THE KING’S BUSINESS
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they could not save Naboth anyhow; they reasoned it all out that they could not help themselves and were therefore excusable But they could help themselves, they could do right at any cost, and leave results with God (Dan. 3:18-25; Acts 4:19, 20; 5:29). v. 14. “ Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead." It was far better for Naboth to die and have his sons to die, rather than for him to disobey God by. consenting to Afiab’s proposition. The dead Naboth was far happier that night than Ahab and Jezebel with their ill- gotten vineyard. v. 15. “And it came ¡to pass, when Jeze bel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, také possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money, for Naboth is not alive, bu>t dead." It was a moment of great triumph for Jeze bel; at last she thought she had accom plished her purpose, and now bids the re luctant Ahab to take possession of the vine yard that belonged to another, for every obstacle to his possession was out of the way. Ahab obeyed the charge of his wife, and was to find little joy in the vineyard that he had so greatly coveted and which now seemed to be in his possession. vs. 17-18. "And the word of the LORD came to Elijah, the Tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.” Jezebel’s word had gone to the rulers of Israel, but now God’s word comes to Ahab. Jehovah used Elijah as the one through whom He should send His message to Ahab: so wé see that Jehovah had not altogether set Elijah the Tishbite aside. He gave him this new commission that de manded courage to execute. Elijah is no longer the craven coward, fleeing from Jeze bel (cf. ch. 19:1-3) but the dauntless hero of the past. Ahab had gone down to enjoy his ill-gotten vineyard, but instead of find ing enjoyment, he heard the word of doom. v. 19. "And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hast thou
had exhibited her generosity by offering to give to Ahab that which belonged to some one else (v. 7). There is much of that sort of generosity in the world today. Men make large gifts to colleges, churches, hos pitals, libraries, and various philanthropic enterprises from what properly belongs to other people. Jezebel carried out her hell ish plot under the cloak of religion (vs. 8-13). She had Naboth accused of blas phemy, not because she had any regard for God but because 'she wanted to get him out of the way. Those who have no regard for God are constantly making religion a cloak for their selfish schemes. Jesus Christ Himself was crucified on the-charge of blas phemy. Jezebel’s corruption of the elders of Israel came back upon her own head. When the time came, they were easily in duced to slay her own sons (2 Kings 10: 1-7). The whole story is a wonderful il lustration of the law that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (see vs. 19, 23). Like the average politician, the elders and nobles i in Jezreel obeyed the boss, they “did as Jezebel had sent unto them and as it was Written ~in the letters which she had sent unto them.” They were probably nice men in many respects, “the best men in town,” and had many specious excuses to make for their infamous con duct. vs. 12-13. "They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the pedple. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him; and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Na both, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died." Doubtless the elders and the nobles did not wish to kill Naboth, they knew it was a contemptible and wicked act, but to refuse to do so was to lose their own position, if not their heads, and they doubtless thought to themselves of how much good they could do by compromising in this matter with Jezebel, and thus retaining their positions. No doubt they furthermore reasoned that
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