Middletown transcript., 1922-01-28
IMPROVED UNEORIa INTERNATIONAL
Si11aldaySchoel
' Lesson '
(By REV. r. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright, 1922. Western Newspaper Union.
LESSON FOR JANUARY 29
ELIJAH IN NABoTH's VINEYARD

LESSON TEXT Kings H:l-zS.
GOLDEN TEXT-Be sure your sin Will
find you out.-Num. 1928.
REFERENCE MATERlAL-IIev. 4:2S-2;
Amos S:4-10: Micah 3:1-4.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Sin OF Selfish
ness
JUNIOR ToPIc-Elijah Denounces a
Selfish King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
--Jehovah's Champion Feared.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Respecting the Rights of Others.
I. Ahab covets Naboth's Vineyard
wv. 1-6).
/. Location of the vineyard ". -.
It Joined Ahab's summer home in Jez-
reel He wanted to transform 1t into
an herb garden and thus round out
his property.
9 Ahab's proposal ". p. He or
fered to buy it outright for money, or
give in exchange better one. AhaDs
wish for it was a selfish whim. lie
did not at all need it.
3. Naboth's refusal ". -. 1t was
for a twofold reason: () regard for
the paternal estate; (2) obedience to
Gods law Hev. 25 1928, CT. Mum. 81:
10y. 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
q picture of what a fool even king,
may make of himself. Let us learn
that "godliness with contentment Is
great gain" Il Tim. 6:6).
S. Jezebel's inquiry (vv. 5, g.. AP
parently she came with the sympa-
thy of a wife, inqufring as to the
cause of his behavior. But when she
knew of Naboth's refusal she was Vi
olently angry. That 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
both's Vineyard wv. 7-16).
| l. Jezebel's treachery (vv. 1-l5).
| Q) Her contemptuous question ".
y. She taunted him for his coward
ice. The fear of being thought weak
moves n weak man quickly. Scorn is
| powerful weapon in the hands OF
unscrupulous persons. Many persons,
especially boys and young men, are
turned from the pathway of right
through the sneers of goddess compan-
ions. (2) Her Ixhortation 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 dis
couragement and therefore defeat,
through his wifes 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. 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. (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 ant
mobiles who We're dwelling in the city
with Naboth, asking them to proclaim
q fast, as though some great calamit.
had befallen the nation, and place Ma
both before the public as the one whit
was the cause of 1t all. They were
instructed to find two false witnesse!
who would testify against Naboth
The charge they brought according t,
the wicked device of JeZebel wa!
blasphemy against God and the king
Naboth's only offense was his refusa
to sell his estate, contrary to the Law
of God. When they had stoned t.
death Naboth and his sons QI King
9:26), they came and told Jezebel
who In turn came to Ahab with TIN
information and directed him to TAX
possession of the vineyard.
.. Ahab goes to Jezreel to take pos
session of Naboth's vineyard ". 1G)
Ahab had not killed Naboth, but h,
eagerly accepted the prize without in
curing as to how it was secured.
III. Elijah In Naboth's Vinegar,
Announcing Doom Upon Ahab ivy II
2G).
1. Doom upon Ahab wv. 1T-22)
Elijah told him the dogs should lie
his blood in the place where the
licked the blood of Naboth. Evil wa
to fall upon Ahab and his posteritl
even wipe out his seed and name. IL
was guilty of conspiracy, murder, rot
berry, perjury blasphemy, though h
had been silent and inactive. Go
held him responsible for Jezebel's acts
for he was king and head of the ne
ton. The day of reckoning did com
to Ahnb Il Kings % :3S).
9. Doom upon Jezebel (vy. 1926.
She likewise should be eaten by dog
by the wall of Jezreel This was Iii
orally fulfilled I'll Kings 9:33-37
"Be sure your sin will find you out.
~. Ahab's Repentance (vy. 27-29
Because of this, God promised
| f1rinu hfS lif.