Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-01-24
LESSON FOR JANUARY 20 4
ELiJAts IN NAsoTH,s VINEYARD


1 L1cSsON TEXT Kings n:i-2s.
4 GOLDEN TExT-Be SURF your ain will
1 md you out--Num. sz:2s.
REFERENCE EMATERlALr-Lsv. s5:2s-2s;
| Amos S:4-l0: Micah a:t-4.
PRIMARY TOPlc-The Sin Of Selfish
ness.
JUNIOR roPlc-Elijah Dsnounce. a
| Selfish King.
INrERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jehovah's Champion Feared.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Respecting the Rights of Others.
!. Ahab covets Naboth's Vineyard
| (yv. 1-6).
1. Location of the vineyard ". ~.
II joined Ahab's summer home In Jez-
reel. He wanted to transform it 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 ut all need 1t.
3. Naboth's refusal ". 81. 1t was
for twofold reason: Q) regard for
the naternal estate; (2) obedience TO
Gods law (Lev. 25 :23-2S. CT. 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 liEe n sl~,iled child This is
picture of what u fool even u king
may make of himself. Let us learn
that "godliness with cQntentment is
great gain" U Tim. 6:6l.
>. JeZebel's inquiry (vv. 8, G). APP
parently she came with the sympa-
thy of wife, inquiring as to the
cnuse 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.
u. Ahab Taking Possession of Ma.
both's Vineyard (vv. 7-l6.
1.sJezebel's treachery (vv. 7-15).
Q Her contemptuous question ".
-. She taunted him for his coward
Ice. The fear of being thought weak
moves weak man quickly. Scorn Is
n 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 ,xhortation to Ahab
w. %. Arise, eat bread, and let
thine heart be merry" wife has
great influence over her husband.
Many man. has been saved from dis
couragement and therefore defeat,
through his wife's 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 ". -. 81 will
give thee the vineyard OF Naboth."
She took matters into her own hands.
IL Ahab was too weak to be king, she
would rule for him. (4) Her wicked
scheme wv. S-15). She wrote letters
I'm Ahab's name, sealed them with his
seal and sent them 10 the elders and
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 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
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 (II 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.
2. Ahab goes to JeZreel to take pos
session nf Naboth's vineyard ". 16).
.Ahab had not killed Naboth. hut he
eagerly accepted the prize without in
quiring as to how IL was secured.
IiI. Elijah In Naboth's Vineyard
Announcing Doom Upon Ahab wv. IL
26).
1. Doom upon Ahab (vv. 17-22).
Elijah told him the dogs should lick
his blood I'm the place where they
licked the blood of Naboth. Evil was
to fail upon Ahab and his posierty,
even wipe out his seed and name. He
was guilty of conspiracy. murder. rob-
hery. perjury, blasphemy. though he
had been silent and inactive God
held him responsible for JeZebels acts.
for he was. king and head of the ma
tion. The day Of reckoning did come
to Ahab q Kings 22 1857.
2. Doom upon Jezebel wv. '23-26).
She likewise should be eaten by dogs
by the wall of JeZreel. This was lit
orally fulfilled CI Kings 9:33-37).
"Be sure your sin VIII find you out"
w. Ahab's Repentance wv. 27-29).
Because of this, God promised tn