Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-01-26
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sll1ndaySchool q
' Lesson v
(By REV. p. b. FlTZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of ChicagoD
Copyright, 1922, Western Newspaper Union.
LESSON FOR JANUARY 20
ELIJAH IN NABoTH's VINEYARD

LESSON TEXT Kings 21:1-29.
GOLDEN TEXT-Be sure your sin VII
find you out.-Num. 22:2G.
REFERENCE MATERlAL-Lev. 25:23-2S,
Amos S:4-1O; Micah 5:1-4.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Sin of Selfish
ness.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Eliiah Denounces a
Selfish King.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jehovahs Champion Feared.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Respecting the Rights of Others.
|. Ahab covets Naboth's Vineyard
wv. 1-6).
l. Location of the vineyard ". ID.
1t joined Ahah's summer home in Jez-
reel. He wanted to transform 1t into
an herb garden and thus round out
his property.
2. Ahab's proposal ". p. He Of
fered to buy it outright for money, or
give in exchange a better one. Ahab's
wish for it was a selfish whim. He
did not at all need it.
3. Naboth's refusal ". 81. 1t was
for twOfold reason: Q) regard for
the paternal estate; (2) obedience to
Gods law Uev, 25 1928, CT. Mum. SO:
7-9). His refusal was ON conscientious
grounds. A king, even, has no right
to ask of his subject that he violate
his conscience
4. Ahab's behavior ". ~. He came
into his house, lay down upon his bed
and refused to eat. The king was
sulking like a spoiled child. This is
FNin ~ hot fIn1 Ii n
may make of himself. Let us learn
that "godliness with contentment is
great gain" q Tim. 6:6l.
3. Jezebel's inquiry (vv. s. g.. APP
parently she came with the sympa-
thy of a wife, inquiring as to the
cause of his behavior. But when she
knew of Naboth's refusal she was vi
Olently angry. That a humble sub
ject should refuse to conform to the
desire of the king was an insult which
she would not brook.
II. Ahab Taking Possession of Ma
bcth's Vineyard wv. 7-16).
l. Jezebel's treachery wv. 7-15).
Q) Her cOntemptuous question ".
y. She taunted him for his coward
moves a weak man quickly. Scorn is
a powerful weapon in the hands of
INSCRIPTIONS persons. Many persons,
especially boys and young men, are
turned from the pathway of right
through the sneers~Uf goddess compan-
ions. (2) Her cZhortation to Ahab
". .. "Arise, eat bread, and let
H. haS
great influence over her husband.
Many a man has been saved from dis
couragement and therefore defeat,
through his wife's influence. Unfor-
tunately in this case the influence of
the wife is bad. Bad women are in
many instances the devils angels,
leading men from the path of virtue.
We should thank God for the uplift-
ing influence of good women, but
should beware of evil women. (3)
Her promise to Ahab ". y. 81 will
give thee the vineyard of Naboth."
She took matters into her own hands.
If Ahab was too weak to be king, she
would rule for him. (4) Her wicked
scheme wv. S-15). She wrote letters
in Ahab's name, sealed them with his
seal and sent them to the elders and
mobiles who were dwelling in the city
with Naboth, asking them to proclaim
fast, as though some great calamity
had befallen the nation, and place Ma
both before the public as the one who
was the cause of it all. They were
instructed to find two false witnesses
who would testify against Naboth.
The charge they brought according to
dhe wicked device of Jezebel was
blasphemy against God and the king.
Naboth's only .offense was his refusal
to sell his estate, contrary to the law
of God When they had stoned to
death Naboth and his sons (II Kings
:26), they came and told JeZebel,
who in turn came to Ahab with the
information and directed him to take
possession of the vineyard.
2. Ahab goes to Jezreel to take pos
session of Naboth's vineyard ". 16).
Ahab had not killed Naboth, but he
eagerly accepted the prize without in
uuiring as to how it was secured.
Ill. Elijah in Naboth's Vineyard
Announcing Doom Upon Ahab (vv IT.
26).
1. Doom upon Ahab wv. 17-22).
Elijah told him the dogs should lick
his blood in the place where they
licked the blood of Naboth. Evil was
to fall upon Ahab and his posterity,
even wipe out his seed and name. He
was guilty of conspiracy, murder, rob-
berry, perjury, blasphemy, though he
had been silent and inactive. God
held him responsible for JezebePs acts,
for he was king and head of the ma
ton. The day of reckoning did come
to Ahab q Kings % :3S).
2. Doom upon Jezebel wv. 1926.
She likewise should be eaten by dogs
bv the wall of Jezreel. This was lit
orally fulfilled QI Kings 9:33-3O.
''Be sure your sin will find you out"
~. Ahab's Repentance wv. 27-29).
Because of this, God promised TO
withhold Judgment during his life