June 11

Obadiah's Prophecy Against Edom (Continued) - 2 Kings 8:23-27; 2 Chronicles 21:19-20, 22:1-4; 2 Kings 8:7-15, 8:28-29; 2 Chronicles 22:5-6; 2 Kings 9:1-27; 2 Chronicles 22:7; 2 Kings 9:30-37, 10:1-14; 2 Chronicles 22:8-9; 2 Kings 9:28, 10:15-17

When I Googled Jehu, I found this pic of a group named Drive Like Jehu.  lol...I don't know how good this group was but they sure knew their Old Testament.  "The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi -- he drives like a madman." 2 Kings 9:20

"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 oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead.  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.  The take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, 'This is what the Lord says:  "I anoint you king over Israel." The open the door and run; don't delay!'"  2 Kings 9:1-3

So who or what is this "company of the prophets"?  I always thought of being a prophet as something of a calling.  Not something where you'd have a whole flock or company.  I also always thought of a prophet as more of a solitary pursuit.  Again, not something you'd expect a company of....   So why do we hear so little about the Company(s) of Prophets?  Why are so few singled out in scripture?  Were the others involved in some minor prophecies and mini-miracles?  I wonder?  So only the superstars and MVP prophets make it in print?  What did the Company of Prophets logo look like?  Did they have a secret handshake or sign or yell?  

Anyway.

Whoooah, what am I to make of Jehu?  A little confidence goes a long way.  Jehu gets anointed by one of the minor-company-of-prophet-guys-who-shall-remain-nameless-apparently, his soldier buddies give him a few props and he's off on a royal killing spree.  And, I do mean royal.  No wonder the junior-minor-subordinate-unnamed-prophet-guy-from-the-company-of-prophets was told to run after he anointed the king.  He was trying to avoid the crossfire.  Jehu goes on a killing spree worthy of a shoot-em-up film.  He does in both the kings of Israel and Judah and their family and friends.  After all that, I'm sure he thought himself untouchable, unbeatable, the king.  Lord knows.