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There was a man named Naboth, who
lived in Jezreel, and had a vineyard there, very near king Ahab's
palace. It was a very pleasant garden; and the king often looked at
it, and said, "I wish that garden were mine." Was this
right? No; it was coveting what belonged to another, this is a great
sin: the Bible says, "Thou shalt not covet." At
last, he called Naboth, and said to him, "Give me thy vineyard.
I like it very much, because it is near my house; and I want it for my
garden. I will give thee another vineyard; or I will pay thee for it
in money." But Naboth would not sell his vineyard, because it
was the inheritance appointed for him by God; and he said to Ahab, "I
cannot give my father's inheritance to thee." When the king
heard this, he was angry: and when he went home, he sat sullenly
without speaking; and when food was brought to him, he sent it away, and
would not eat it. How foolish it is to be angry, and discontented,
and ill-tempered, when we have not all we want! When
Jezebel saw how displeased Ahab was, she asked, "Why art thou so sad
that thou eatest no bread?" Then Ahab said, "Because I
asked Naboth to let me buy his vineyard, and he will not part with
it." Ahab was lying idly on his bed, for he was so angry he
would do nothing; but now Jezebel said to him, "Arise, and eat, and
be merry; and I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth." Wicked
Jezebel had not right to do this; the vineyard did not belong to her; but
she was not afraid of doing wrong, or of making God angry. So she
wrote letters, and sealed them to the nobles who lived at Jezreel.
What did she say in the letters? She wrote, "Take Naboth, and
bring him out before the people; and let two men accuse him of rebellion
against God and the king; and then carry him away, and stone him, that he
may die." This wicked command came to the nobles in Jezreel;
and after they had read it, they went to Naboth's house, and brought him
out before the people to be judged. Had Naboth done wrong? No;
but the nobles sent for two wicked men who wrongfully accused him, and
said, "Naboth has rebelled against God, and against the
king." These wicked men forgot the ninth commandment, which
says, "Thou shalt not bear false witness." But the nobles
attended to what the false witnesses said, and they brought out Naboth,
and stoned him with stones till he died. Then they sent to the
queen, and said, "Naboth is dead." Jezebel
was glad to hear this; and she ran directly, and told Ahab, and said,
"Go, and take possession of the vineyard. Naboth cannot take it
away from thee now, for he is stoned and dead." Then Ahab was
pleased and arose directly, and went to Jezreel. But God had seen
all this wickedness. He knew all Ahab's selfishness, and all
Jezebel's deceit and cruelty. He had heard the lies of the false
witnesses, and seen Naboth die; and now He called Elijah, and sent him
with a fearful message to Ahab at Jezreel. The wicked king was
walking in the vineyard; he felt pleased that he could possess it; and he
thought he was safe now that Naboth was dead. But soon Ahab saw
Elijah coming to meet him, and he felt very much frightened; for he knew
Elijah was sent to him by God. All his possessions could not make
Ahab feel safe and happy now. He said to Elijah, "Hast thou
found me, O mine enemy?" Elijah answered, "Yes, I have
found thee. God has seen thy sin, and He has sent a message to thee
by me. All thy family shall be destroyed, like the families of
Jeroboam and Baasha. In the place where Naboth was killed, the dogs
shall lick thy blood, and eat the flesh of Jezebel. All this shall
come upon thee, because of thine idolatry, and wickedness, and rebellion
against God. Ahab was
frightened when he heard this message. His pleasure was all gone;
and he went home sorrowfully, and rent his clothes, and eat no food, and
spoke humbly and gently. Ahab's repentance and humility soon
ended. He was not really sorry for sin, and he did not ask for
pardon. But God was so merciful, that when He saw Ahab humbling
himself before Him, He said, "I will spare Ahab a little
longer. I will not punish his family now." How kind God
is! He is willing to save all; and He spares the wicked a long
while, to give them time for repentance; but if they still go on in sin,
He must punish them at last, as He did Ahab.
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