“Covetousness”
For Naboth is not alive, but is dead. —1Kings 21:15
Read 1Kings 21:1-15
The wealthy king Ahab possessed a country estate in Jezreel. While walking in his garden, he noticed a beautifully situated vineyard, Naboth’s vineyard. He thought to himself that it would make a nice herb garden for him to enjoy. Why not buy it? Naboth could surely part with it.
The Lord says in His Word, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house.” And Naboth refused to sell his vineyard be-cause of the ordinances the Lord had attached to the land: one’s property had to stay within his family, so that during difficult times they would not become impoverished. Naboth obeyed the commandments of the Lord. When Ahab returned to his home after Naboth refused him, he went to bed like a sullen child. “Woe to that country whose king acts like a child.” But then Jezebel entered into the picture and determinedly pursued the matter to ensure that Naboth got what he wanted. There were ways and means to acquire possession of Naboth’s vineyard, especially when the judges of the land had no conscience. Consequently, Naboth was killed and Jezebel advised her husband to take possession of her “gift’ for him. There is a similarity between this lawsuit and the one placed upon the Son of God. He was falsely accused of blasphemy and was condemned under the guise that His accusers were upholding God’s holy name. As a result, the Lord Jesus was innocently condemned by a worldly judge so that sinners might be freed from the judgment of God.
What does Naboth reveal by his attitude?