ.

So he was supposed to go and look, go look.

You have work to do. Go investigate the scene.

And though there can be more said about these instructions, I

think the most impressive thing about this young man is not

necessarily found in these first 3 verses.

They're found in the fourth verse.

Look at the fourth verse with me.

So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth

Gilead saying what's there? He was a young man.

That blesses me because it informs me that God not only is

willing to recruit obscure individuals, he's willing to

enroll young people as well. Now as much as that's an

encouragement, it's also a challenge.

What's the challenge? The challenge is this, that this

example among many leaves young people no excuse to strive to be

fit for God's service. There's no excuse.

It's possible. It's possible to be available,

prioritizing God above all of the things and dedicated this

young man did. Why can't you And there are many

young people within Christendom who love to quote First Timothy

412 in defense of their youth in connection to ministry, right?

Let no one do what despise your youth.

It's a powerful. Verse.

But I rarely hear people quote Philippians 220 and 21 that

highlights Timothy's credentials.

Can we turn that together in the New Testament Philippians 220?

Look what Paul says about the same young man Timothy, that he

told to not let. Anyone despise him for his

youth? People believe that Timothy was

in his late 30s, early 40s, so that gives many people.

Hope to be considered young at that age.

Philippians 2/20/21. Notice what Paul says for I have

no one like him. Wow.

I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your

welfare, for they all seek their own interests, not those of

Jesus Christ. I love this passage for many

reasons, because it not only shows me that Timothy was fit

for God's service, it shows me that he excelled in character

and dependability. He excelled in it.

And what was the secret, according to Paul's words, that

all of his interests were aligned with those of Jesus

Christ. All of his interests.

Whatever Jesus wanted, Timothy wanted.

Whatever Jesus longed for, Timothy longed for.

Whatever Jesus loved, Timothy loved.

Whatever Jesus hated, Timothy hated.

And notice this character trait, this devotion to Christ was so

real in Timothy's life that out of all the partners that Paul

had, he selected the young man to go and minister to the

Philippians, the young man. It's not difficult to see how

availability and dedication open doors for this young man in

Second Kings 9. And with Timothy, it's no

different for any of us. Your job is not to open doors.

Your job is to open your heart to the degree that Jesus is

everything to you. And those are the best kinds of

servants in his Kingdom. This young man would go, let's

read it now from Second Kings 94 down to verse six.

So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth

Gilead. And when he came, behold, the

commanders of the army were in council.

And he said, I have a word for you, O commander.

And Jesus said, To Which of us all?

And he said to you, O commander, oh, this young man has

authority. Respect, but authority.

I have a word for you, O commander.

Which one of us to you, O commander?

So he arose and went into the house, and the young man poured

the oil on his head, saying to him, Thus says the Lord, the God

of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the Lord over

Israel. Now he's going to continue on,

but I can't help but under score something that he says in this

initial prophecy. I want you to get another glance

of how the young prophet describes the people of God in

verse 6. What does he say?

I anoint you king over the people of the Lord over Israel.

He could have said the people of Israel, but he said specifically

the people of the Lord, saying why is that important?

Aren't they the people of the Lord?

You wouldn't think so if you watch how they live at this

time. What was their spiritual

condition like? They were idolatrous.

They were ungrateful. They were stubborn and Despite

that, God was still willing to acknowledge this group at this

time of history as His people. Why?

Because He is a God who keeps His Word.

Why? Because He is a covenant keeping

God. And it wasn't because of their

faithfulness. They didn't even meet the base

requirement of faithfulness. It's because He promised.

He promised Abraham something, and he promised Isaac, and he

promised Jacob, and he promised David something.

And what you find from Genesis to Revelation is that God is

constant. He is the same.

His people are not. They deviate, they're fickle,

they're inconsistent. And yet, though we are

disappointed with the people, we are to be inspired because

periodically the Scriptures by the Spirit reminds us that in

spite of all of this, God is going to keep His word.

God is going to be faithful. God is going to complete what He

promised. That's what we're confronted

with. That's the beauty of reading

your Bible through and through. You're spending thousands of

years and you're still seeing the same.

God, the same conviction, the same heart, He doesn't change.

We change even though we're in covenant with Him, we change, He

doesn't. And one of the strongest

statements I believe, that solidified the incomparable

constancy of God is in the writings of Jeremiah.

I want you to see what Jeremiah says of the same people hundreds

of years after this time. Look at Jeremiah 31 and I want

you to see verse 37. Thus says the Lord, if the

heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth

below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring

of Israel for all that they have done, declares the Lord.

Wow, what a verse in a book that is primarily about judgement.

Jeremiah being one of the final voices before the people of

Judah go into exile, and with all these warnings and all these

scathing things being said somewhere in between, we read

that through Jeremiah. God says, can you measure the

heavens, take a measuring tape and go up into space and figure

out the span of it? Can you explore the depths of

the earth and figure out the mysteries below?

If you can't do that, then I will cast off my promises to

this people, Israel. And notice he said something

again. For all that they have done is

despite it, all that they've done, all the corruption, all

the evil, all the abominations, I will.

Keep my promise to this people say, well, that's the Old

Testament. No, that's what Paul says in the

New Testament. And why did you say in the New

Testament? For many reasons, including this

reason to tell the people who are being introduced to this God

through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hey, you can trust the God of this gospel because look how he

is with this people called Israel.

You knew covenant believers. You can be anchored in your

security and the salvation and the promises and the blessings

of God. Why?

Because look how he has been throughout.

History. And look how he's still the same

towards his people even to this day.

He said something to them and he kept his word.

He still has his word for them. And so you can trust him for

your life in this covenant as well.

So no matter what, the people of Israel, both in the past and

still today, remain the. People of the Lord, if you have

a problem with that language then you have a problem with

Romans 11. But the statement in context of

Jesus anointing has another meaning.

This is the people of the Lord, right?

That says something about God's character, but it also says

something about J, who in what sense?

J who had to learn immediately right off the gate as a new

leader of this people, that this people don't belong to him, they

belong to God. And you see a similar thing in

the context of the church concerning leaders, what they

leaders, what they're supposed to have before them at all

times. I'm reminded of the words of the

Apostle Paul to the elders. Of the church in Ephesus, and in

his departing words he says the following in Acts 2028.

Lean in and pay attention. Pay careful attention to

yourselves and to all the flock. I love that all the flock, not

just some of the flock, all the flock in which the Holy Spirit

has made you Overseers. Pause.

The word. Overseers, bishops, pastors are

all synonymous, elders included. Those all mean pastors.

I just have to say this, elders in the church are not an

Advisory Board to the main pastor of the church.

Every elder is a pastor. Every elder is a pastor.

I know many, many churches don't function that way.

You have a pastor who usually teaches every week, and then you

have the elders who are kind of, they're obviously Christian, but

they're not really shepherding and they just kind of help out

and keep the pastor accountable. Wrong.

Every elder according to the Bible, is a pastor and they

share equal authority. I don't know why I had to say

that. Just had to get that out there

in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for

the Church of God, which he obtained with his own.

Blood. Well, I spoke about pastors, so

let me stay there a little bit. I am so moved by this truth that

it is the Holy Spirit who is the agent that calls, identifies,

and raises up pastors in the local church.

Don't you see that in which the Holy Spirit has made you

overseers? Who's the one that positions

elders in a church? God himself, God himself.

So the position of a pastor is not something you necessarily

pursue as much as it pursues you.

It chooses you. You don't choose it.

I don't know why. Anybody would choose it without

God's approval and leading. He chooses you.

That's beside the point. I want you to see how Paul

speaks of the church to these elders who are called to oversee

it. To care for what?

Not the Church of Ephesus, the Church of God.

Wow. Viewing the church in this way,

Paul is being very intentional. Should revolutionize the way

leaders minister in their churches.

If properly understood, it will revolutionize the way you

preach, the way you counsel. It will do something to your

humility. It will strengthen and anchor

your commitment. It will inspire a reverence.

Elders, this is the Church of God.

Now I know most people here are not pastors.

So this is relate to you. Absolutely it should.

It should transform all of us in the way we view the bride of

Christ. In what way?

This is not just a gathering of people who have nothing to do on

a Friday night. This is a gathering of people

who have been purchased by God with His blood.

Think about that every time you come through those doors.

Think about that when there's conflict.

Think about that when there's ministry opportunities.

Think about that when you greet one another and you fellowship.

I am with the people who've been purchased by the blood of God.

Jehu, you're going to be the new king.

But remember, this is the people of the Lord.

Let's come back, because he's not finished with that.

Verse seven of Second Kings 9 Jehu, though he would be a

leader to care for this people, is under a unique dispensation,

because though a leader, he is called to be an instrument of

judgement. And we see that in verse 7.

And you shall strike down the House of Ahab, your master, so

that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants, the

prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord.

For the whole House of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off

from Ahab's every male bond, or free in Israel, and I will make

the House of Ahab like the House of Jeroboam the son of Nabat,

and like the House of Bashah the son of Ahisha.

And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and

none shall bury her. Then he opened the door and

fled. So what's the essence of this

prophecy? Utter destruction is coming to

the House of Ahab. He is going to be rooted out and

he is going to be disintegrated. Him and his descendants.

There will be no one left. And not only will this people,

this group, this house, know an end.

Jezebel specifically will know a disgraceful fate.

Though a queen, she will not have an honorable death.

Or recognition for her life. She will be eaten by the dogs.

We haven't seen Jezebel for a while, right?

At least I mentioned her name. This might surprise you.

She's still alive at this point in our study of Second Kings.

She's just been a little. Quiet.

But things are going to change for Jezebel very quickly.

And though we might have forgotten of her, God didn't.

And you would think here, right as he gives this indictment.

That the indictment against the House of Ahab is caused by what

this family institutionalizing Bill worship.

But that's not what he says. Look back again at verse 7 for

the reason why judgement is coming to this house.

The second part so that I avenge on Jezebel the blood of my

servants, the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of

the. Lord, God feels a very special

way about His servants and how they are treated.

Whether they are treated with favor or with injustice, God

cares deeply about how His servants are treated.

And in in case you mistake this for how God feels about His

spokesman, that's not what verse 7 says.

He does distinguish the prophets of the Lord, but he also

includes what? All his servants, all his

servants. So every single one of us,

preacher or not a preacher, God keeps in mind what people do to

his servants. What does that teach you?

And I reminds us that when we are not treated well, to leave

vengeance to God. That's what it teaches me.

Leave. It to the Lord.

And I believe this observation, among others, was preserved in

the Scriptures to bring hope and encouragement to persecuted

believers in Jesus Christ. Believers who may feel like

they're tormentors evaded justice because after they did

what they did, they seem to go on with life without

consequence. You know what this teaches us?

Teaches that the Lord does not forget.

He doesn't forget even though he does not execute his justice

immediately there was delay between Jezebel's persecution

and her ugly fate. But what's so fascinating is how

this young man who expands on what?

Elijah said, echoes what Elijah said to Ahab when he confronted

him at neighbor's vineyard. It's so similar when you compare

Second Kings nine with First Kings 21, it's almost word for

word that the general idea is there.

What's going to happen to the House of Ahab?

What's going to happen to Jezebel?

So all the way back from First Kings 21 to this point, God

didn't forget a thing. He remembers how every single

one of his prophets were murdered.

We're chased out of their homes. We're living in caves because of

this woman. And so God would bring about

justice on their behalf. You will inevitably be

mistreated, sometimes from professing Christians, sometimes

with those who hate Christians and are outside of the church.

In any case, leave even the idea, the meditation of what

should be done to him, to the Lord.

He'll take care of it in due time.

Verse 8. I want us to look at a couple

more things from the latter portion of this prophecy.

For the whole House of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off

from Ahab every male bond or free in Israel, and I will make

the House of Ahab like the House of Jeroboam, the son of the

band, like the House of Bash of the son of Ahijah.

In other words, the extinction, those houses no longer exist.

That will be the same for Ahab. And what I love about this,

before we move on, is how this exchange ends.

So, Jay, who is there with these other commanders?

Because remember that war with Syria, Says you, O commander, I

got a word for you. He summons him.

They go into a private room. He pours oil on his head.

He gives him this word. Look at verse 10.

This. This made me smile.

The last part. Then he opened the door and

fled. What does that tell you?

Here's what it tells me. He obeyed.

He obeyed everything Elijah told him.

He went right away. He searched for Jehu.

He. Found Jehu, he gave him the word

that he's supposed to give him and.

He paid attention to where he fled the moment he finished.

Now, in the same way we are not granted explanation for why

Elijah sent this man to begin with, we are not granted any

clues necessarily for why he told this young man to flee

immediately after he gave this prophecy.

Was it because it was dangerous? Yeah, that's a that's a good

answer because in First Samuel 16, when Samuel was told,

listen, stop crying about Saul, I have another king in mind,

fill your horn with oil and go down there.

What was Samuel's protest? If Saul hears of this, I'm a

dead man. So again, it, it was dangerous,

even if you were a prophet, to anoint anybody to be a king when

there was a king still occupying the throne.

So it could be that Elijah was saying, look, you need to, you

need to flee right away. Or it could be for another

undisclosed temptation. We are not certain.

But you know what? We are certain about this theme

here of a young man who is commanded by a man of God, who

represented the word of God. How in a certain context?

To flee, young man. Flee.

Flee. Don't linger, don't stay, don't

entertain. Run.

That sound familiar? It should, because another young

man that we talked about earlier in this Bible study was also

told to flee, but in a different context.

Do. You remember the?

Command at least one of them. There's two, but I have this one

in mind. Second Timothy 222 So flee What?

Youthful passions? Youthful lusts in some

translations. Which means what?

Any idea what youthful passions mean?

What's the popular answer? Sexual morality, right?

Is that what Paul meant in that context?

It could definitely include that.

I think it's appropriate to use that to, say, flee from sexual

sin. But if you look at the context

of Second Timothy 2, it includes something else.

So let's turn to Second Timothy 2.

If you haven't noticed, much of what we discover in our Bible

study is when we look at very well known passages in light of

their context. Have you noticed that?

I've noticed it? Second Timothy 2.

If you want to know where Timothy is, it's with all the

other epistles that have the letter T, Titus and

Thessalonians. But look at Second Timothy 2, 22

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith,

love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure

heart. Now people interpret youthful

passions as sexual indulgences or temptations because we equate

youthful impulses with that which is not wrong.

But the word passions or even lust is broader than that.

All it really means is the cravings of the flesh, the

desires of the flesh, and when you look at the surrounding

commands that Paul gives to this young man, who was it in the

context of a pastor who is occupying the pasture, it you

see something interesting. Look at verse 14.

Remind them of these things and charge them before God not to

quarrel about words which does no good, but only ruins the

hearers. Look at verse 15.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one to prove the

worker who has no need to be ashamed rightly handling the

word of truth. So so far we're we're told here

that Timothy was to tell his congregation don't get involved

and and arguments about words. We'll talk about that in a

moment right after he says Timothy, it's your job to

rightly handle the Bible. You know, people quote and

preach the Bible doesn't mean that they're rightly handling

it. You understand that right.

You have to be careful how you interpret things.

Now look what he says in verse 16, but avoid irreverent Babble.

He's on it again, irreverent Babble.

What does he mean? For it will lead people to more

and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.

Among them are Himenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from

the truth. So we have an idea here that

this irreverent Babble are conversations that lead people

away from the truth of the Scriptures.

But it's not. Not just that we quoted Second

Timothy 222, but look at verse 23 right after he says flee

youthful passions. Notice what he says have nothing

to do with foolish ignorant controversies.

You know that they breed quarrels.

So we see this pattern. Timothy don't get into these

arguments. Timothy rightly handled about

with Timothy don't get into these conversations that are on

fruit With Timothy don't get into this foolish, ignorant

controversies and conversation. It leads to arguments and in

between that we have this command flee youthful passions.

Here's what I think. Youthful passions primarily

means that Timothy was to one. It means many things.

I believe one was to resist the temptation to adopt trendy

teachings that were false and contrary to the Bible.

Timothy was to. Flee.

From the urge perhaps, of seeking to develop new theology

and to be inventive in his doctrine to look for something

quote UN quote fresh and different and secretive codes to

uncrack. So to speak.

Yeah, Timothy, avoid getting into unfruitful debate about

things that lead to no conclusions.

Conclusions that are clear in the Bible veer away from these

people that are devoted because they find pleasure in arguing

about matters that don't even really deal with the truth or

twist the truth, or find some basis in the truth, but lead

elsewhere. Resist that youthful passion of

one trying to make more than what the Word of God tells you

to make of it right. Do young pastors face that

temptation? They look out on YouTube, they

look out on podcasts and they see what's popular.

They see what's getting the clicks.

They see what's filling up stadiums and and they look over

into their church and they don't see it's barely filled.

Maybe I can, maybe I can bring in some of these controversies

or discussions or ideas. Maybe maybe that will make me a

little bit more successful. Flee.

Stick with the Bible and rightly handle it, Timothy.

But not just that. Even if that's not a problem for

you to get into, these conversations that people are

are. Addicted to and.

Spend all their time and energy in.

It's not saying don't get into fruitful, constructive

conversations of theology. That's not what he's talking

about at all. He's talking about things that

lead you away from the truth. In other words, Timothy, if you

can generalize it, this is the broader application.

Flee from distractions. Flee from unfruitful, harmful

distractions. Youthful passions.

Does it include sexual sin? Sure it does, but the context

suggests something else. And why is this important?

Why is it important for Timothy not just to flee sexual sin, but

to flee things that would deviate him from his call, his

purpose? Look at verse 21 of Second

Timothy 2. Therefore, if anyone cleanses

himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a

vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the

Master. Of the house ready for every

good work. Verse 22 so flee youthful

passions. You want to be better positioned

to be used by God. Flee these things.

Timothy see we've limited this to a flee pornography.

Flee a flirtatious woman. No, no, it's deeper than that.

Flee harmful distractions because God wants to use you.

I'm not talking about hobbies. I'm not talking about fun

things. Please.

I always have to give that warning because people mishear

what I'm saying talking about things in the Bible here that

are issuing warning about God wants to use you young man.

So flee these things. But here's the problem too with

many Christians, they only hear flee, flee, flee and they don't

know where to flee to. OK, I'm running for this.

I'm not doing this, but that's not what I said.

I finish this. Look at verse 22 again.

Flee through passions and pursue, pursue things.

Don't just most of people in their understanding of

Christianity, in their discipline says no, no, no, no,

no, don't go, don't do, don't say, don't hear.

No, no, no, no, no, no. Yeah, do that.

But also pursue other things. Be occupied with good things,

holy things, constructive things, edifying things,

spiritual things, right righteousness, faith, love,

peace. And look at this.

Pursue what? Genuine Christians, along with

those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

It's possible to call on the Lord from an impure heart,

right? And some people who should be

used by God are not being used by God because of the people

that they're with. They're not with those who call

on the Lord from a pure heart. So they can't hear the Lord as

they should. All of that just from the little

observation of this man being told to flee.

Young men flee, but it's not it. Let's come back to verse 11 as

we finalize this Bible study. It says here in Second Kings

911, when Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they

said to him. Is.

All well, why did this mad fellow come to you?

And he said them, you know the fellow in his talk and they said

that is not true. Tell us now.

And he said thus. And so he spoke to me, saying,

Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.

Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it

under him on the bare steps. And they blew the trumpet and

proclaimed Jehu is king. It's very easy to wrap things up

at this point, but I want to note with you how these fellow

governors, leaders in the army, referred to this young prophet.

What do they call them? Who is Matt translation?

Who's this crazy guy? What is this crazy guy doing

here? It's not like they didn't know

who he was. I'm sure that the sons of the

prophets were recognizable. You know, some people view

people who serve God as crazy. Right.

And it was not just here in the Old Testament.

Let me remind you of what somebody told Paul when he was

on trial. I know we were just in the New

Testament. Let's go back again in Acts 26

when he stands before Festus on trial, falsely accused by the

Jews. And Paul, typical Paul, no

matter where you put him, he's preaching the gospel.

Put him on a ship, he's preaching the gospel.

Put him in a jail cell, he's preaching the gospel.

He goes out to pray in a forest area by the river.

He's. Preaching the gospel.

Wherever you find him, he's going to preach the gospel.

And here he is, standing before Festus, and he's.

Wrapping up things with his testimony, or at least he's

interrupted and we read here in verse 24.

And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus

said with a loud voice. Paul.

You are out of your mind. Your great learning is driving

you out of your mind. OK, so if it happened to the

prophets of old, if it happened to Paul, if it happened to our

Lord Jesus, who was what, falsely accused of being crazy

and demon possessed, why do you get all worked up when people

say something about you? It's the common testimony of the

people of God from old to new. But you know what I also take

from this? I take from this that we

shouldn't give any people legitimate reasons to be labeled

as out of our minds. We can't control what people

say, but may we be Christians who don't give people legitimate

reasons for us to be labeled as strange because I want you to

see what Paul says in response to Festus in verse 25.

But Paul said I'm not out of my mind.

Most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational

words. Weird should not be synonymous

with spiritual. Christians must be rational.

Rational, how they articulate themselves.

Let me add to that. They should be socially

sensitive. They should be presentable.

They they should be upstanding citizens.

They should be excellent in their work.

They should be approachable. They should be kind.

They should be respected and respectable.

And in other words, if unbelievers must criticize us.

Let it be because of what we believe and not because of how

we behave, right? Let's not have people peeking

into the church and saying you guys are crazy or seeing how we

interact with them in the culture and say you guys are out

of your mind. If they will criticize us.

Let it be because of what we stand for and what we believe,

not how we misrepresent the truth.

Because unfortunately there are many good hearted believers who

think that all that matters is reading the Bible and studying

it and being able to quote verses as important as reading

the Bible is. People are going to read you as

a representative of Christ, so take every part of your life

seriously and keep in mind I am an ambassador of Jesus.

Let that frame how you talk to your neighbors, how you engage

with a frustrating person at the cash register at the grocery

store, how you handle yourself at a restaurant with waiters.

I've mentioned this many, many Bible studies ago I've read and

I've heard even from people that their worst work day as waiters

in restaurants as Sundays. Do you know why?

Because when all the Christians leave church and go into those

restaurants and they're so demanding and rude, how did that

happen? That shouldn't be the case.

Sunday should be the best day for for restaurants.

Because we Christians go in there with the fragrance of

Jesus Christ. So if anybody's going to call us

anything, let it be for the convictions that we have.

We stand for righteousness. We believe the gospel not

because of our poor attitude. Amen.

So we come back now to the end of this verse. 13.

Then in haste, every man of them took his garment and put it

under him on the bare steps and they blew the trumpet and

proclaimed Jay, who is king. It didn't take much time for

them to say you're the king, you're the king.

What does that indicate? It indicates that they are very

much not pleased with their current king.

There was no fight. There was no objection,

unanimous decision of these top governing leaders.

That prophet said you're the king, you're the king, you're

the king. And you see this swift shift of

allegiance when they realize in that moment that Jehu surely

will be a better option than Joram.

Certainly Jehu will be able to do something to make this

country better, more specifically, our lives better.

That's how they registered this moment, and here's how I want to

end. If it's true that you see these

men willing to give themselves over to this newly appointed

king, though, it was so dangerous to do so, right?

In essence, this would be a coup.

What they're about to do would be rebellion.

Technically recognized as rebellion, but they're willing

to put their lives at risk because of their dissatisfaction

with the current regime and their desire of the promise of a

better ruler if they were willing to do it at such speed

and such sacrifice. How much more do you know where

I'm going with this? How much more with the news of

the arrival of the true king who came 2000 years ago to die for

his subjects, to rescue us from eternal hell, to deliver us from

the power of sin? Can I ask this, how did you

respond to the news of King Jesus making himself known and

making the claim that he is the ruler of the heavens and the

earth? How did you respond to that?

Did it move you to this degree like I did with these men?

With Jehu, a far inferior king less promising, he was able to

provide temporary reprieve. You can't compare with the Lord

Jesus Christ. What did you do in response to

him being king? Are you still, even after all

these months or years, are you still reluctant to bend your

knee? I had to say you are my King.

You say where is he? I say He came 2000 years ago

again to die for the sins of his people.

But now he is resurrected. He ascended on high as seated at

the right hand of God, ruling all things.

You say, what has he done? And I already mentioned, but let

me say it again. He came to be the propitiation.

He came to be the sacrifice. He came to be the substitute.

He came to fix what the world has always known, sin and the

consequences of sin. And not only will He come one

day to expel sin and the consequences of sin from our

universe, but He is able to do such a work in your heart right

here, right now. This King that we are

anticipating to return, to bring a completion to His redemption

can right now, right here, change you once you submit your

life to His governance and allow Him to guide it into the life

that you always long for. But we're searching in all the

wrong. Places.

And you ask, perhaps, what do I do to make him my king?

And I'm here to tell you, with the authority of the Bible

before me, that this king commands you to repent and to

believe on his name that he is the true king who laid down his

life for all who are willing to recognize his sacrifice on your

behalf. And from there, this king

promised his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to move into your life,

to change and to rearrange and to transform absolutely

everything. It's not just rescue you from a

different domain, a domain of darkness, but to then send you

back into this broken world to represent him and to enjoy the

shared opportunity of seeing people experience the love of

this king. That's what this king is all

about. That's what we are reminded of

time and time again in the Book of Kings.

There's a better King coming, but I'm here to say he's already

came. He already came.

And every Friday we come to sing to him and to learn about his

ways. And I invite you, if you're here

today or listening, if you have not yet submitted to him, that

today would be the day where he becomes your king.

Let's pray. Your word is wonderful, Lord.

It never fails to feed us. It always satisfies.

What is this sensation that we are experiencing where when we

learn the truths of this book, it burns in our hearts and it

causes us to rejoice, It inspires us unto holiness and it

makes us want to know You more. What is this?

Surely every time we come to this place to open this word, we

are, we are swimming in the supernatural.

This is Your gift to us. We ask, Lord, that the widening

of our appetite tonight would not return to that place of of

being so small and inconsistent, stretch our souls and help us

long for it more and more in our own lives beyond these meetings,

in our personal walk with you. Thank you, Lord, that we can go

to 2nd Kings. And yet Second Kings sheds light

on Second Timothy. This book is your book and we

acknowledge that together. Lord, as we sing to you, receive

honor and praise. Be blessed by the sound of our

voices. We are blessed because of your

voice and we honor you for it. In Jesus name we pray, Amen and

Amen, Amen. The praise team will come and

help us sing about this King.