THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S Approach.—A few days ago I was visiting in a home where there was a little girl about seven years old. She had such pretty blue eyes and golden, c u r i y hair, and BEGINNERS really I think per- AND PRIMARY haps she was a very Mabel L. Merrill sweet looking little girl, but while I was there, just for a short time, she was sitting over on the edge of the porch pouting. You know she made me think of a big dark, thunder cloud in the sky before a storm. You know how she looked, don’t you? And what do you think it was all about? Be cause she could not wear a dainty lit tle white dress to a picnic, for mother knew it would get torn and spoiled as she romped and played. Our story to day made me think of this little girl. Let us bow our heads and ask Jesus to help us to remember our story. Lesson Story.-^We have been hear ing about the wicked king and quee« who worshipped idols and caused the people to worship idols also. In the same city where this king lived was a man named Naboth, who owned a fine vineyard. This vineyard was near to the king’s palace, and the king wanted to buy it. Now Naboth did not want to sell it. It had belonged to Ms father, who, when he died, left it to him, so Naboth would not sell his vineyard to the king. The king went back to his palace sad and very much displeased. He lay down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would not eat, or talk, but acted just like the little girl; he pouted. We are not surprised that he was a wicked king, for he was selfish and only thought of himself and the things he wanted to do. The queen asked the king, her husband, why he was so sad and would not eat, and he said because Naboth would not sell him his vineyard. Then the wicked queen told the king to get up, eat and be happy, for she would get the vineyard
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Did Naboth have a right in refusing to sell? Did Ahab make Naboth a good offer? Ought Ahab to have been “ peeved” ? Have not subjects personal rights which even a despot ought to respect? What motive prompted Ahab to take this vineyard? What motive prompted Jezebel to carry out her plan? Did Ahab know that Jezebel had forged his name? Read verse 20. Are some men always looking for a job of false witnessing? Which have the greatest sin, Ahab or the base fellows, or Jezebel? To whom does God send His prophet with reproof? Did Ahab ever enjoy the vineyard? Do men ever enjoy ill-gained wealth? Is selfishness the root of sin? Was it wise for a preacher like Eli jah to reprove a ruler? Personal Questions Did you ever see any good come out of a purely selfish transaction? Ought we to be grieved or “ peeved” because we cannot have what others possess? Does might make our actions right? Have we a right to exercise our might? Is there a higher standard of action than exercising our authority? Do we grow more in character by sacrificing things or obtaining things? Should we ever make others unhappy or uncomfortable to gratify ourselves? Prophetic Questions Was Ahab swept away according to verse 21? I Kings 22:29-37. Did the dogs lick the blood of Ahab where they licked the blood of Naboth? Have all prophecies a literal fulfill ment? M The Sin of Selfishness. 1 Kings 21:1-20. Memory Verse.— “ Thou shalt not co vet . . . anything that is t h y neighbor’s.” Ex. 20:17.
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