1 Kings 21: Naboth’s Vineyard
Thursday, September 19, 2019
This is a powerful story about how King Ahab and his wife Jezebel collude with scoundrels to trump up charges against the good man Naboth in order to take a vineyard which they coveted. It is dreadful in its deep deception; it is horrendous in its horrible depiction of the violent frenzy of a plotting, conniving perseverance of evil. It is human interaction in its basest form.
The prophet Elijah responds to God’s call but fears for his life when Ahab and Jezebel conduct a campaign with the goal of annihilating all prophets who speak with God’s voice; and in Chapter 19 Elijah even tries to run from the whispering voice of Yahweh. In Chapter 20 we see how Yahweh brings success to the Israelites and favors them in battle. Then Ahab wants something which Naboth has, a lovely beautiful vineyard. Jezebel and Ahab conspire to attain it . . . so the innocent Naboth must die.
Yahweh steps in and we watch as he vindicates the faithful. We also watch as he delivers punishing blows to the wicked ones. Ahab repents, and Yahweh softens the sentence he is about to deliver. Jezebel does not . . . and if we read a bit further we discover Jezebel’s evil end.
Dear God, protect me from family and friends who would lead me to destruction as Jezebel did. Remind me that repentance heals the mind and soul. Bring me contentment rather than envy, humility rather than pride, love rather than hatred, restoration rather than destruction, and reaping of blessings rather than an arid life of self-gratification. Surround me with holy people, God-fearing people, people who do not hide the light of the lampstand, people who honor, as Naboth did, their ancestral heritage.
Keep us from pride which inverts to shame. Keep us from anger which turns inward to become melancholy. Keep us from deception which leads to delusion. Keep us from coveting Naboth’s Vineyard.
Bring us peace, bring us joy, bring us hope, bring us your Spirit. Amen.
First written on September 7, 2007 , re-writtten and posted today as a Favorite.
Image from: http://thedailychapter.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/1-kings-21-%E2%80%9Cnaboths-vineyard%E2%80%9D/
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