Word of Salvation – Vol.50 No.31 – August 2005

Naboth's Vineyard

A Sermon by Rev. R. Adams on 1 Kings 21

Scripture Readings:  Colossians 1:9-14

Suggested Hymns:  PsH 184; 110; 68; 220; 493

                               BoW 95; 62; 401; 157; 533

Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ...

It has been said, and rightly so, that Ahab was the worst king Israel ever had. He led his people into idolatry like none other before him. He actually took a leading hand in trying to silence the Lord's prophets... including Elijah. Ahab's reign was characterised by a pervading wickedness of which unbridled greed and envy is just one expression. As we look at Ahab in this sermon, may the Lord open our eyes to our own situation.

The 10th Commandment - the one that says, "You shall not covet" - is frequently overlooked, these days. We Westerners live in affluent times, but they're not times of contentment. So if you happen to be content with your lot, then people think there's something wrong with you. They expect you to be coveting, like everyone else. Coveting has so proliferated around us that it's almost a staple part of everyday life. So who's going to tell us that coveting is still a sin? Thankfully our God is not silent... as we will see in this sermon.

1. AHAB PLANS AND NABOTH PERSISTS (vss 1-3)

We're introduced to Ahab today through a plan that he thinks up. After the nature of the man his plan naturally centres on himself and his own pleasure. It happens at his 'weekend bach' (shack) if you like... in the Jezreel valley... below Mount Carmel. Just the place to be when you want to get away from tedious prophets telling you what to do. But even on your weekends away, you've gotta have your greens. So Ahab says to his neighbour down the road, "Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth."

His request sounds all above board, doesn't it? What's wrong with wanting a bit of a 'vegie' patch out the back? Besides, Ahab offers a fair exchange... a better vineyard... or the market value for this one... whatever Naboth should prefer. So why doesn't Naboth agree? Why does he say (vs 3), "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."

It wasn't that Naboth disliked Ahab. Nor was it because Ahab failed to get the necessary resource consent. The issue was about God's law. Among other things, God wanted to protect the poor and the impoverished from unscrupulous developers and the like. His law ensured that every family, from the king down, could share the Land.

In Leviticus 25 we read, "The land must not be sold permanently, because [it] is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. If... your [fellow] countryman ... [has to sell] some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem... what [was] sold" (Lev 25:23,25). And Numbers 36 adds, "No inheritance in Israel is to pass from tribe to tribe, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal land inherited from his forefathers" (Num 36:7).

Naboth's land represented the fulfilment of God's covenant promise to him and his family. This is why he calls it, "the inheritance of my fathers." It was a sacred inheritance that Naboth and his family were called to cherish. And Israelite law protected Naboth in his inheritance.

That's why he's not afraid to refuse the king. The king, too, is subject to the law. In fact kings had an obligation under God to obey and to uphold the law (cf Deut 17:18-20). And perhaps Ahab already knew... God was quick to condemn even kings, who broke His law. Listen to Isaiah from a different time, "Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land" (Isa 5:8). Naboth knew God's law. So he had to stand his ground. No amount of money will induce him to break his covenant obligation to God.

2. AHAB'S PETULANCE AND JEZEBEL'S PLOT (vss 4-10)

So how does Ahab respond to this? Does he thank Naboth for reminding him about the law? Does he praise God for wanting everyone to have a fair share? Not so! Verse 4, "So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, 'I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.' He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat." Ahab sulks because he doesn't get what he wants. But I want you to note that nowhere in this account is Ahab interested in consulting God... even after his recent experience on Mount Carmel. Ahab is still the same old Ahab.

James speaks of a similar picture of ungodliness, "You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (Jas 4:2,3).

Of course, Jezebel wants to know why Ahab's down in the dumps. And as soon as Ahab comes clean, Jezebel comes straight out with it, "Is this how you act as king over Israel?" (vs 7). From her own father's example, Jezebel had no apprehensions about simply taking what she wants.

To his credit, Ahab knew that God's Law was on Naboth's side... and he was loath to act against it. But it also seems he was afraid to go against Jezebel. He meekly goes along with her plot to get Naboth out of the way.

Jezebel shrewdly writes letters in Ahab's name and signs them with his seal. "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth... among the people. But... [have] two scoundrels... testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death" (vss 9-10).

3. AHAB'S PERFIDY AND GOD'S PROBITY (vss 11-22)

What happens next is indicative of the times... and for this Ahab has to shoulder much of the blame... but so, too, leaders in our own day who fall into the same folly as Ahab. It's ironic, that those who otherwise have no love for God's law... still love to use certain parts of the law to further their own ends. The law in this case is found in Exodus 22: "Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people" (Ex 22:28). So the officials of Naboth's city act as willing accomplices of the murderous king. They agree to apply the law in a perfidious fashion.

In Naboth's time... just as it was in Jesus' time... blasphemy against God earned the death penalty. But only "on the testimony of two or three witnesses" (Deut 17:6). Never mind that the witnesses in this case were corrupt. For the city officials bribe two villains to falsely testify against Naboth. The result is that evil wins the day... and godly Naboth is stoned to death. And of course, "when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth's vineyard" (vs 16).

We might wonder if Ahab was happy with the result. Or did his conscience keep him from enjoying his ill-gotten gain? Scripture doesn't tell us at this point. For the moment, we're left with the sneaking suspicion that perhaps he wasn't losing any sleep over it.

But none of us can sin and just hope to ignore it. For as Scripture says, "the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Heb 4:12-13).

So it's not surprising that God has something further to say about this matter. "The word of the LORD came to Elijah...: 'Go down to meet Ahab... He is now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Say to him... "Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?" Then say to him, "This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood-yes, yours!"'" (1 Ki 21:17-18). God wasn't silent. He spoke of a judgment that would fall on Ahab and his house. And the following chapters record His justice being carried out... God's judgment was executed... so that the blood of Ahab and Jezebel was spilled just as God said it would be.

In the light of this story of Ahab and Jezebel and Naboth, we must never forget that envy and greed can lead to terrible sin. This is why the apostle Paul reminds us, in writing to Timothy, "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim 6:6). Over against that, "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Tim 6:9-10).

Finally, consider this: Naboth is something of a picture of Jesus. He was falsely accused and executed, though he was innocent. But in the end, God vindicated Naboth's cause... the cause of all those who are oppressed by unrighteousness. Jesus, too, was innocent... and his death was brought about in similar fashion. But instead of judgment alone, Jesus' death brought forgiveness and salvation. By his death for our sins, we have an inheritance better than Naboth's... an inheritance kept in heaven for us by God's power.

In the name of Jesus...

Amen.