Evening journal., 1911-02-25
OLD TESTAMENT TINES
I>jr5.BROKLYN y
.G7IABERNACtE
I'M BIBLE. STUDIES
A KING SOLD HIMSELF
| Kings 2l-February 20.

"Iakc heed and beware Of eONetOus-
ness which is idOlatry.'
12:l5; Col. 3;5.
TO King Ahab Elijah said. Thou
hast sold thyself to work evil Ia
the sight of the Lurd" The effects
OF the drouth gradually disappeared.
but it's salutary lesson remained with
the King and with the people 10
considerable extent The true God
had some recognition. Baal's inhu-
ence was considerably broken. Queen
Jezebel evidently relented concerning
her threat against Elijah. He re-
turned and founded various Schools
of the Prophets Of Israel, himself be-
ing the master-spirit amongst them
Our present lesson shows the mean
ness OF covctousness and the awful
power Of a wicked woman Abab had
two fine palaces: one of at Joz-
reel. was an ivory palace, but even
its possession did not make the King
happy lie desired TO attach GO 90 "A
fine vineyard owned by Naboth. lie
sent Naboth word Of his desires Of
feriug to purchase with MONEY OF 20
trade for IL another vineyard. Naboth.
asserting his rights. cecliued % sell
for any price.
AS a result the King was disap-
pointed. heart-sick. rrAed. puuty. He
had allowed coyctousness to grow i'm
his heart lie wanted that vineyard
lie was King. so it wac very disre-
spectful Of Naboth 10 rofuce 10 take
a good, liberal price Tor o. Naboth
declared as his objection thgt The
Lords regulations forbade that he
should sell his family Inheritance. APP
parently il was a hopeless case and
Ahab, solemn and sour Jay abcd. re-
fusing food.
COVetOusncss In Action.
Then entered Jezebel the QuCCa.
inquiring the cause of his sorrow
Hearing it she ans-ered, ! VIII give
it to you. Forthwith she wrote let
ters TO the chief neil OF the city. sign
ing the letters with her husbands
seal. With brutal franKness the let
ters told the select meu of the city
what was desired Of them.
Cd They we're TO make a mockery
OF religion by keeping a fast.
81 They we're to act hypocritically
10 their neighbor Naboth by giving
him the most prominent place on
honor at the fast
co They were TO provide two
worthless scamps presumably by
bribery who. at the appropriate time
in the fast would take their places
near Naboth and then, with feigned
religious fervOr, protest against him
and denounce him as a blasphemer
Of Cod and the King, corroborating
each other with sworn testimony that
they had heard the blasphemy with
their own ears.
a. The penalty of blasphemy was
recognized to be that of stoning and
the decree was TO be carried out and
Naboth thus to be gotten rid Of.
If we are inclined to feel or speak
strongly Of the wicked course Of Jeze-
bel. as we should, let us not forget
that. somewhat similar practices pre-
vail i'm our day. True. no one today
could be stoned to death at the sug-
gestion Of a Queen in civilized lands.
Nevertheless, people have been heard
to express the wish that they had
lived in former times, so as TO have
had an opportunity for stoning those
whom they disliked. But take a case
in point: Suppose a man conducting
a successful business. Suppose Gov
. etous neighbors set una competing
business, as they would have a full
right to do. But suppose, then. that
one or the other, coveting the whole
trade, we're to attempt sharp prac-
tises in business, selling commodities
at below cost, interfering with the
others credit at the bank, or SLAM
dering the other, would not this be
covetousness in action-covetousnes
Of the same kind which King Ahab
/ entertained? And would it not be
reprehensible in Gods sight? And
dare any who respect the Lord, so
thoroughly neglect the Golden Rule
of his Word?
Another illustration; A storekeeper
doing a good business was offered
certain commodity at a less price
than he had been paying under a
three-years' contract. He accepted
The party who had been selling him
this commodity in the past was angry,
covetous Of the trade. He set up
a competing business and sold goods
al a loss. as he could afford 20 do.