The Holly chieftain., 1922-01-26
LESSON FOR JANUARY 20
ELIJAH IN nAsorA's VINEYARD

l
LESSON TEXT.-I Kings 2l:l-2s
GOLDEN TEXT-Be sure your sin will
| find you out.-Num. 1928
| REFERENCE MATERIAL-Lev. 25:23-2S:
Amos S:4-l0: Micah 3:l-4.
| PRIMARY TOPIC-The Sin of Selfish
ness.
JUNIOR TopIc-Elijah penounces /.
| Selfish King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
.-Jehovah's Champion Feared.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Respecting the Rights Of Others.
!. Ahab covets Naboth's Vineyard
(vv. 1-6).
!. Location of the vineyard ". ~.
1t Joined Ahab'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 ". y. He Of
fered to buy 1t outright for money, or
give In exchange better one. Ahab's
wish for 1t was selfish whim. He
did not at all need it.
3. Naboth's refusal ". 81. 1t was
for a twofold reason: Q) regard for
the paternal estate; (2) obedience to
Gods law Uev. % :23-2s, cf. 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 spoiled child. This is
| a picture of what a fool even king,
may make OF himself. Let us learn
that "godliness with coRtentment is
great gain" Il Tim. 6:6).
! 8. Jezebels inquiry WV. 5, 81. Ap-
parently she came with the sympa-
thy of wife, inquring as to the
cause of his behavior. But when she
knew of Naboth's refusal she was VI
olently angry. That humble SUBJ
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
both's Vineyard wv. 7-16).
l. JeZebel's treachery wv. 7-15).
| (1) Her contemptuous question ".
| y. She taunted him for his coward
ice. The fear of being thought weak
moves a weak man quickly. (2) Her
exhortation to Ahab ". y. arise, eat
bread, and let thine heart be merry"
A wife has great influence over her
husband. Many man has been saved
from encouragement and therefore
defeat, through his wife's influence.
Unfortunately in this case the in
fluence of the wife is bad. (3)
Her promise to Ahab ". y. II 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. az 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.
| IIe CIldIGe lItN DlohEul hNtoiuiS "
the 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 III Kings
0:26), they came and told Jezebe,
who In turn came to Ahab with the
information and directed him to take
possession Of the vineyard.
. ,liab 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
quiring as to how it was secured.
| ~. Elijah in Naboth's Vineyard
Announcing Doom Upon Ahab wv. IT.
26).
l. 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 Jezebel's acts,
for he was king and head Of the ma
tIon. The day of reckoning did come
to Ahab q Kings 90 :3S).
. Doom upon Jezebe wv. 1926.
She likewise should be eaten by dogs
by the wall of Jezreel. This was lit
orally fulfilled III Kings 9:33-37).
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
time.