Introduction
I want to begin today, not in 1 Kings, but in the book of Deuteronomy. In that book of the Bible we have the word of the Lord to his people, who were preparing to enter the Promised Land for the very first time. And the Lord gave them various instructions and laws and commandments so that they would know his will for them and how he wanted them to live as his people. And in Deuteronomy 17 the Lord said to them that the day will come when they will ask him for a king. They will see that all the other nations have kings and they will want a king of their own to rule over them. Even though the Lord was their King, they will still want a human king. And since that’s the case, the Lord told them what kind of king they should look for. He mustn’t be a foreigner. He must not acquire a great number of horses for himself. He must not take for himself many wives. He mustn’t accumulate lots of silver and gold for himself. And when he becomes king, he must write for himself on a scroll a copy of the law of the Lord. It is to be with him and he’s to read it all the days of his life so that he will learn to revere the Lord and to follow carefully all of God’s laws. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
I’ve explained before that whereas pagan kings regarded themselves as being above the law, so that they could do whatever they liked, the kings of Israel were to regard themselves as being under the law. They were God’s servants and they were required to obey his laws and to do his will on the earth.
Furthermore, in 2 Samuel 5, when David became king over all Israel, we hear that the Lord had once said to David that David will shepherd his people. The role of the king was to be like a shepherd. Just as a shepherd looks after his sheep, providing for them and protecting them, so the king was to look after God’s people, providing for them and protecting them.
And so, the kings of Israel were to make a copy of God’s law and they were to read it and they were to keep it; and they were to care for God’s people like a shepherd. That’s what the kings of Israel were supposed to do. But that’s not what King Ahab did. In fact, King Ahab fits Samuel’s description of what a king would be like. Do you remember Samuel’s description of what a king would be like? When the Israelites asked for a human king to rule over them, Samuel warned them in 1 Samuel 8 that a human king will only take and take and take from them. He’ll take your sons and daughters and make them serve him. He’ll take the grain and fruit you grow in your fields. He’ll take your servants for himself. He’ll take your livestock: your cattle and donkeys and sheep. And he’ll also take your land: he’ll take the best of your fields and olive groves and your vineyards.
While the king was meant to obey God’s law and look after the people, the fact is that the king will take and take and take and take. And that’s exactly what Ahab did to Naboth in today’s chapter. Yes, it was his wife, Jezebel, who made all the arrangements, but in the end the Lord blamed Ahab for taking Naboth’s life and for taking his vineyard. Instead of placing himself under the law, which is what all the kings were meant to do, Ahab placed himself above the law. He could do what he liked. And by murdering Naboth and seizing his property for himself, Ahab demonstrated that he was a wicked and unfaithful shepherd of God’s people. He was therefore the very opposite of Christ our King, who is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his people so that all who believe in him may receive an eternal inheritance in the Promised Land to come in the new heavens and earth.
Verses 1 to 4
Let’s turn to this chapter. Or narrator tells us in verses 1 to 4 that Ahab spoke to Naboth about his vineyard which was situated right beside the king’s palace in Jezreel. Although Ahab normally lived in Samaria, it seems he had another palace in Jezreel, just as King Charles has a number of royal residences. And Ahab spoke to Naboth about his vineyard, because he would like it for himself. He could use it as a vegetable garden and it would be very convenient for him, since it was right next to the palace. Any time he or his servants wanted a few potatoes, they only needed to go next door to get them. And he offered to give Naboth a better vineyard in exchange; or, alternatively, he would pay Naboth whatever his vineyard was worth.
But Naboth refused. However, it’s not that he was being unnecessarily mean or unreasonable. He said no to the king, because of his obedience to God. Take a look at verse 3 where Naboth says, ‘The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.’ I should explain that the whole of the Promised Land of Canaan was God’s gift to his people. They did not deserve it or earn it, but he graciously and freely gave it to them. That was back in the days of Joshua, when the Lord led them across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land; and afterwards he helped them to take the land from the Canaanites. It was his gift to them. And then, he commanded that the land should be divided up so that each tribe of Israel received part of the land. And then the land for each tribe was divided up so that every clan or family in each tribe received part of the land. And from that time on, the family farm was passed down from one generation to another. In fact, in Leviticus 25, the Lord told his people that the land must not be sold permanently. It must be not sold permanently, because it’s not theirs to sell. The land belongs to the Lord and he has graciously and freely given it to his people as a gift which they must keep and not sell. And therefore, Naboth will not sell his vineyard. In fact, he cannot sell the vineyard, because to do so would mean disobeying the Lord his God.
But instead of submitting cheerfully to God’s will for his people, Ahab went home, sullen and angry. He was sullen and angry because of Naboth who was determined to obey the word of the Lord. And we’re told that he lay on his bed, sulking. And he refused to eat. Though he was a king, he was acting like a child, who does not get his own way.
Verses 5 to 7
And we can perhaps picture Jezebel going in for dinner, and finding that her husband was not there. She asks one of the servants where he is and hears that he’s still upstairs. And so, she goes to find out what’s wrong and asks him why he’s so sullen and why he’s not eating. ‘What’s wrong, dear?’
And just as a child who has been sulking might eventually turn to his mummy with tears in his eye and tell her that someone has been unfair to him, so Ahab turned to Jezebel and told her that someone has been unfair to him. ‘I wanted Naboth’s vineyard, but he said no to me. It’s not fair.’ And Jezebel responds by scolding her husband: ‘Is this how you act as king of Israel?’ She’s saying to him: ‘What kind of king are you?’ Jezebel, of course, had come from Sidon and so, she was perhaps used to a different kind of king, a king who does what he likes and takes what he wants, a king who is not under the law, but above it. That’s the kind of king she grew up with. And so, now she tells her hushand that she’ll take care of his problem. She knows what to do. She’ll show him what a king can do.
Verses 8 to 14
And in verses 8 to 14 we’re told what she did to seize Naboth’s vineyard. She wrote letters in the king’s name and with his seal on them and sent them to the elders and nobles in the city of Jezreel where Naboth lived. And in her letters to them, she told them to declare a day of fasting in the city. If there was a threat to a city, the leaders of the city might summon the whole city to fast before the Lord and to seek his help. And so, she’s asking the elders and nobles to make arrangements for that kind of special event. And it’s worthwhile noticing that she was prepared to use religion in order to get her own way. Throughout the generations, people have used religion for their own purposes and not because they’re devoted to God.
And in her letters she told them to make sure that Naboth was seated in a prominent place among the people. And make sure there are two scoundrels who are seated facing him. The Hebrew phrase translated ‘scoundrels’ is one we’ve come across before. It’s the phrase which means ‘sons of wickedness’. And any time this phrase occurs in the Old Testament, it refers to wicked, worthless men who are destined for destruction. So, put those kind of men in front of Naboth and have them accuse Naboth of having cursed both God and the king. And despite being wicked herself, Jezebel seems to know her Bible, because the Bible says that at least two witnesses are necessary to convict anyone of a crime. And so, have these two men accuse Naboth. And then take him out and stone him to death. And once again, it seems she knows her Bible, because according to God’s law, whoever curses God must die.
That was her plan. And she posted the letters to the elders and nobles; and, when they received her letters, they followed her instructions to the letter. They proclaimed the day of fasting; they positioned Naboth in a prominent place; they got the two scoundrels to sit near him and to accuse him, with the result that Naboth was taken away and stoned to death. And from what we read later, in 2 Kings 9, it seems that not only was Naboth killed, but his sons were killed too. And that means there was no-one left to inherit his vineyard. And after they had finished, the elders and nobles wrote back to Jezebel to tell her the news that Naboth was dead.
Verses 15 and 16
She then went to Ahab and told him to get up and to take possession of the vineyard, because Naboth is no longer alive, but dead. And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and took possession of the vineyard as per Jezebel’s instructions.
It’s interesting that Naboth didn’t ask his wife what happened to Ahab. He didn’t ask how Naboth died. I suppose it’s possible that he did ask, but the narrator hasn’t included it. But as the text stands, you get the impression that he was expecting to hear this news about Naboth because verse 16 begins, ‘When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead….’ That suggests that ever since he had complained to Jezebel about Naboth and she had offered to take care of it, he has been waiting for this news. He’s been waiting for this news, because he knew what she was capable of and that she wasn’t afraid to get blood on her hands. After all, back in chapter 18 we read that she’d been killing of the Lord’s prophets. She wasn’t afraid to get rid of anyone who stood in her way. And therefore it seems that ever since Jezebel offered to take care of Naboth, Ahab has been waiting to hear the news that he was dead.
Verses 17 to 29
And so, we come to the final part of today’s chapter. The word of the Lord came to Elijah, telling him to go to Ahab in Naboth’s vineyard and to say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him: ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood.’ And so, it’s life for life. You were responsible for Naboth’s death and therefore you must pay for it with your own life.
That’s what the Lord told Elijah to say to Ahab. And when Elijah arrived, it’s clear that there was more to the Lord’s message to Ahab, because Elijah announced that the Lord will bring disaster on Ahab. The Lord will cut off every one of his sons in Israel. And so, his house, or his dynasty, will become like that of Jeroboam and Baasha, who were kings of Israel before Ahab. And because of their wickedness, every one of their sons was killed so that there was no one left to succeed them as king of Israel. And there will be no-one left to succeed Ahab as king of Israel. According to verse 24, dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city and birds will feed on those belonging to him who die in the country. As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her by the wall of Jezreel. So, neither Ahab nor Jezebel will get away with what they have done to Naboth.
And the narrator sums up Ahab’s life for us in verses 25 and 26 by telling us that there was never a man like him who sold himself into slavery to sin, urged on by his wife. And he behaved in the vilest manner, going after idols. And so, he was just like the Amorites whom the Lord drove out of the Promised Land. He drove them out of the Promised Land, because of their wickedness. And it seems that the Lord was ready to drive out Ahab and his family from the Promised Land, because of their wickedness.
And when Ahab heard the word of the Lord from Elijah, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and he fasted. This is what people did in those days when they were sorrowful and when they were mourning. And it therefore suggests to us that Ahab was sorry for his sins.
And since he humbled himself before the Lord, the Lord announced to Elijah in verses 28 and 29 that he will not bring disaster on Ahab immediately. The Lord, who is gracious and merciful and slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, does not deal with us according to our sins. And he longs to be gracious to his people. And so, when Ahab showed that he was sorry for his sins, the Lord relented from sending disaster on him immediately, even though that is what he deserved.
And yet, we should note what the Lord didn’t say. He didn’t say he will never bring disaster on Ahab’s house. He didn’t say that. What he said is that he will postpone it. Disaster will still come, but not in Ahab’s day. It will come, but he will not be alive to see it.
And so, in the very next chapter, we’ll hear about Ahab’s death and how dogs licked up his blood. And in 2 Kings 9 we’ll hear about Jezebel’s death and how dogs ate her flesh by the wall of Jezreel. And then in 2 Kings 10, after Ahab was dead, and when he was no longer alive to see it, all his sons were killed.
And so, God’s judgment was not removed from them, even though Ahab seemed to be sorry for his sins. And since the Lord’s judgment was not removed, but only delayed, then that suggests that while Ahab’s sorrow may have been real, it did not last. He may have been sorry for his sins, but only for a little while. He may have humbled himself briefly, but he did not turn from his sins in true repentance so that he devoted the rest of his life to doing God’s will.
Conclusion
Lots of people can come to church and they can be moved by what they hear. Something they heard makes them ashamed of the bad things they have done; and they feel sorry about what they have done. Or something they heard makes them afraid of the judgment to come and they want to avoid it. And so, they’re moved by what they hear and they promise to change their ways. But it does not last. It does not last and nothing changes.
It’s possible for people to be moved by what they hear in church and to feel humbled and to feel sorry; and yet they don’t actually do what’s necessary, which is to turn to God in prayer and to ask him to forgive them for all they have done wrong; and to forgive them, not because they deserve it, but to forgive them for the sake of Christ who died for sinners.
They don’t do that. And while they may be moved by what they heard in church so that they feel sorry about their sins, they don’t go on to ask God to come into their lives and to change them. And that too is necessary, isn’t it? Christianity is not so much about how we change ourselves. Lots of people feel bad about something they had done and they say they’re going to try hard to change and to do better. But Christianity is not so much about how we change ourselves. It’s about how God changes his people. His people trust in Christ for forgiveness; and then God comes into their lives and changes them by renewing them in his likeness so that they will want to obey God more and more.
And so, we learn from Ahab that it’s possible to humble ourselves before God; and yet we don’t actually do what’s necessary, which is to ask God to forgive us for the sake of Christ and to change us.
And God is able to forgive anyone who asks for his forgiveness, because of Christ our Great King, who is the exact opposite of Ahab. Ahab was a wicked king and an unfaithful shepherd of God’s people, who took Naboth’s life and who took Naboth’s inheritance in the Promised Land. But the Lord Jesus Christ is a good and righteous king who always did what was right when he was here on earth, because he submitted himself to God’s law and he came to do God’s will. He was obedient to God in everything. And he is the Good Shepherd, who was prepared to lay down his life for his people. And by laying down his life for his people, he took the blame for all that we have done wrong; and he paid for our sins with his life, so that all who trust in him for salvation receive forgiveness and peace with God and the hope of everlasting life.
And unlike Ahab who took Naboth’s inheritance, the Lord Jesus Christ promises to give his people an eternal inheritance in the Promised Land to come in the new heavens and earth. He promises to give his people a place in the new creation, which he is preparing for us right now. And when the time is right, Christ our King will return to earth to gather his people together and to bring us into the new heavens and earth to receive the inheritance he has prepared for us. And there we’ll be happy forever, because we’ll be with God our Father and Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Ahab was a wicked king and an unfaithful shepherd. But Christ our King is a righteous king and a faithful shepherd. And if he’s your shepherd and king, if you’re trusting in him for salvation, then you can be assured that he has an inheritance for you in the Promised Land to come; and no one can take it from you.
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