Anointed Leaders are Flawed - Lessons learned from the kings: Solomon, Jeroboam & Jehu* - Download PDF Article

Does Yahweh anoint men and women knowing that part of what they will teach and do will be contrary to His Word? Would He anoint a believer even if He knows that he will be worshipping Him along with man-made gods? Yes He does!  Solomon, Jeroboam and Jehu's callings and lives are examples of this. This lesson is vital to learn because believers can follow anointed leaders of Yahweh into sin, even though these leaders have done great things for Yahweh and Christ. Yahshua instructed us that you shall know a tree by its fruit.FN1 Distinguishing between good and evil fruit is not a problem, in most cases, but a problem occurs when the same tree is producing both good and evil fruit, as was the case of King Jehu. People have a tendency to believe that if a person is Yahweh's servant, called by Yahweh, then everything he teaches and practices is from Yahweh. This as we shall see in the lives of King Solomon, King Jeroboam and King Jehu is very far from the truth.

King Solomon, anointed by Yahweh, a writer of scriptures, builder of the Temple, who served in true holiness but later on led the nation of Israel (12 tribes) into wickedness. The Anointed Solomon, Son of David, part of the coming Christ line, whom Yahweh appeared to at two different times, turned his heart aside from serving Yahweh Elohim of Israel to serve the man-made gods of the nations.FN2 The turning of his heart from Yahweh resulted in Yahweh anointing Jeroboam to take the ten tribes away from Solomon, which occurred during his son's reign.FN3 When Solomon heard what was to occur he "…sought to put, Jeroboam [Yahweh's anointed], to death. Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt,––and remained in Egypt, until the death of Solomon" (1 Kg. 11:40). Solomon's sin resulted in the children of Israel being divided into two nations: Israel, consisting of ten tribes and Judah, consisting of two tribes. All of the kings of Israel, beginning with Jeroboam and ending with Hoshea chose to worship Yahweh along with other gods, FN4  such as Baal and to walk in the sins of Jeroboam. FN5

Yahweh had Ahijah His prophet anoint Jeroboam, to be the first king of Israel, to be king over His ten tribes.FN6   Yahweh called and anointed this man to take the ten tribes away from Solomon's son, which mission he completed but at the same time he disobeyed Yahweh by setting up two molten calves to be worshipped by the Israelites.FN7 The people knew Yahweh had anointed Jeroboam, which meant they should follow their leader but at the same time it didn't mean that they should follow him blindly, which they did. If people do not know Yahweh's written instructions, they can ignorantly follow their leaders who are anointed by Yahweh, into righteousness and also into wickedness. In many cases, Yahweh's chosen leaders performed much of His will but at the same time many of them also have led Yahweh's people into idolatry and disobedience. Of the 41 kings over the children of Israel, only three (Asa, Hezekiah & Josiah) walked in the ways of David, which, counting David makes only 4 out of 41 kings.FN8 Yahweh also noted a king of Israel, whose name was Ahab, but not for his exceptionally good service, but rather for his exceptionally wicked service.

King Ahab, the seventh king of Israel, "…did more wickedly than all that were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been too light a thing that he should walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and bowed down to him. And he reared an altar unto Baal,––in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made the Sacred Stem,––and Ahab did yet more to provoke to anger Yahweh Elohim of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him" (1 Kg. 16:30-33). Ahab was king of Israel but Jehu, a captain of the army of Ahab, was anointed to take his place as king over Israel by the prophetFN9 of Yahweh. Jehu's task would be to "…smite the house of Ahab his lord." Yahweh stated that He would, "…avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Yahweh, at the hand of Jezebel; so shall perish all the house of Ahab,––and I will cut off to Ahab the meanest, both him that is shut up and him that is left at large, in Israel. Yea I will deliver up the house of Ahab, like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat,––and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah: And, as for Jezebel, the dogs shall eat her, in the town–land of Jezreel, there being none to bury her…" (2 Kg. 9:6-10). Jehu fulfilled the mission given to him by Yahweh, which was to destroy the house of Ahab and Baal out of Israel but "nevertheless, as for the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit, Jehu turned not away from following them,––the calves of gold, one being in Bethel, and the other in Dan" (2 Kg. 10:29).

Jehu reigned for 28 years in Samaria. Yahweh rewarded Jehu for his service even though Jehu did not remove the worshipped calves of gold; "And Yahweh said unto Jehu: Because thou hast done well, by doing that which was right in mine eyes––according to all that was in my heart, hast done to the house of Ahab, sons, of thine, unto the fourth generation, shall sit upon the throne of Israel. But, Jehu, took not heed to walk in the law of Yahweh Elohim of Israel, with all his heart,––he turned not away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he caused, Israel, to commit" (2 Kg. 10:30-31). Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam and neither did his progeny.FN10 Yahweh rewarded Jehu by having four of his progenies reign in Israel even though Israel was serving false gods, while they were also serving Yahweh.

What is the lesson Yahweh is teaching us by having the prophets' record the good and the wicked deeds of the lives of these three blemished men. Solomon, Jeroboam and Jehu, were all anointed by Yahweh. They all completed a task or tasks given to them by Yahweh, and were all rewarded by Yahweh even though their lives did not strictly adhere to the written Word of Yahweh, but rather they served man-made gods? Yahweh would love to have ten thousand Moses as His servants to accomplish His will but these individuals rarely exist. There are believers who have few blemishes but they do not have the fortitude or skills to complete Yahweh's task at hand. Yahweh's decision is then to use believers who can accomplish the task at hand but they may be moderately blemished or easily deceived. These leaders may be bowing down to Yahweh and man-made gods but this practice does not eliminate them from being used by Yahweh, King Nebuchadnezzarazzar being an example.FN11 This may appear to be unacceptable but we have learned that Yahweh commissioned Solomon, Jeroboam and Jehu into His service even though He knew in His foreknowledge that they would complete His tasks but at the same time they would also serve man-made gods.

Today, Catholics pray to Mary and to saints and call Mary the Mother of God, while other Christians pray and bow down to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. None of these practices are recorded in the Word of Yahweh but neither was praying to golden calves. The Israelites were taught by Jeroboam, the man who Yahweh anointed to be their king, to worship the golden calves; "…It is, too much for you, to go up to Jerusalem, Lo! thy gods [the two calves], O Israel, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" (1 Kg 12:28). Were the people no longer responsible to follow Yahweh's written Word just because their leader, who Yahweh had chosen, redirected them contrary to Yahweh's written Word? Are Catholics, Protestants and other groups no longer responsible to follow Yahweh's written Word because the Pope or Luther or Calvin or Joseph Smith (Mormons) or Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah Witnesses) or Kenneth Copeland or Joyce Meyers, to name a few, have in part redirected them contrary to our Father's written Word? Obviously, Yahweh's written Word is the foundation for what is true and right. Another question we might ask ourselves is, "were the Popes, Luther, Calvin, Isaac Newton, John Locke, Joseph Smith, Kenneth Copeland and Joyce Meyers chosen by Yahweh to serve His people?" Probably so, even though they disagree amongst themselves and on the written Word of Yahweh and part of their teachings and actions are man-made doctrines!

The groups and the people mentioned above all have some things in common, they all have made Yahshua their Lord and they all believe in their heart that Yahweh raised him from among the dead. Their commonality makes them all members of Yahweh's family, our brothers and sisters.FN12 Catholics believe that the Pope is infallible, which is false but they also help many people with their hospitals etc. Mormons believe in the revelation given to Joseph Smith, which is false but they also believe in the Bible and do good works. Luther believed in infant baptism, which is false but Lutherans also believe in the Bible and do good works. Calvin believed in predestination, which is false but Presbyterians also believe in the Bible and do good works. Protestants and Catholics believe in the trinity, which is false but they all believe in the Bible and do good works. I know these groups are wrong in certain areas because of the written Word of Yahweh. The Word of Yahweh does not say the Pope is infallible, nor does it say to believe in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, nor to baptize infants, nor that we are all predestinated, or that there is a trinity. Inspite of these groups' shortcomings, we must all agree that they perform good works and just maybe, they are touching lives that only they can touch! And just maybe, Jehu, with all of his shortcomings, was the only one in this time period who could perform Yahweh's task.

Yahweh is longsuffering with believers and understands that we are all blemished. He also understands that we wrestle against, "…principalities, against the authorities, against the world–holders, of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies" (Eph. 6:12). These invisible forces along with the lust of our flesh and our desire to please men, deceive, bewitch and becloud us thereby leading us and our leaders astray from the truths of Yahweh recorded in His Word.  The written Word of Yahweh, which is not necessarily the Bible translations we read,FN13 is our standard for truth. Leaders, even though they have been anointed by Yahweh, are only our standard as they follow the written Word of Yahweh. Following Christian leaders blindly into error because they have been called by Yahweh becomes our sin, if we have the written Word in our possession. Solomon was visited two different times by Yahweh but these visitations did not give him license to teach and to do things contrary to Yahweh's written Word, which was part of his history. Leaders today may have also had contacts from Yahweh, Christ or messengers as did Gideon and Paul but they are still accountable to Yahweh's written Word.   

We must learn from the recorders of Solomon, Jeroboam and Jehu that we are not to speak against Yahweh's anointed leaders even though some of what they are teaching or doing is contrary to Yahweh's written Word. We may approach these leaders in the spirit of meekness and instruct them according to the scriptures.FN14 Primarily, we must adhere to our own tasks that Christ has given us.  Yahweh has given us "…apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, shepherds and teachers,–– With a view to the fitting of the saints for the work of ministering, for an upbuilding of the body of the Christ" (Eph. 4:11-12). We are to submit ourselves to these leaders but only to the extent that their instructions are in alignment with Yahweh's written Word. As Gamaliel stated when he was speaking about the Apostles, "Now, therefore, I say unto you––stand aloof from these men, and let them alone; because if, of men, be this project or this work, it will be overthrown,–– But, if it is, of Yahweh, ye will not be able to overthrow them: lest once, even fighters against Yahweh, ye be found" (Acts 5:38-39). We assist these leaders in the areas that are correct according to Yahweh's written Word and avoid them in the areas which are contrary to the written Word. Yahweh's leaders will be held accountable to Yahweh, as will be King Solomon, King Jeroboam and King Jehu. We also will be held accountable for our actions according to how our actions will align themselves to Yahweh's written Word and not according to what other Christians are doing or believing, or what Yahweh's servants have spoken or done which maybe contrary to Yahweh's written Word.FN15 Our accounting to Christ and Yahweh will not be, "Well the leader you gave us taught us…," but rather, "It is Written!" Our faithful and true compass is the Written Word of Yahweh and not men even though they have been anointed by Yahweh or Christ into the ministry. We thank Yahweh for His servants but we must also realize that all humans are flawed.