This is one story of several that trace the confrontation between the prophet Elijah and king Ahab. Ahab is usually a pretty bad guy. These stories have there origins in chapter 17. There, Elijah seems to burst on the scene from out of nowhere, and curses a drought into existence in the presence of Ahab.
So, these two don’t really like each other very much. We can see this in Ahab’s initial comment to Elijah in verse 20..., “So you have found me, my enemy!”
This story is about many things, but within the story are revealed the dangers of half truths and abuses of power and finally, devotion to God.
I’m not just talking about the obvious power held by a King who represents organized, and in this case, hierarchical, as well as centralized power of the state.
I’m am also speaking of the abuse of religious power, zealousness and allowing our personal feelings to interfere with God’s plans. Elijah is a charismatic, volatile and unpredictable voice of protest.
The author of this story seems who favors the voice of the prophetic protest. Prophets, after all, tend to be heroes throughout the bible… Yet the contrast between good and evil is not absolute. In reality, not all kings are evil, and not all prophets are good all the time as we will find out.
MOVE
This story about Naboth’s vineyard has two parts, and different scenes within each.
Verses 1-16 involve three characters, Ahab, Naboth and Jezebel. Just before Chp 21, we read where Ahab has an encounter with a prophet. Without taking the time to get into that story, what we see in the last verse of Chp 20 is an indication of Ahab’s personality. “Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria” He sounds kind of like a spoiled, pampered child doesn’t he? If you’re not going to play my way, I’m going to take my ball and bat and go home!”
Now, we seem to have changed locations. Ahab, you see, had more than one palace. I believe he had at least three.
It appears Naboth has a vineyard next to Ahab’s palace in Jezreel. For whatever reason, Ahab take a fancy to the vineyard and allegedly wants it for a vegetable garden??? Really? Well anyway, while Ahab is usually cast in an evil sort of role, in the beginning at least, he appears to make Naboth a fair offer. Now, this doesn’t make Ahab a hero, but it is very different from blatant exploitation of his power. The first scene opens with Ahab offering Naboth, another vineyard, or money for the vineyard.
But now the problems begin. Naboth refuses to sell the property. Perhaps Naboth could have used the money. Who knows what the economy was like at the time? However, Naboth remembers God’s covenant made with his ancestors and in vs. 3 he gives his answer based upon his love for and faith in God. Naboth remembers God gave this land of plenty with the covenant “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.”(Lev 25:23) God the Father gave Israel the land as a part of their salvation. The land wasn’t really Naboth’s to give. It ultimately belonged to God. An as we read in vs. 4, Naboth doesn’t argue, he seems not only to understand Naboth’s theologically based answer, he seems to be in agreement it. But once again, we see the personality of a man who is used to getting his way….”sullen and angry.” This guy… “king” no less … goes home and lies down in bed! In other words, Ahab is pouting because he didn’t get his way.
Now we come to scene two, enter Jezebel. Jezebel comes into the bedroom and say’s what’s up with you? Why such a sad face?? And so Ahab relates his encounter with Naboth, well, most of it. But Ahab conveniently leaves out Naboth’s reason for not selling the property. He simply says hey, I offered the guy a fair trade and he turned me down. … he might as well have added… with no good reason! But, Ahab knew that wasn’t the truth. And it is at least in part, this “half-truth” that Jezebel not interprets the conflict as between the “king” and subject, and when framed this way, hey, Ahab is the KING and he can darn well have any vineyard anywhere he chooses. Now had Ahab told all the truth would it have changed Jezebel’s attitude? Doubtful, Jezebel worshiped Ball, but we are left to wonder why Ahab conveniently left out this key part of the encounter.
Moving on to scene three. It’s all about Jezebel and how she orchestrates the murder of Naboth. Ironically, she uses theological arguments to kill him by arranging day of fasting, placing Naboth in a place of prominence. Elders and nobles would also attend the fast celebration and finally, two “scoundrels” who were probably paid thugs, to testify Naboth had cursed God, which carried a penalty of death by stoning. And she got away with it… and Naboth is killed.
The final scene of this first section which encompasses vs. 15, 16 has Ahab walking down to Naboth’s vineyard in order to lay claim on it. Upon this closer examination, we see this is a complex story. One that presents varying degrees of evil whose net effect is murder of a human being, and theft from God. It is these degrees of evil that trace how the organized and bureaucratic power of a king, and yes, government can be dangerous. What began with a pouting king, led to the telling of half truths, to the manipulation of others lower in the hierarchical structure... the elders and scoundrels in this case … to the perversion of religion and holiness for political gain, and finally to the plotting and execution of murder and theft from God. In Naboth’s story, we see how a certain kind of power has been let loose with the resulting effect of polluting an entire community. Guilt in this case is universal, for it incorporates the whole.
MOVE
Now we move on to part two of the story and explore the power of the prophet.
In scene one, the power is positive. It allows God to break through the polluted system of the monarch.
Divine oracles predominate in vv. 17-19..We read the “word of the Lord came to Elijah” and Elijah is given two specific oracles, or divine messages in vs. 19. “This is what the Lord says:” first, tell Ahab of his sins… the murder and theft…. And the second…. To proclaim the punishment…a cursed death.
MOVE
Now we move to scene two. Now we have to ask ourselves some questions about Elijah. Here we find no divine oracles in the exchange between prophet and king. Instead, we discover two forms of power in conflict. The king labels Elijah an enemy. Elijah respond in the first person…”I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the eyes of the Lord.”
Ok, so far this speech sounds ok, because Elijah still seems to be speaking for God. But wait. Let’s read on…. “I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your decedents….. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam,,” Where is “this is what the Lord says? The I in Elijah’s speech is no longer God speaking but the angry prophet speaking for himself, and it raises suspicions that Elijah is now guilty of taking his own charismatic power to a vindictive level--- a holier-than-thou exercise in fanaticism, which almost seems to cherish the blood bath that awaits the king.
How can we support such a suspicion? Look at the closing versed of the chapter. (READ)
God clearly, reenter’s the narrative, and in direct contrast to the prophet’s vindictive threats, forgives a repentant Ahab.
This story demonstrates the dangers of half-truths. Just enough truths to give a story credibility, but leaving out enough of the facts to influence the listener toward the opinions and feelings of the author of the story. It should also tell us to be sure of our facts, and the truth before we base any action we deem appropriate for any given situation. How many bad decisions have we made, only to later realize we were misinformed and didn’t take the time to verify the truth.
The story also show us the dangers of two kinds of power. One is the power of systems represented by kings… and governments. The other is the power of charisma represented by prophets. This can also be translated to religious leaders, and over zealous Christians who mislead congregations and followers buy yielding to their own opinions and feelings instead of surrendering our opinions and feelings and will, to the will of God. And folks, we can only determine God’s will through our Christian community and through prayer.
In this story, there is only one hero, and that is Naboth. Naboth, only Naboth in this story, realized that any power or security he possessed was a gift from God, a gift that he could not afford to sell at any price and it cost him his life. I pray to God, the Father, with the help of God the Holy Spirit, through God, the Son that one day, one day I can achieve that kind of faith, that kind of integrity, that kind of strength.
In closing, I want to leave you with a positive message. All of us make mistakes. All of us, at one time or another, or in one way or another let doubt creep into our being. Yet, in the end, when all is said in done, our faith wins out. That is why you are here. That is why God called you here this morning. Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you accept Him as your Lord and Savior. Do you believe that Christ was crucified, died and rose again to sit at the right hand of God? If your answer is yes, then know you are forgiven.
Leave the mistakes and doubts behind, and go forward, hand in hand with Jesus leading your every step.
