578
September 1927
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
(Review, emphasizing the power and strength of one person with God.) In our story last week we learned how God heard Elijah when he called to Him, and today it is Elijah hearing God’s voice. What a wonderful victory God had given over the false prophets on Mount Carmel, and 'then the glorious rain to water the thirsty land after the long drought and famine. I wonder how many of you boys could run as well as did Elijah before the on coming storm and King Ahab’s chariot, a distance of sixteen miles. He was helped by God, for even his strong frame could not have endured the test, for in that pelting stqrm Ahab’s chariot must have been driven very fast.. Now the king’s wife, Queen Jezebel, was very angry at Elijah for the slaying of the prophets of Baal, and she sent word to Elijah saying he would be killed also in another day. Now, what a change we see in this noble, brave Elijah after the wicked queen has threatened his life. He is very tired after the hard day on Mt. Carmel and the long, hard run down the mountain, but when he heard the queen’s words he was greatly afraid, and made haste to flee for his life, over a hundred miles farther. Here he sat <^own under a juniper tree to rest, and asked the Lord to let him die, for he was weary of flee ing from his enemies. Elijah was a great man, but he did wrong in asking that he might die. God had saved him from King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. Elijah should have re membered these things and not have been afraid. You know, boys and girls, we often feel blue and lose heart in our school or work, because we forget the many blessings God has given us. The Lord knew how tired Elijah was, and he
BLACKBOARD OUTLINE
which many others are subject, are Sure to bring some Jezebel to suggest a crooked way of getting what is wanted. “She wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal” (v. 8). She notified the elders and nobles of a fast day, when Naboth was to be exalted among the people (v. 9). Then what? Suddenly two men will appear to bear false witness against Naboth. They will say: “Thou didst blaspheme God and the king" (v. 10). He will be carried out and stoned to death and Jtisi property confis cated. Never was a more impious mandate Is sued. Murder was to be committed under the color of a religious service. The forms of legal justice were to be em ployed while every rule of justice was violated. In it all she makes pretense of acknowledging God, for whom she had hitherto manifested nothing but scorn. But there was the king’s signet, the badge of authority. The orders must be car ried out;'J ■ The religious assembly was convened, then transformed into a court. Naboth, suddenly finding himself in a conspicuous place, was charged by paid liars with blasphemy and treason. There was no opportunity for answer or disproof. Sen tence was pronounced, and he was drag ged off to his death (v. 13). Where, in all the record of Jezebel, can one redeeming feature be found? She bears the stamp .of utter depravity and demon possession. Her mind was a perfect nest of sins,: hissing, and coiling together. Why should such a picture be drawn upon the pages of Scripture? To show us the depths to which a soul may sink when under Satanic control. “Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take pos session of the vineyard” (v. 15). That sounds easy enough. But, as one.has said, “there was other red on the vines of Na both’s vineyard, than their clustering grapes, as Ahab soon found out.” Every drop of juice should remind him of Na both’s blood. Then, there stood the grim figure of Elijah, like an 'embodied conscience. “Thus saith the „Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood o f: Naboth, shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine” ’.(v. 19). The man who puts forth his hand to take a fancied good by violating the laws of God, will get more than he expected. He will never fail to hear an accusing voice that has only evil to prophesy. In due time Elijah’s words were ful filled. Ahab met his death from a bow. Then came the horrible mangling of Jeze bel and the slaughter of all the king’s sons! Heaven never defaults. The wages of evil are sure, sooner or later, and the man who has suffered wrongfully shall have his losses made up to him a million fold on the other side. Was there any joy for Ahab in his hew garden plot? Note his words to Elijah:— “Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?” (v. 20). Great is the power of'conscience. A guilty heart can find no peace. Will men never learn that sin while tempting us is loved—but when finished, is loathed? There is always some Eli jah waiting at the gate of our stolen gardens. If conscience is our friend, there is peace. When once it is offended, bid goodbye to a tranquil mind. While a man has his heart set upon evil, he imagines that ashes are gold, and thinks that the true sweet is bitter. He meets the messengers of God with the
let him sleep and rest. As he lay sleep ing, an angel came and touched him, and told him to arise and eat, and there was a cake baked on some coals, and a cruse of water by his head. And he ate and drank, and lay, down and slept again. Then the angel came again with food, and the Lord gave Elijah strength to go a jour ney of 40 days to Horeb, where he lodged in a cave. Then the word of the Lord came and asked what he was doing there. Now we find out another reason why Eli jah was discouraged, for he told the Lord he (Elijah) was the only one left who be lieved in God, and the wicked people were trying to kill him also. God told Elijah to go forth and stand upon the Mount before the Lord. Then the Lord passed by the cave where Elijah was. First there came a great and strong wind that tore up the earth and broke the rocks in pieces; but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake that shook the ground; but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a still, small voice. Then Elijah knew that God was there, and he listened very carefully. (Finish story, emphasizing truth that dis couragement flees when we hear God’s voice.) power and wealth could command, like an overgrown boy, threw himself on the bed, turned his face to the wall and refused to eat. He couldn’t bear to be thwarted in any desire. He must have his toy gar den (v. 4). How childish and peevish some men become! One trivial want is stronger than many possessions. One little dis appointment overbalances all their bless ings. Like a spunky child, Ahab tells Jezebel all his trouble. He implied that Naboth’s refusal came from mere obstin acy and desire to thwart his wishes, whereas he knew that Naboth had put it on the high ground of obedience to God’s law. Just leave it to Jezebel! If she cannot think of a way to beat this man, no one can. “Arise, and let thy heart be merry," she said, “I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth” (v. 7). Some people are very generous of other people’s property. Ahab knew that the queen would use foul means. He was an accomplice by his silence. Let us not think for a moment that God will not hold us responsible for wrongs of which we are aware and which we have power to arrest. Such whim pering moods as Ahab was in, and to
O ctober 16, 1927 Elijah in Naboth’s Vineyard Lesson Text—1 Kings 21 :l-20
’"J'HIS lesson brings before us the story of a just man who suffered shameful wrongs with dignity and patience. Na both, because of his fidelity to God and
loyalty to the teach ings of the Scrip tures concerning in heritance (Lev. 2 5: 23-28), was stoned to death. A small vineyard adjoined the enclo sure of King A-
hab’s summer palace at Jezreel. Naboth was the owner. Ahab desired to add it to his estate. He well knew that the law forbade any Israelite from alienating the inheritance of his father. This was Na both’s sufficient reason—a conscientious one—for declining to gratify Ahab (v. 3), Ahab, lord and king of all the territo ries of Israel, owner of vast estates, couldn’t enjoy himself without Naboth’s little vineyard. Naboth, a plain towns man, was not coveting anything that Ahab owned. The truly wealthy man is the man who is contented. The poor man is the man who is always craving more. This king, with his two great palaces, who had all the pleasure that unlimited
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