The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-01-19
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sl1r9dayScf'ool
' Lesson '
tBy REV. y Is. fITZWATER, ID. ID,
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute Of ChicagoD
Copyright. 1879. Western Newspaper Union.
LESSON FOR JANUARY 20
ELIJAH IN NAeorHps VINEYARD

LESSON Tent Kings 2l1.2g.
GOLDEN TENT-Be sure your sin Will
find you out-Num. BIB
REFERENCE MATERlAIs-Lev. - 2-S;
Amos $40. Micah 3.l-i
PRIMARY ToPIC-The Sin of Selfish
ness
JUNIOR TOPlC-EnJah Denounces a
Selfish King
INTERMEDIATES 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-G).
l. Location Of the vineyard ". -.
Ii joined Ahab's summer home In. Jez-
reel lie wanted to transform II into
an herb garden and thus round out
his property.
.. Ahab's proposal ". p. He Of
fered to buy it outright for money, or
give In exchange a better one. Ahabs
wish for ii was a selfish within. He
did not at all need II.
3. Naboth's refusal ". 81. 1t was
for twofold reason: % regard for
the paternal estate; (2) obedience to
Gods law Uev. - :23-2S, CT Mum. 36:
1-9. His refusal was on conscientious
grounds. A king, even, has no right
to ask of his subject that he violate
his conscience.
I. 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
picture Of what fool even a king.
may make Of himself. Let us learn
that goodness with contentment Is
great gain" q Tim. 6 ~.
;. Jezehel's inquiry wv. 8, 60. APP
parently she came with the sympa-
thy of wife, inquiring as to the
cause of his behavior But when she
knew of Nabuth'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.
u. Ahab Taking Possession Of Ma
both's Vineyard wv. 1-16).
/. Jezebel's treachery wv. 7-15).
% Her contemptuous question ".
y. She tainted him for his coward
Ice. The fear Of being thought weak
moves 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
fuence of the wife Is bad. (3)
Her promise TO Ahab ". y. Il 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. (D Her wicked
scheme wv. $50. 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 Nahoth. asking them to proclaim
a fast, as though some great calamity
had hefallen the nation, and place Ma
both before the public as the one who
was the cause of II all. They were
instructed to find two false witnesses
who would testify against Naboth.
The charge they brought according 10
She wicked device Of JeZehel was
hlaSphemy against God and the king.
! Naboth'S only offense was his refusal
10 sell his estate, contrary 10 the law
of God. When they had stoned to
death Naboth and his Sons QI Kings
9:26). they came and told JeZebel
who in turn came To Ahab with the
information and directed him TO take
possession of the vineyard.
.. Ahah goes to Jezreel TO take pos
session Of Naboth's vineyard ". l6).
Ahab had not killed Naboth. but he
eagerly accepted the prize without in
( quiring ms to how il was secured
~. Elijah in Naboths Vineyard
Announcing Doom Upon Ahab wv IL
! 26).
|. Doom upon Ahab wv. lI-22).
Elijah told him the dogs should lick
his blood in the place where they
TO fall upon Ahab and his posterity,
| even wipe out his seed and name. lie
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
ton. The day Of reckoning DID come
! to Ahab q Kings % :3S).
.. Doom upon Jezebel wv. 1920.
She likewise should be eaten by dogs
by the wall OF Jezreel This was lit
orally fulfilled I'll 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