The Fifth Sunday in Lent (OTA)

1 Kings 21:1-16

Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. ² And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and 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 the inheritance of my fathers.” ⁴ And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

⁵ But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” ⁶ And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ” ⁷ And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart 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, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. ⁹ And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. ¹⁰ And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” ¹¹ And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, ¹² they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. ¹³ And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men 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 with stones. 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, “Arise, 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 And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

Naboth is a loyal and faithful citizen of Israel. Ahab is his King and makes a simple request. Naboth is within his own right to refuses to sell his vineyard. But for most of us, when someone is not willing to make a deal with us we run crying to someone else who will sympathize. Jezebel takes it upon herself to do her evil actions.

This text is an excellent picture of cheating or stealing from our neighbor.  This text is an excellent picture of murdering our neighbor. This may even help you picture what it means to covet your neighbor’s property, but does Ahab really covet Naboth’s Vineyard or does he just think it is a good business deal? This text should be used to help teach each of us how we may desire to have our hands clean of a situation but they are still filthy.  Who has sinned? Jezebel? The worthless men? The People? Ahab? Naboth?

All of these people could claim a way to justify themselves. Jezebel is a murderer and liar. The Worthless men are murderers and liars. The People are likewise murderers and liars. Ahab even has the blood of Naboth on his own hands. Naboth may not have sinned in this passage, but he is still a sinner.

Thus, there was another man who was in Naboth’s shoes. He had a treasured vineyard in which the people desired to remove from him. They desired to kill him. Therefore, they trump up charges and even bring forward liars as witnesses to kill this man. They even will stand before other people and testify these false testimonies. Therefore, they lead him outside the city and Crucified him. It is Jesus Christ our Lord who dies for the forgiveness of your sins. He dies for liars and murderers and all your other sins.