The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-05-20
Great Personages
Of the Bible
By
REV. LEONARD A. BARRETT
Naboth

NdbOtn
HAB was the name Of wealthy
"A king Of Samaria, whose palace
was built upon land which adjoined
the property belonging to one named
Naboth. Upon this property there
was very wonderful vineyard which
the King Ahab greatly desired. He
endeavored to negotiate with Naboth
for the sale of the vineyard Naboth
refused to sell it because he priced it
very highly, having come into its pos
session through an inheritance from
his father. The refusal of Naboth to
sell the vineyard greatly angered the
king. He was so angry that he would
neither eat nor sleep. Jezebel, his wife,
thinking the condition of the king
rather serious. and wishing to please
him. promised that she would secure
the vineyard for him. She secretly
sent messengers to the men. in posi-
tons of political authority, requesting
that a fast day be proclaimed, ON
which occasion SNaboth was to be
highly honored by having place near
the front line of march But there
were also two messengers especially
engaged for the purpose, who were to
go before Naboth and at the appointed
time were to bear false witness
against him. The charge was to be
that he cursed the king therefore
had committed treason. Further in
structions were given that as pun
ishment for his. crime he was to be
stoned to death. The plan of Jezebel
was carried through exactly as she
had commanded, for the communica-
lions she sent were signed in her hus-
bands name and were sealed with
the royal seal. Having succeeded in
her vicious scheme she FASTENED to
make known to the king that Naboth
was dead and that the way was clear
for him to take the vineyard he so
much desired
Convinced Of the death of Naboth,
Ahab, in the spirit of triumph, went to
the vineyard to claim it. AS, he
neared the garden gate he met man
he had not seen for many years. He
was man strange in appearance,
ascetic IN bearing, and possessed a
wonderful power and peace, which was
expressed in his face. It was the
prophet Elijah. Looking into the face
of Ahab, Elijah spoke: 'In the place
where dogs licked the blood of Naboth
shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine"
This was too much for Ahab. His
conscience smote him as with sword
at his heart. He lifted up his hands
and cried in despair to the aged
prophet: "Hast thou found me, D mine
enemy" Ahab thought he could,
take possession of the vineyard but
instead he met at the gate of the vine
yard an incarnate conscience, which,
pointing its finger of condemnation at
him, cried: "Thou art a murderer.
thou canst not take the vineyard with
murderous hands"
There is story related of GER
tain king who wore a very valuable
ring which gave his finger sharp
prick whenever he was tempted to do
something wrong. For long time
he needed the warning given by the
ring, but one day when he desired to
commit very great crime the ring
gave him an unusually sharp prick
which drew blood to the finger. This
so enraged the king that he drew the
ring from his finger and threw Is
away.
1t is an easy matter to throw away
mere ring, but it is not so easy to
cast aside the warnings and convic-
tions of conscience. Conscience, which
George Washington called "a little
spark Of celestial fire." burns inside
the human heart 1t is a great beacon
light which no one can escape and
from which it is impossible for any
person to run away The inner voice
of conscience will give us no rest until
we have needed its warning or made
amends, to the best of our ability, for
our misdeeds No person can forgive
himself.
20. 1925 western Newspaper union.J