1 Kings 21:1–21
1 Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. 2 And Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money." 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, "The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance." 4 Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, "I will not give you my ancestral inheritance." He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat. 5 His wife Jezebel came to him and said, "Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?" 6 He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, "Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it'; but he answered, "I will not give you my vineyard.' " 7 His wife Jezebel said to him, "Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 She wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; 10 seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, "You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out, and stone him to death." 11 The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, 12 they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. 13 The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he is dead." 15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, "Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." 16 As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: 18 Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. 19 You shall say to him, "Thus says the Lord: Have you killed, and also taken possession?" You shall say to him, "Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood." 20 Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, 21 I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel;
Reflection
King Ahab has all he needed in life but he wanted more. Ahab wanted Naboth's vineyard. He was willing to pay for it, but Naboth didn't want to sell. If Naboth sold his vineyard, for religious reasons Naboth would have placed his family into the hands of King Ahab as dependants.
Ahab was upset and told his wife, Jezebel the story later in the day. Jezebel was a woman that would plot and scheme a dishonest plan to have Naboth falsely accused. Naboth was brought forward for cursing God and a couple of witnesses gave false accounts to this. Naboth was punished and killed for something he didn't do. Now Ahab could have Naboth's vineyard just as he wanted.
The rich and the wealthy getting what they want through dishonest means. I can't help but to be disgusted with the weakness of Ahab and the conniving spirit of Jezebel. Lies and dishonesty and a man and his family taken advantage of, all for someone to get their way.
Whenever we resort to lies and deception and the silence of hurting another person, evil looms in the background. Evil and sin that destroys and takes away. But lies will not stay hidden. There will come a time when the lies will be exposed and the hurt and pain will come full circle. The blood of Naboth will cry out from the very same land of his death and the blood of Ahab and Jezebel will be exposed for the lie that is at the core of their beings.
The blood of Friday calls out in the life of Jesus. That disgusting lie of humankind will be exposed. The Thursday blood of Jesus will be fed to the Friday world of death. All followed by the cleanliness of the Light on Sunday. Take and eat and drink, Jesus body and blood given for you Naboth. Given for you and me when we die in the falsehood of a jealous world taking advantage of us. Naboth lives... King Ahab and Jezebel die in their lies.
So, who are you? At times I know that I am the weakling Ahab. At times I know that I am that evil Jezebel. At times I know that I am the victimized Naboth. In all times, I come to that Friday cross and repent. I seek the forgiveness of my sin. I seek the justice of my innocence when lied to and about. I come to that Friday cross and witness and wait for that Sunday resurrection to new life.
Prayer
Lord, you play me on both sides of the story. Sometimes I'm Naboth. Sometimes I'm Ahab. Sometimes I'm Jezebel. Sometimes I'm the lie and other times I'm the victim of the lie. Teach me the clear and honest path to live my life that I may bring glory to you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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