648
T H E
K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
October 1924
was a Bible man— a man with convictions based upon the Word of God (Num. 36:7; Lev. 25:23): “The land shall not be sold forever; for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.” It was God’s land. He had parceled it out among the tribes and they held it in trust. They were tenants at will and had no right to dispose of it to strangers. In case of necessity, a temporary sale could be made, subject to redemption at any time by properly reimbursing the pur chaser; and in the jubilee year all property reverted to the original owner or heirs. The Childishness of the King. Ahab came home with a grouch. He was heavy and displeased, as is also recorded in 20:43. He had conquered Ben-hadad, but he wails like a spoiled child: ’ “ I want a vineyard; he won’t give me his vineyard; I won’t play any more." Naboth had crossed his will and nothing would please him. What a wonderful book is the Bible in its dramatic representations of the heart life of men and women! There are many grown-up babies who will not play unless every one else will play their way. The Craftiness of Jezebel. Jezebel knows no law but her own wilful will. She finds a way for her silly husband to get the vineyard. Ahab is a mere tool with her. She involves him by taking possession of the signet ring and sealing her orders. She uses the law for her own personal ends. The law of God forbade Ahab’s taking Naboth’s vineyard (Ezek. 46:18):, “Moreover the prince shall not take part of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their posses sion; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own pos session; that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.” Jezebel plans the murder of Naboth and his sons so that the land would revert to the king. Her plan was of a judi cial character. She employed the judges and princes of Israel to carry out the program. A religious fast was announced in order to create a fear of dreadful calamity, to avert an impending doom and to ferret out the offender. Naboth headed the convocation. False witnesses were pre pared and at the appointed time they swore that Naboth had blasphemed Jehovah and the king. The murder was accom plished by stoning, the bodies were left for the dogs and vultures, and the coveted property went to the king. The Condemnation of Ahab. We have a picture of Ahab walking in his newly acquired vineyard, of God looking down upon him and sending the prophet Elijah to pronounce his doom. He trembled under the fiery denunciations of the prophet. Like a thunder bolt from a clear sky came the words of doom,— Ahab, Jezebel and the seventeen children of Ahab,— all to pay the price of the sins of the parents. Read the story of the slaughter in the tenth chapter of 2 Kings. Retribution was rendered to the very letter. Men cannot trifle with God’s holy laws. The story of Cain, of Ahab and Jezebel, of the Jews who cried, “ His blood be upon us and upon our children,”— all are written for our admonition. “Be not deceived, God in not mocked. For whatsoever a man seweth, that shall he also reap.” (4) CESSATION AND CONTINUANCE OF WAR, Ch. 22 “ They continued three years without war *** and the battle increased that day,” vs. 1, 35. Under this caption, this chapter which continues the story of the defeat and death of Ahab, may be divided, as follows: (a) The Continued Peace, vs. 1-10.
Topics for Study (1) No matter how fast or how far you run, you cannot get away from God. (2) Is there always a remnant which does not bow the knee to false gods? (3) Is it possible to satisfy the covetous soul? (4) Is it often true that the deepest misery is found in the midst of the greatest luxury? (5) Did the fact that Jezebel secured the consent of the judges make her deed any the less dastardly? (6) Why did the appearance of Elijah in the vineyard so terrify Ahab? (7) Does the Bible say that your sin will be found out, or that it will find you out? 19:4. To study the causes helps us to better understand the cure. First, physical exhaustion, after the most tre mendous conflict of his life. Second, utter loneliness. “ I only am left.” Third, forced inactivity. He had no object to work for, to hope for. Fourth, mental COMMENTS reaction. Fifth, a sense of failure. God’s FROM THE remedies for despondency, (vs. 5-18). COMMENTARIES First remedy. God gave His beloved V. V. Morgan sleep. Rest for mind and body. Second remedy. God sent him a friend. Elijah was no longer alone. Third remedy. Food. Simple food, but full of strength. Fourth remedy (v. 8) was a vacation of six weeks. Horeb, one of the names of Sinai. Elijah could easily have reached it in 8 or 10 days, but he was not hasting to a special point, but wandering around the desert for 40 days, resting, thinking, crystalizing his thoughts, and thus becoming prepared for the message of God. Fifth remedy. The Word of God. Sixth remedy. A new vision and understanding of God’s methods for advancing His king dom.jgPeloubet. 19:11. AH these were typical of Elijah’s own method of activity in the past. The still small voice was typical of the quiet influence of the seven thousand. The quiet, unob trusive influence and testimony of obscure men is often accomplishing more for God than the noise of more prom inent and self-assertive men. Of course, God is sometimes in the fire (ch. 18:38; Gen. 15:17; Ex. 3:2; Deut. 4:11; 12:33). But many are in danger of making Elijah’s mis take and desiring the manifestations of God that arouse men’s wonder and admiration, and are not content with the more silent, but none the less effective, forms of min istry of the still small voice.—Torrey. Because fire fell on Mount Carmel, Elijah need not think that was the only way God could come.S-Pract. Com. 19:16. Elijah’s repeated assertion, “ I, even I only, am left,” showed that he thought that God’s cause depended upon him. When a man gets to thinking that, God soon sets him aside. It was this that led to the setting aside of Moses (Num. 20:10-12) as well as Elijah. We all do well to take heed lest we fail (cf. Num. 20:12; Deut. 3:23-26; 1 Sam. 13:13; 14). Elijah did not lose his place as_a son, but his position as a servant. He was still hon ored of God in a way that no other man but one has ever been honored (2 Kgs. 2:11-13). And he was still per mitted to do some work, but he was deposed from his posi tion as the most outstanding servant of God in the whole nation. He sank into comparative retirement, though he had the privilege not only of anointing, but also of train ing his successor.— Torrey. 21:3. Naboth was justified in withholding the vineyard from Ahab, because the permanent sale of the paternal inheritance was forbidden by law (Lev. 25:23-28; Num. 36:7-9), and it would seem like a denial of his allegiance to the true religion to sell it when the jubilee restoration was negleeted in these idolatrous times.-^-Warner. 21:4. Such an open manifestation of ill-temper is thor oughly characteristic of an Oriental king.— Cook. We set on an ivory couch, in an ivory house (1 Kgs. 22:39), or in a chamber ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion (Jer. 22:14) a man whose soul is so vexed and troubled that he can eat no bread, that he has a word for no one,
(b) The Counterfeit Prophet, vs. 11-28 (c) The Certainty of Judgment, vs. 29-53.
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker