1 Kings 21:1-14 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Kings 21:1-14. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
1 Kings 21:1-14 (NIV)
1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
2 Ahab said to Naboth, “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.”
3 But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”
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.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”
6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.'”
7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him.
9 In those letters she wrote: “Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people.
10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”
11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them.
12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people.
13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”
On verses 1-14: In these verses we see Ahab’s selfishness and Jezebel’s cunning in full bloom. Ahab wants to take the vineyard of another man, Naboth. This vineyard was a precious family property that Naboth’s parents had given to him. It was likely Naboth’s main source of income, whereas Ahab merely wanted to use it for a vegetable garden. When Naboth refuses to sell the vineyard to Ahab, Ahab sulks. Ahab’s wife Jezebel devises an evil and elaborate plan to call a fast (using religion as a means to do evil) and have two scoundrels falsely accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king. The plan is executed and Naboth is stoned for treason which he did not commit. Presumably there is no one left in Naboth’s family to inherit Naboth’s vineyard. (Or, if Naboth had heirs, Ahab and Jezebel find a way to bypass them.) Ahab is then able to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.
What can we learn from this? Similar to Naboth’s time, we live in a period in history where at times it seems evil runs rampant and unchecked. But God is not finished writing His story. Centuries after Ahab and Jezebel murdered Naboth, another innocent man would be placed between two scoundrels. He would be falsely accused, convicted of crimes he did not commit, and killed. His name is Jesus.
If Christ’s death on the cross were seen in isolation with no consideration of what would happen after, Christ’s death on the cross, similar to Naboth’s murder, would seem like nothing more than a gross injustice. We would be inclined to ask, “How could God allow such an evil thing to happen?” Even Satan our enemy thought that Christ’s death would allow him to take control of “the vineyard”, that is, the world God created. But, as in Naboth’s case as well as Jesus’ case, God would see to it that in the end justice is served and that the rightful owner of the vineyard is vindicated.
By the way when you read Jesus’ parable about the vineyard in Luke 20:9-19, you can tell Jesus understood that he would be unjustly killed but that His Father would vindicate Him. A huge reason Jesus was able to endure and persevere through such gross injustice was because He trusted that His Father had a greater plan.
Similarly, when you see something horribly evil take place in our world, don’t view that event in isolation. Remember that God is not finished writing His story. God is sovereign. He will make sure that in the end justice is served, that scoundrels are punished, that the innocent are avenged and that God’s people are vindicated.
Father, thank You that You are not finished writing Your story. Thank You that when it comes to horrible and evil events that take place in this world, You still have the last word, and You will see to it that justice is served and that Your people are vindicated. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
