What God Forbids
(1 Kings 21:1~16)
Ahab received everything he needed from God more than anyone else in the world. Nevertheless, he never stopped coveting what was forbidden by the Lord, presuming that he was God. Ahab coveted Naboths vineyard, which was forbidden to him by God. Lets look at a variety of people around him, responding differently to this forbidden fruit.
1. Greedy Ahab. The vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite was a fertile land of promise, which means the garden of Gods budding fruits. Ahab asked Naboth to sell this vineyard to him. During the three-year reign of peace after winning the war against Aram twice, he grew high-spirited. He became addicted to tyranny, enjoying his God-less prosperity without repenting his sins. He tried to cover up Gods warning with his luxurious life and exhibitionism. In addition to his evil of releasing his external enemy Ben-Hadad by his false mercy, Ahab now committed evil against his people. From his ivory palace in Jezreel, not his Samaria palace, he saw Naboths vineyard near his palace and coveted it. He was lost in his daydream of palace and garden, not recognizing Gods imminent judgment. In Tolstoys On Life, theres a story about a traveller, who was happened to be caught by a branch after falling down in well, saw a honeycomb, and tasted honey in his predicament till he discovered a mouse gnawing the root of the tree from which he was hanging. Our life is like the tree cut off from its base. Withering away is just a matter of time. Therefore, we need to willingly accept others reproaches, no matter from whom it may come and be ready to correct ourselves. Meditating on the Word and attending worship service are the best way for us to prepare for Gods impending judgment.
2. Naboth who says No. To Ahabs suggestion, Naboth definitely responded, saying, 'The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.' In the ancient Near East, if a plebeian refused a kings request, he actually risked his life. If Naboth have agreed to Ahabs suggestion, he would have received a great benefit. Yet Naboth refused this sweet proposal because God forbade him. During the Canaan Conquest, the Israelites won many wars under the guidance and protection of the Lord that seemed to be impossible for them to win till they finally conquered the land. Thats why the land is called the Promised Land, whose ultimate ownership belongs to God, who gave them the land. Naboth kept in mind that God forbid him to sell or transfer or exploit his inheritance and he rightly refused Ahabs request. Ahab tried to convert the vineyard, which stood for Gods pasture of the Israelites, into a human plantation, the foundation of worldly life in Egypt and its industry. Thus he didnt trust in the Lord. He forgot his duty to take care of his people in Gods will as a king of Israel and tried to do whatever he wanted, using his power. After the war against Aram, he had to help his people, exhausted from the war, to restore and pull themselves together. Ridiculously, however, he was taken to his ivory palace, forgetting the grace of God, who helped him win the war that seemed impossible to win. Thus in spite of himself, he sat in Gods place as there was no one above him.
3. Jezebel the Depriver. When Ahab sulked in bed, Jezebel came to him as a troubleshooter. Thus Ahab failed to face himself because of Jezebel, who enabled his worst behavior. Actually, Ahab recognized that God was the true Lord after watching Gods fire set on Elijahs altar at Mt. Carmel. Yet, urged by Jezebels proclamation that she would kill Elijah, he backslid to his old ways. He also had given up on having Naboths vineyard to a degree, yet because of Jezebel, he return to his worst again. Jezebel had actual power and scheme to change Naboths refusal to agreement. Ahab told Jezebel what Naboth had said adding a lie. Then, Jezebel enacted her plan of calling a fast, seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people according to the law with two scoundrels opposite him, and let them testify against Naboth, stone him to death, and finally take the vineyard from him. A gentile woman as she was, Jezebel took advantage of the Scripture for the sake of her own project.
4. Elders & nobles the Accomplices The elders and noblemen killed Naboth as Jezebel ordered without raising any objection to her and reported the result. Actually, they knew that Naboth was a godly man, who refused Ahabs suggestion in order to obey the Word. However, they obeyed Jezebel and joined her in killing Naboth. They killed not only Naboth but also his family. How horrible a troubleshooter she was! Because of this sin, seventy of Ahabs descendants were to be executed right at this place. Truly our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory to come.
Heres the application that I made while doing my QT many years ago, when I moved into a new house after the 12 years of living with my parents-in-law. However, instead of enjoying freedom, I had to stay at home and take care of my children according to my husbands order. I wondered how long I should wait till I had freedom, yet I decided to obey him, thinking that my obedience would be a sort of martyrdom for salvation because he is the inheritance of Gods salvation. It worked! God let this testimony be known to the whole world through a world magazine. When God forbids us, we need to simply obey him, throwing away our profit and interest. Thats how to be a martyr. Naboth and his family were slain like lambs on the altar. However, God honored him by having his name enrolled in the Scripture Naboths vineyard. May God bless us all to look up to it in faith!
But Naboth replied, 'The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.' (1Kgs 21:3)
