The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-02-22
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les
son for Teachers and Pupils
By CHAS. K. MEYERS

By CHAs. K. MEYERS {
omcers of the Crawford County Sunday
President. Rev. J. J. DePree, benson E;al.
v.-Pres.. ). Herman Logsdon, DqW g. City
Secretary. .Chas K Movers De 11iso1
ireAs Department u Secretaries.
House Visitation ..........
Mrs. w. B. Evans, Arion
Home. :. Mrs: E: W, Pierce, Denison
Primary, Mrs. r. P, Plimpton, Deniso1
AisS ..... Mrs. j.. &. Giassbnrner, Arion
ofsa .... Prof. ". G. VanNess, Denison
Temperance, Rev. c. E. LaReau, Denison
b'oie hea Mrs. A. Fl. Harper, DOW City
Denison; F. L. VanSlyke, Manila: n F.
Stillson, Aron; C. Fl. Stark, Charter
Oak: John Vennick, West Side; Frank
Woolston, Boyer.
Feb. 26.-Elijah Meets Ahab in
Naboth's Vineyard. 1 Kings 81.
The lesson of this week has for us
truths of greatest import. These
truths are interviewer into bible
story of fascinating interest. Even in
the translation which we read, there
is power which holds the reader and
paints a picture which if once in mind
cannot be forgotten.
We are still considering the life of
Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, and
of his Infamous wife, Jezebel. 1t ap-
pears that not far from the palace OF
the king there was plat of ground
used as vineyard by one of his sub
jects whose name was Naboth. Ahab
coveted this land, and made an offer
to the owner to buy it or give other
land in exchange. Naboth, however.
did not want to part with his property
even to the king, as it had been in his
family for many years. 1t was the
policy, if not the law, that the home
stead of the family should not be
sold. In the times of Moses it was
made one of the customs of the coun-
try that every seventh year the cred
itors should make release of lands
taken for debt, so that it would come
back again to the original family This
is told of in Deut. Is.
Strange as it may appear, Ahab did
not dare to use his right of king to
take the vineyard. He was most sor-
rowful over the affair. Jezebel not
ing this told Ahab that she would see
that Naboth gave up his possession.
Calling to mind that it was law OF
the Jews that if one blasphemed God,
and this was proved by two witnesses,
he could be put to death by stoning.
Jezebel perfected a plan to kill
Naboth. She wrote letters in the
name of the king directing that re-
ligious feast of Jews should be made,
and Naboth given prominent part.
Then that two heather fellow wOr-
shippers of Baal should witness that
he had "blasphemed God and the
king and on this testimony he should
be speedily taken out and killed by
SIOuluS. Alo VIC pan was SoiAACo
out, and King Ahab aroused from his
sorrow with the news that he now
was at liberty to take possession of
the coveted vineyard. Just think Of
the depth of evil to which this woman
would descent when she, leading
worshipper of Baal, would make use
of a religious law of the Jews to kill
q good man, using lying witnesses of
her faith to bring it about. No Won
der her end was decreed frightful
One-that she was to be eaten by dogs
in the public streets. This was her
fate as told in II Kings 9-35. Those
who went to bury her found only her
skull, feet and palms of her hands.
Her death is but another example of
the fact that those who defy God will
in time be brought low.
We now come to one of the most
dramatic scenes of the entire bible.
Ahab speeds himself to take posses |
sion of the vineyard of the late Naboth
by walking in it. With what feelings
of triumph he must have began his
walk of personal examination. But
his triumph is short lived. The eye
Of God was upon him, and swift ven
geance was to be meted out, ont only
for this last great sin, but for shame
full career. OF all the men in the
world whom Ahab did not want to
meet at this time it was Elijah, the
prophet of God. Here is the account
u their meeting told in the brief
Impressive language of the bible
e'Ahab said to Elijah, hast thou