Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-25

First quarter: Lesson V. Kings
XXI. i-s,. january -. Iyl2.
Golden Text: BE sure your sin Will
ma you out.-Nunlue. kAAII. -.
Elijah In Naboth's Vineyard.
Ihe incident OF Naboth and his
vineyard Is Shakespcarean tragedy.
va me iahy b.tcnEIouEu ut in.S iouI
riot Ahab. Jczebci. NaDulh and Eli
JAN stand in clcar-cut outline. The
s'or: IS II s,uu. un p.! ,n....y .,uu
ethics. But II is far from henE
merely personal or biographies. 1t
mas a larger religious and political
significance. Whoever looks upon IL
as merely an incident In some human
iiNcs misses the mark. There is
larger reason for its Introduction
INTO theso sacred annals. First th"n,
II Illustrates and proves cpnclusivciy
me utt,r 'tni ucsp.cnHIc iuu.t. wyrtu-
''SSh'ss of the dynasty then IN pow
err Ahah asked Naboth to do
something which he knew TO he con-
'rary To the law. Then instead OF
"ouoIins nam .ur la, ,.n.,..,..v,Is
refusal. he Killed him. Not, however.
Openly, but IN ihc AMBUSH uI IL a., po-
critical conspiracy. In doing so he
"foNu tho uecn."Sue ~ 49, .,-.t,e..
lie coveted and murdered II in
crcascs rather than diminishcs the
turp!tude of his crime, that he did
IL Dy proxy. Rc turned the affair
over to his INSCRIPTIONS wife per-
icctly satisfied that her dcvilish cum
hlnS would compass the desired end
Then he made iiamod-s, haste TO
avail! himself q! the fruits OF his evil
dced By this crime .Ahab put a pc
ROD To his personal probation and
20 t.at al his dynasty at wV... ror
II last time and on the very scene OF
his supposed triumph. hhnu Nemesis
"A lF Il. a
OF his house. In this circum-
stance Nahoth stands OUT as :, tyne
and fruit OF the silent and steady
reformation. that silent voice. al
ready in progress. Those who sup
pos" that Na"oth rcfus "a th Is ma,
request on merely personal grounds.
namely: attachment Of a sentimental
character 10 HIS anCcstr.u ,-ta =.
miss the mark entirely. Naboth's
reason WAS II religious one. 1t was
contrary To the law Of God as given
by Moses TO ALLEVIATE for any reason
the property originally designated to
the family by lot. The sacrcdn".s OF
the process is indicated by the fact
that God Himself Determined ,nr a.
II ala not matter TO Naboth that tn"
law WAS so generally neglected. In
deed. that was additional reason Tor
his regarding and obcyinS il. Ills
course in doing no would be cXe;n-
plary and corrective. He WAS per-
fcc,ly aware OF his personal peril In
refusing the request OF such Il r. 'ur
as Ahab. Hut his first allegiance was
to IN. King OF Heaven. He will obey
God rather than man. II he must die
his death VIII hasten the reformation.
which he desired more than life IL
self. History does not afford NOR"
genuine instance of martyrdom than
! that NJ Nnboth. His place among
",he noble army OF martyrs" is very
sccure. IL not conspicuous.
There Is II modern ana famous
analogue 10 this incident OF thirty
centuries ago. Opposite the beautiful
/ palace Of sans Suuci ~ 10 sGt.n.
stood n mill which INSTRUCTED the
Kings view. It's crcaking arms alec
annoyed Frederick. lie first proposed
TO buy the mill. but finding the dusty
owner obstinate in his purpose to re-
tain his properly, the monarch lost
patienc. and threatened conNscatlon
TO the throne. But the doughty mil
Ter said: Sir, I'll resist you IN a
court Of law. and there YOU VIII learn
that n citizen has rights which even
King must respect" The ease went
against the King and IN" mill stands
TO this day as Il significant memorial
OF the protection afforded to person
and property by the Institution OF
and the Limitation OF monarchy hith-
erto absolute. Great are these gains,
The" are sufficient already To shut
the mouth OF the pcssimist. e.
Another analogy may be seen in the
/ celebrated "Drcytus case" it j. NOW
generally believed thai the ease WAS
} framed araing; the young French Of
/ iiccr by racial prejudice. The con-
B spirHcy succeeded in str!ppini: his iu-
signia from him and making him
break his own sword In presence OF
/ the army. 1t hanishcd him TO the
/ lonely and deadly island. But once
more law triumphed. The case was
retired. the prisoner acquitted and
/ restored TO his rank. Zoia added to
his fame when he exposed the con-
/ the growth Of law and the process OF
! rs administration! This story OF
! Il King, vineyard and its owner
and prophet. is one of the most
, striking and significant bits OF lit
/ eraturc in the world. 1t deserves to
stand with Shakcspearc's 'Mackbcih. i"
y Htrc,'t prcachcr, aH II read
ing from the Bible open before him
quantity intoped this sentence. mani
testify original: "iiow small the
cheese looks to the mouse when IT
is caught in tho trnp!" Paltry in
/ deed are the gains OF sin and crime
in view Of the unacceptable penalty. II
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