Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-07-27
NAhorH's VINEYARD.
sunday school lesson N a.. fassr-
national series Cor Iat, IN.
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trascd upon relouhcrs Select Notcsl
GOLDEN TiS<T.--Thou shalt no, cove,
thy nciehDor's houso.--tcN. Nls.
THE SECTION includes tho rest Of I
Kings. chaps NJ brief glance nj
tho silent progress % tho reforms Elijah
sought and at the steps OF Ahab toward
his doom and toward tho destruction OF the
ldolatry he upheld.
PLACE ~ SamAria. the capital ana me-
tropolis OF Israel, and JcErcci. - miles
10 tho north. a favoritc royal residence.
the Windsor OF Israel"
EXPLANATORY
This story Il given because ~ was
the outward expression OF Ahah's de-
PRAYED character which led TO his doom;
as a boil expresses bad blood, or
furrcd tongue the inward fever.
Scene |. Dlscon;cnt In a Falacc.--V. T.
Adjoining Ahab's palace grounds in
Jcxrccl. on one 81 the spurs OF Mount
0ilboa, was the homestead vineyard OF
native Jcxrceliic named Nahoth. Ahah
wanted TO buy this vineyard. 20 enlarge
or complete his pleasure grounds. Ma
both refused 20 sell. The refusal OF
Naboth threw Ahab into fit of the
sulks.
T. And Ahab camc.~ from Jczrcci.
"into his house," In Samaria. "And
he laid him down upon his bcdi" The
bed chamber was Ia the most retired
and secret part Of the palace. "And
turned away his face. and would eat no
brvad;" Such mnulfcsiatlon OF m
temper i thoroughly characteristic ~
an oriental king.
Scene III. Bad Counsel at Home
W.. 81. 3. but Jezcbel his wife. like
Clyiemncstra, OF Acschylus. aud Lady
Macbeth. Of Shakespeare. came forward
TO help her husband 10 sin. not to do
right.
7. "Dost thou now govern2" Are YOU
hng9 aud can you not get possession
of this pretty yincyard2 Why not use
your power2 "Arise. aud eat hrcad."
Ahab Is az only to desire aud TO rcvcl:
u Il FOR holder spirits 20 act for good
or for evil. II will give thee the vine
yards" Compare the words Of Shakes
peare's parallel characters "Infirm Of
pnrposel give me the dagger"
Scene Ill. The Trial and Execution
OF Naboth.--Ns. STA. 4. 80 she wrote
letters In Ahnb's name." II Is CUSTOM
airy In the east now. a. then. for the
government 10 proclaim one thing pub
licly. and at the same time TO give pri-
vatc Instructions 60 the officials, OF
very different nature. with the design
OF binding the eyes OF European gov
ernmcnis. And sealed them with his
seal;' Documents of every kind. from
royal decree TO private letter. are
never signed with pen and ink Ia the
east. but are simply scaled with a mans
slRnct.
.. Proclaim fast," As n some great
calamity were exchanging the city for
their sins. like black cloud portendiug
storm. "set Naboth ON high;" on
the platform OF the court, 60 he tried
10. 'Sct two men. sons OF Belal:"
Beiial Is not proper noun. but simply
means 'worthlcssness," "reoklessncss, g
"BlRspheme God:" The true oriental.
however careless his life. 81 fanntically
jealous for the honor OF Gods name.
To blasphemc Allah IN any place where
Mahommedans congreRaie would prob
ably result in the death OF the bias
phemer on the spot. And the king"
IL would be easy 10 find some faint
foundation for this charge in a piona
man whose whole soul was opposed 10
the course Of the king in Introducing
idolatry. And carry him outs" 4
siouing always took place outside the
city. "And stone him." The legal pun-
iShmeui Of blasphemy was indeed death
by stonlug Ges. 24:iC). aud Naboth
would have persisted justly had be been
guilty Of me crime. "'rhai be may
dies" II appears from Kings 9.eG.
that Nabofh's sons were put 10 death
at The same time. Thus. there being
no heirs. The property would revert 10
the crown.
Scene ~. Abab Mccis Elijah 10 His
Ill-Gotieu Possession.--Vs 70. 10. re.
".Shab rose 10 20 down 10 The vineyard
Of Naboth;" The septuagiut adds that
be rent his clothes and put on sack
cloth. az though shocked OF bis crime.
and anxious TO prove his innocence TO
his own conscience ard 10 tic people.
But The Hypocrisy Of the act was shown
by bis Willingness 70 accept The fruits
Of his crime.
AZ the same time news Of the biacl
crime had come 70 Elijah. probably ~
his lonely retreat IN some cave M Car.
mel. God babe him 20 down and meet
Ahab 10 the vineyard. When Aha5
came 10 tie vineyard ito take posses.
sion 81 H." there stood the prophet In
his hairy earb.
Hair in anger, half IN anguish. Ahab
cried: Hast thou found me. o mine
enemy2"
u have found thee. " said tie prophet.
speaking 10 Jehovah's name. 'grhou
hast sold myself 10 work evil before
me, and will requiie 10 and exfinguish
thee before me. Surely The Lord ssv,
yesfernight the blood of Nabotb and
the blood Of his sons" septuaginf.
Voices from Naboth's Vineyard.
Ahab's heart WA a nest o. vipsrs. al
Avarice, 90 disconieufmeni. (3) oppres-
sion, 90 impiefy. 90 abiect moral
s'eakness, 90 base hypocrisy. "a rob.
berry 90 lying. 90 murder.
Mark the progress Of si1 from covei.
ousness 20 discomfort. 10 evil counsel
70 lying. TO robbery. 20 murder. 10 retri.
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