Middletown transcript., 1915-10-02


Ahab disobeyed God and failed to
follow up his victory over Ben-Hadad
(ch. 20:31-3D. Thereupon one of the
prophets resorted to a plan whereby
Ahab was rebuked and also received
a message that sent him Ito his house
heavy and displeased" ". 43). All Of
this needs to be borne in mind when
we study Ahab's course Of action re-
lated in this lesson. Learn by heart
the tenth commandment; also Luke
1915.
!. The Schemes Of Men, w. Ills.
Ahab had been king for twenty years
(B. c. 906?). Jezreel was his summer
capital about twenty miles northwest
of Samaria. The chief actors in this
tragedy were Naboth, well-to-do citi-
zen; Ahab, a petulant monarch to
whom Naboth refuses to sell his vine
yard; Jezebel, the Lady Macbeth Of
Ahab's court; elders and mobiles Of
Jezreel, willing tools in the transac-
ton; false witnesses, executioner, and
Elijah. the servant Of God, who con-
fronted the monarch in his newly
gained possession. Ahab was con-
stantly in conflict with the purposes
Of God and with his Word. Naboth
had no right to sell his vineyard (see
Numbers 36:7; Lev. 25:23; also Ezek.
46:16) and sturdily stood out for his
God-given rights. These land laws
we're rigid, but at the same time wise
and beneficial. Instead of yielding to
Gods law Ahab sulks like a petted
child ". ~ and thus again runs coun-
ter to Gods Word (see tenth COM
mandment). At this iuncture Jezebel,
his wife, appeals to his pride and
power as the king ". y, and offers
to procure the coveted possession. The
methods OF mankind whereby vast pos
sessions are accumulated do not al
ways bear investigation; murder and
rapine, broken hearts and shortened
lives, weakened bodies and stunted
children can largely be traced to the
sin or covetousness, against which we
all need to be on guard (Luke 1915;
Eph. 5:5). The first sinner was covet-
GUS (Gen. 3:6), so also were the
chosen people of God Josh. Ted, and
it was this that caused the first dis
sension among Christian believers
(Acts 5:1-3). Jezebel most graciously
gave Ahab that which belonged to
others; how free we all can be with
the property of others! She also
cloaked her designs with the mantle
of religion (8-1S). Notice she did not
go to Jezreel herself, but wrote let
ters" and intrusted the work to others
who did her bidding quickly. lest they
be prevented. Their readiness Is
proof of the corruption which Jezebel
had wrought In Israel. The worlds
most hellish atrocities have frequently
been enacted in the name Of and by
professed disciples of God and of his
Son Unconsciously Jezebel was
sharpening the iron which pierced her
own soul III Kings, 10:1-7). "Whatso-
ever a man soweth that shall he also
reap" Jezebel was a conscienceless
heather. but Ahab had been in touch
with Jehovah, hence his was the
greater guilt when he profited by her
acts.
II. The Sentence Of God, w. 1920
The dead Naboth was happier than his
neighbors of Jezreel, the king and
queen or any OF the other evil par
ticipants. AhaL began by breaking
the first commandment Il Kings 1853
Deut. SD and thus laid the ground
work of the whole train of evil fol
which he and his household and his
reign are famous. The elders readily
ohouod Tho u,ord ~ Tagahal and Aho
profited thereby, but now he was tC
hear the Word of God and 1t was MOI
to be SO welcome, Recently we saw
Elijah set aside. following his figh
from Jezebel, but he Is not entirely
beyond use Ind God now gave him {
, new commission. one more task IL
connection with his old opponent
There is nothing indicating cowardic'
; in Elijah's bold challenge of Ahab ant
there is also a suggestion OF guilt!
: conscience in Ahab's exclamation
r Hast thou found me, o mine enemy
" 20)? Ahab had gone down to tn,
vineyard of Naboth" ". 16) to enjo!
I the pleasure of possessing his ill-goi
!, ten treasure only to hear again hi
q word of doom (ch. 20:42; 21-19). |
+ was a poor exchange Ahab mad
Z mark 8:37). throne and his life Il
exchange for the carrying out of hi
own will and the possession of a vine
|. yard. In that exact spot where Nf
n both had been foully stoned the dog
a would lick up the blood Of the kinl
q AS is usually the case. the guilty sir
4 ner called the righteous servant G
God his enemy" yet had Aha
obeyed the Word Of Jehovah as 8
!. frequently spoken by Elijah he woul
a have discovered him to be his tru
q and best friend, not his enemy. Ahab
sin had found him out Golden Tex
Mum. 32:23). Having had his 81
4 discovered. Ahab hears from Eliza
, his doom. though God graciously e!
tended the time in response to his bi
ter repentance wv. 27-29).
ia III. The Summary. Covetousness
a not the mere desire for things we d
r. not possess, but a deep longing whic
is willing to do wrong. to injure otl
ers, to profit by the evil deeds of otl
=. ers In order to come into possession
N Covetousness seeks to gain at the e.
"a pense of higher and better things:
Is the extreme opposite Of the spir
of him who gave all"
Is The greatest danger of our land an
IA the chief source of sin is eovetousnes
IA II explains oppression, slums. abou
" Unable tenements, graft. liquor bus
I