The Raymer enterprise., 1922-01-26
LESSON FOR JANUARY %
ELIJAH IN nAsoTH,s vInsyARI

ELIJAH IN NAeoTH'S VINEYARD
LESSON TEXT Kings n:l-1.
GOLDEN TExT-Be surl your sin viii
ind you out.-Num 32:23.
REFERENCE MATERIAI<-Ley. Abb:
Amos st-lo: Micah ALL.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Ths Sin Of Selfish.
ness.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Elijah Denounces .
Selfish King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jehoyah's Champion Feared.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Respecting the Rights Of Others
|. Ahab covsts Naboths Vineyard
wv. l6).
/. 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 ". p. He Of
fered to buy II outright for money, or
give In exchange a 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 twofold reason: ~ regard for
the paternal estate; (2) obedience to
Gods law Hev. 25 1928, Ct. Mum. SO:
Toy. 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
picture of what fool even a king.
may make Of himself. Let US learn
that "godliness with contentment Is
great gain" Il Tim. 8:8,.
s. Jezebel's inquiry wv. 5, 81. Ap-
parently she came with the sympa.
thy Of 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.
u. Ahab Taking Possession Of Na-
both's Vineyard wv. 7-l8).
/. Jezebel's treachery wv. 7-15).
~ Her cOntemptuous question ".
y. She taunted him for his coward
Ice. The fear Of being thought weak
moves weak man quickly. (2) Her
exhortatlon to Ahab ". ". 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
fiuence OF the wife Is bad. (3)
Her promise to Ahab ". u. II will
give thee the vineyard Of Naboth."
She took matters into her own hands.
II 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
a 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 1t all. They were
instructed to find two false witnesses
who would testify against Naboth.
The charge they brought according to
the wicked device Of Jezebel was
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 (H Kings
Q :28), they came and told Jezebel,
who In turn came to Ahab with the
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.
III. Elijah In Naboth's Vineyard
Announcing Doom Upon Ahab tvv IL
28).
/. 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
bery, perjury. blasphemy, though he
had been silent and Inactive. God
held him responsible for Jezebel's acts,
for be was king and head Of the ma
ton. The day Of reckoning did come
to Ahab Il Kings % 1887.
2. Doom upon Jezebel wv. 1929.
She likewise should be eaten BY dogs
by the wall Of Jezreel. This was lit
orally fulfilled III Kings 9:33-S7).
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