WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.000 We're going to read together from the Old Testament from 1 Kings chapter 21. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:11.000 So we're working our way through the stories of Elijah. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:17.000 And this is God's word to us about what happened in 1 Kings 21. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:24.120 Now, Naboth, the Jezreelite, had a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of Ahab, King 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:25.640 of Samaria. 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:30.480 And after this Ahab said to Naboth, Give me your vineyard that I may have it for a vegetable 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:35.320 garden because it is near my house and I will give you a better vineyard for it. 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:39.280 Or if it seems good to you, I will give you its value and money. 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:44.719 But Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers. 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:50.159 And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth, the Jezreelite, had 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:54.960 said to him, For he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:00.439 And he lay down on his bed and he turned away his face and he would eat no food. 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:04.719 But Jezebel, his wife, came to him and said to him, Why is your spirit so vexed that you 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:06.719 eat no food? 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:11.680 And he said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth, the Jezreelite, and said to him, Give me your 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:16.960 vineyard for money or else if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it. 00:01:16.960 --> 00:01:20.120 And he answered, I will not give you my vineyard. 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:25.640 And Jezebel, his wife, said to him, Do you now govern Israel, arise and eat bread and 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:27.400 let your heart be cheerful? 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:30.760 I will give you the vineyard in Naboth, the Jezreelite. 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:34.880 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and she sealed them with his seal. 00:01:34.880 --> 00:01:39.520 And she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who live with Naboth in his city. 00:01:39.520 --> 00:01:44.840 And she wrote in the letters, Proclaim afast and set Naboth at the head of the people. 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:50.840 And set two worthless men opposite him and let them bring a charge against him saying, 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:53.200 You have cursed God and the king. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.320 Then take him out and stone him to death. 00:01:56.320 --> 00:02:02.000 And the men of the city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:03.840 had sent word to them. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:08.039 As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, they proclaimed afast and 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:11.280 they set Naboth at the head of the people. 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:15.960 And the two worthless men came in and set opposite him and the worthless men brought 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:20.920 a charge against Naboth and the presence of the people saying, Naboth cursed God and 00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:22.120 the king. 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:27.400 So they took him outside the city and they stoned him to death with stones. 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:30.199 Then they sent to Jezebel saying, Naboth has been stoned. 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:31.719 He is dead. 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:36.400 And as soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:42.080 Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, which he refused 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:43.599 to give you for money. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:46.560 For Naboth is not alive but dead. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:51.439 And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:55.120 of Naboth, the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:00.240 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, the tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:03.280 Ahab, king of Israel, who is in Samaria. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:07.439 Behold, he is in the vineyard in Naboth where he has gone to take possession. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:13.120 And you shall say to him, Thus says the Lord, have you killed and also taken possession? 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:18.879 And you shall say to him, Thus says the Lord, in the place where dogs licked up the blood 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:23.479 of Naboth, shall dogs lick your own blood. 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:28.520 Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy? 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:31.000 He answered, I have found you. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:34.759 Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord. 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:36.840 And behold, I will bring disaster upon you. 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:38.960 I will utterly burn you up. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:44.280 And I will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free in Israel. 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:48.479 And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Naboth, and like the 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:55.080 house of Baasha, the son of Ahesha, for the anger to which you have provoked me, because 00:03:55.080 --> 00:03:57.560 you have made Israel to sin. 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:03.400 And of Jezebel, the Lord also said, The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel. 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:07.680 Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, the dogs shall eat. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:12.599 And anyone of his who dies in the open country, the birds of the heavens will eat. 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:16.720 There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:19.519 whom Jezebel, his wife, incited. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:25.019 He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:27.439 out before the people of Israel. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:33.039 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, and he put sackcloth on his flesh 00:04:33.039 --> 00:04:37.799 and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 00:04:37.799 --> 00:04:42.439 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah, the Tishbite, saying, Have you seen how Ahab 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:44.639 has humbled himself before me? 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:49.120 Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring disaster in his days. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:56.720 But in his son's days, I will bring disaster upon his house. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:02.120 We are continuing our sermon series on Elijah and Elisha today. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:04.480 And it's a very long chapter, wasn't it? 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:07.600 So well done, Corey, for reading all of that. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:10.480 Let me just get my stuff sorted for a minute. 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:14.879 There's not enough space on this little stand. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:17.480 I don't know what you call it. 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:18.759 But my name is Simon. 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:21.039 I'm a minister in training here at St. C's. 00:05:21.039 --> 00:05:25.439 I forgot to mention that in the beginning for those of you who don't know me. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.920 And I have the honor to preach to you today. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:29.079 So let's do that. 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:32.439 I also need to put this a little bit up. 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:35.279 No offense, Corey. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:40.480 Today we are looking at a story that at least I wasn't very aware of. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:44.519 But it's an important story because it shows us the heart of idolatry. 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:49.839 It's a study of what our rebellion against God looks like and it shows us the consequences 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:57.199 of it and it shows us how distorted and twisted the desires of our hearts can become. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:01.759 In the letter of James in the New Testament in chapter one, it says that each person is 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:07.399 tempted when he or she is lured and enticed by his own desire. 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:12.039 Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin. 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:17.040 And sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:21.600 We can see this in this chapter in King Ahab's actions, can't we? 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:26.120 How desire leads to sin and then sin ultimately leads to death. 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:31.759 But we can also see what righteousness looks like and our love for God's Word. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:37.560 So we'll talk a little bit about King Ahab and his wife Jezebel and idolatry. 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:42.280 And we'll talk about Naboth and the vineyard and righteousness and then we'll try to figure 00:06:42.280 --> 00:06:45.000 out what to make of all of that. 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.120 So first of all, Ahab, King Ahab. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:51.720 We already know that King Ahab is not a very good guy. 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:57.800 We know that he doesn't like Elijah because Elijah is faithful to God and always speaks 00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:01.439 God's Word whether it's nice or not. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:05.000 Elijah really is not a people pleaser, right? 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:11.800 This becomes quite clear when instead of saying good evening to Elijah, King Ahab says, have 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:14.199 you found me, oh my enemy? 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:21.600 Ahab and Elijah are not likely to become friends because Elijah actually represents everything 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:27.720 that Ahab hates so much, faithfulness to the living God. 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:29.120 What else do we know about King Ahab? 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:36.040 Ahab is married to, let's say a temperamental woman called Jezebel and in this chapter we 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:41.680 read that there was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:44.759 like Ahab whom Jezebel, his wife, incited. 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:52.120 So we know that not only Ahab is bad but also his wife plays a big part in that as well. 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:58.720 And it's here in this chapter that we understand why Ahab is worse than any other king. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:03.040 It's not this particular story or this particular instance that makes him so bad. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:08.880 It's more that this whole chapter is representing Ahab's heart. 00:08:08.880 --> 00:08:10.320 One commentator puts it like this. 00:08:10.320 --> 00:08:17.280 He says, Ahab is like David stealing from his neighbor and arranging his death. 00:08:17.280 --> 00:08:21.200 Ahab is like Cain attacking a fellow Israelite brother. 00:08:21.200 --> 00:08:27.720 And Ahab is like Adam eating the forbidden fruit, the fruit of another's vineyard. 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:35.720 And all that this shows us is that Ahab loves Gentiles and their gods and he hates faithful 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:37.800 Israelites and their God. 00:08:37.800 --> 00:08:42.879 He doesn't know how to fight enemies and he doesn't know how to protect friends. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:49.320 In summary, King Ahab completely and utterly fails to fulfill his duties as the king of 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:50.320 Israel. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:57.240 There's a very ironic question in verse 7 where Jezebel asks him, do you not govern 00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:59.639 the kingdom of Israel? 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:06.200 Technically, the answer is yes, Ahab is the king of Israel, but actually no. 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:11.320 He does not really live up to the standard of an Israelite king. 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:15.279 And also, isn't it really his wife who runs things? 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:19.639 Isn't it her who takes matters into her own hands? 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:25.639 Slowly we start to understand why the Bible calls Ahab one of the worst kings, if not the 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:27.480 worst king. 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:30.399 Let me just repeat what I just said. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:38.519 Ahab loves Gentiles and their gods, in other words, idols, and he hates faithful Israelites 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:39.879 and their God. 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:44.720 He doesn't know how to fight enemies and he doesn't know how to protect friends. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:50.919 Now, don't get me wrong, Jezebel is just as responsible for what happened as Ahab is. 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:51.919 Right? 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:54.519 We see this big sin that has happened. 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:59.759 And she is playing a major factor for the idolatry in Ahab's heart. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:05.000 Jezebel actually knows the law of God quite well because, I don't know if you notice this, 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:11.240 but she arranges for that false trial for Naboth and she knows that you need at least 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:17.840 two witnesses in order to go forth and kill that person. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:19.519 And that's from the law of God. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:24.240 That's from Numbers 35, from Deuteronomy 17. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:30.200 So she knows she's familiar with the law of God, yet she hates the law because she doesn't 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:31.799 follow it at all. 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:34.600 And she only uses the law to get what she wants. 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:36.360 She mocks it. 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:40.039 And by mocking the law, she's mocking God. 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:46.159 And she's just as responsible for what happened as Ahab is. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:53.600 The criteria of a king in Israel is always to keep the covenant, to get rid of idols 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:55.480 and to love God. 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:57.200 Ahab doesn't do that. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:00.040 And Jezebel doesn't do that. 00:11:00.040 --> 00:11:03.000 Instead we see something completely different. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:08.000 Instead of getting rid of idols and taking responsibility as the king of Israel, King 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.800 Ahab behaves like a two-year-old. 00:11:11.800 --> 00:11:13.399 He wants a vegetable garden, right? 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:15.800 He wants that vineyard to make a vegetable garden out of it. 00:11:15.800 --> 00:11:17.600 He wants it, but he can't have it. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:19.440 But he really wants it. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:20.440 So what does he do? 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:21.440 He goes home. 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:26.480 He lives on his bed, refuses to eat, cries a bit. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:28.160 That's not what a king does. 00:11:28.160 --> 00:11:30.880 That's what a child does. 00:11:30.880 --> 00:11:34.280 King being depressed about a vegetable garden, really. 00:11:34.280 --> 00:11:36.480 Or is there more going on in that passage? 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:43.200 See, a lot of commentators actually point out that vineyards throughout the Bible are 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:46.640 often associated with Israel, the people of God. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:53.840 So for example, in Psalm 80 and in Isaiah 5, very famous passages in the Bible, the 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:57.279 vineyard is a symbol for Israel. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:02.919 But what is even more interesting is that the term for vegetable garden comes up exactly 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:05.319 one more time in the Bible. 00:12:05.319 --> 00:12:06.319 One more time. 00:12:06.319 --> 00:12:13.279 In Deuteronomy 11 verse 10, in that verse, God is talking and he's speaking about the 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.279 promised land. 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:16.240 He's speaking about Israel. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:17.240 And he says this. 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:22.360 He says that the land that you're entering to take possession of is not like the land 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:28.399 of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it like a garden 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:30.120 of vegetables. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:37.320 But the land that you're going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, like vineyards, 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:42.120 which drinks water by the rain from heaven. 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:47.600 So do you understand that picture Israel is a land that is watered by God and the rain 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:54.840 that he gives Egypt is like a vegetable garden that we water and take care of. 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:55.840 Okay. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:58.399 Do you understand the symbolism here? 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:05.240 The author of that chapter is actually going through some difficulties to use those words 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.200 and to actually mention those details. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:12.759 So it's constructed carefully here in that passage showing us where Ahab's heart really 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:14.040 lies. 00:13:14.040 --> 00:13:16.320 He doesn't regard the land for what it is. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:20.520 He doesn't care that God is the one in charge for making it fruitful. 00:13:20.520 --> 00:13:24.200 He doesn't want to be dependent on God. 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:29.920 He doesn't believe that God knows better and that God will provide. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:37.639 No, Ahab wants to be in charge without being hindered by the laws of God. 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:39.479 Does that sound familiar? 00:13:39.479 --> 00:13:44.599 I can definitely see myself in that, wanting to be in charge without being hindered by 00:13:44.599 --> 00:13:46.319 the laws of God. 00:13:46.319 --> 00:13:52.159 He wants to do whatever he pleases to do and when he pleases to do it. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:58.240 And just like he hates the true prophets of God because they constantly, constantly keep 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:01.639 telling him that he cannot do what he wants to do. 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:06.840 He hates the fact that he can't have the vineyard and make a vegetable garden out of 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:12.159 it because the law of God does not allow it. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:17.600 You see, Ahab is like the crowds that followed Moses out of Egypt who wanted to go back to 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:20.360 Egypt into slavery and idolatry. 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.840 It's turning around. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:25.560 It's making Israel back into Cana. 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:28.879 It's doing everything against God's will. 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:31.519 It's rebellion against God. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:37.039 And then he sits there like a two-year-old with self-pity, passivity, being angry at 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:43.159 God, vexed and sullen, and being angry at neighbors for actually following those laws. 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:45.479 Now let me say this. 00:14:45.479 --> 00:14:53.919 The vast majority of us here, you, me, even the most wise and experienced Christians in 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:59.959 this congregation are like King Ahab. 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:10.759 Most of us have a tendency to ignore God in order to get what it is that we want. 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:19.039 There are a few questions that I have asked myself this last week during my sermon preparation. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:24.639 I'd like you to take a few minutes and to reflect upon that and to answer those questions 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.919 truthfully. 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:35.799 What are the vineyards in your life that you constantly try to turn into vegetable gardens? 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:37.599 Your relationships? 00:15:37.599 --> 00:15:39.360 Your career? 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.360 Your finances? 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:41.360 Your house? 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:42.360 Your car? 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.360 Your children? 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.360 Your secrets? 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:48.559 That sin that you have been struggling with for that many years now? 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:52.799 The stuff that you say about your coworker when they leave the room? 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:57.319 Your thought life? 00:15:57.319 --> 00:16:03.079 In other words, which areas in your life would you rather take care of yourself? 00:16:03.079 --> 00:16:08.199 Which area in your life would you rather make into a vegetable garden that you water rather 00:16:08.199 --> 00:16:12.759 than a vineyard that is dependent on God? 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:20.559 Why is it that you are reluctant to give every aspect of your life, every aspect of your heart 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:27.720 to your God and Creator, to the one who made you, to the one who knows you? 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:33.559 What are the ways you have tried to make vineyards into vegetable gardens in your life even today, 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:38.679 in the last week, in the last month, in the last year? 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:44.719 And does it frustrate and embitter you when you can't have what you want and you think 00:16:44.719 --> 00:16:48.679 you know better and you think, but God, don't you see? 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:50.839 Makes much more sense. 00:16:50.839 --> 00:16:54.919 You know, if you answer those questions truthfully, and I've tried to do that myself, then you 00:16:54.919 --> 00:17:00.839 immediately see how similar your heart can be to that of King Ahab. 00:17:00.839 --> 00:17:05.559 Ahab who goes home and feels sorry for himself because he can't get what he really, really 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:08.399 wants so badly. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:15.400 Maybe we pause here for a second and talk about self-pity and passivity and bitterness 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:20.640 and resentment because sometimes we feel like it's okay to be like that. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:25.480 Sometimes we feel like it's okay to sit on our beds and be angry at God, be angry at 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:29.880 all those other perfect Christians around us in our lives. 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:32.360 But the Bible really warns us of that. 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:38.439 You see in Genesis, Adam is passive when he should have been proactive in warning Eve 00:17:38.439 --> 00:17:40.639 not to eat the fruit, right? 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:44.479 And the story of David, David doesn't go to war with his people. 00:17:44.479 --> 00:17:50.839 He actually just sits passively on his roof seeing something or someone that he really, 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:53.359 really wants but can't have. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:18:00.000 The Israelites in the desert when they leave Egypt, they always sin when they start feeling 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:03.599 sorry for themselves. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:05.799 That's when they make the golden calf. 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:12.519 That's when they wish they were back in Egypt in idolatry and slavery and scapegoating and 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:14.359 not taking responsibility. 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:15.640 It didn't work for Adam. 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:21.079 It didn't work for David and it doesn't work for Ahab. 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:26.839 In verse 19, there's a question directed at Ahab. 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:33.399 I don't know if you noticed and it says, have you killed and taken possession? 00:18:33.399 --> 00:18:41.759 Not your wife, not your guys that you commanded to do it, no you, you are responsible. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:45.359 And of course, King Ahab is guilty of that, right? 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:50.839 And the Bible asks us directly the same question today. 00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:51.839 Is it your fault? 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:54.399 And if we're honest, we have to say yes. 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:55.399 We did that. 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:57.200 We sinned. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:02.800 It's often when we are passive that the idolatry in our hearts starts to settle. 00:19:02.800 --> 00:19:08.320 That's when our desires, as James put it, our desires become pregnant with sin and once 00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:13.519 they start giving birth to sin, it's already too late. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:16.040 Okay. 00:19:16.040 --> 00:19:20.960 We've talked a good bit about Ahab and Jezebel and idolatry. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:25.280 So let's talk a bit about Naboth and the vineyard. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:31.319 And in order to do that, I need you to take a minute and imagine something for me. 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:34.319 Imagine that you are living in the highlands. 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:39.279 Some of you have lived in the highlands for maybe all your life and you just moved to 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:43.279 Edinburgh or maybe some years in your life, so it shouldn't be too difficult. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.279 Okay. 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:45.279 Imagine you're in the highlands. 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:49.759 You have a bit of land and you enjoy your life there. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:54.039 And I forgot to mention you live right next to Balmoral Castle, right? 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:58.639 Now one day you get a phone call from King Charles and he says, listen, I know that you 00:19:58.639 --> 00:20:03.559 own the land right next to my lands around Balmoral Castle and I'm quite interested in 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:07.039 buying some of your land for a project that I've planned for a while. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:12.279 Now I'm not sure what kind of project King Charles would plan, but he's got something 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.279 in mind. 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.279 Okay. 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.279 I'm sure. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.279 Money is no problem. 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:21.159 He says, in fact, if you like to choose some other property, just go ahead. 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:24.560 I'll make sure it happens, right? 00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:25.880 No problem. 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:28.640 And their right minds would say no to this. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.880 Right? 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:31.720 So win-win situation. 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:34.360 You have a good standing with the king. 00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:38.720 He knows you're the guy who gave him that land for his cheese factory. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.720 I don't know. 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.960 I have no idea. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.640 You get money through the deal. 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:48.440 You also really wouldn't want the king to have anything against you. 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.440 Safe is safe. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.440 Okay. 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:58.720 So this is a hypothetical situation and very unlikely for anyone here to happen probably. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:01.320 But for Naboth, that is pretty much what did happen. 00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:05.440 The chapter starts out by introducing us to Naboth. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:10.360 Some guy from Jezreel and if you haven't noticed, Jezreel is not Samaria where King 00:21:10.360 --> 00:21:13.640 Aeb usually is. 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:20.200 So Aeb has some house in Jezreel where he goes for holidays, I imagine. 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.240 Something like that. 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:25.840 And Naboth has that vineyard right next to it. 00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:26.960 So Aeb thinks, perfect. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:30.080 I want that land so I can make a vegetable garden out of it. 00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:32.759 But there is a problem. 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:34.519 Naboth can't sell. 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:36.559 Why? 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:40.799 In Leviticus 25, we're again back to the law. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:45.519 There are a lot of rules written down about the land of Israel, the land that was inherited 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.519 to you. 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:52.720 And one of those rules says that under no circumstances can you sell that land unless 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:56.519 you are super poor, you have nothing left to give. 00:21:56.519 --> 00:22:01.720 And that's the only option where you can say, okay, I sell that land to get some money to 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:03.240 survive, basically. 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:08.759 But even then, after seven years in the Sabbath year, the land would go back to the original 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.759 owner. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.759 Okay. 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:13.759 So Naboth says, sorry, can't do. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:15.279 I have to decline that offer. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:19.639 And let's be honest, it would have been a good deal for Naboth. 00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:25.639 King Aeb would have paid him good money or given him a different, even a better vineyard 00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:29.759 than the one he had. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:35.039 But Naboth stays strong and he says, no, can't sell. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:41.920 And Aeb goes home, waxed in sullen, being angry at God and his laws and at Naboth for 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:45.480 following those laws. 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:48.720 Okay, I want you to think for a second. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:51.640 Why is it that Naboth can sell? 00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:56.000 I mean, I just said it, but if we are honest, there's only one thing. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:59.279 There's one thing that doesn't allow Naboth to sell. 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:05.640 And the answer is this, God's holy word, God's commands. 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:07.680 You might wonder, what's your point? 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.759 Well, the point is this. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:13.920 The majority of people in our society, in our culture, here in Edinburgh, if you would 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:21.879 go on Princess Street and you would say, if no one gets hurt and if both parties consent 00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:24.559 to the deal, there's nothing sinful about it. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:31.079 I think 90, more than 90% of the people would agree with this. 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:36.160 If everyone consents, if no one gets hurt, we're all good. 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.440 Everything's allowed. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:39.880 Everything goes. 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:42.720 But this man Naboth is saying something different, isn't he? 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:48.400 He says, the Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:52.200 The only thing is that the Lord forbid. 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:54.640 God's word. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:57.920 Often sin can seem like it doesn't hurt anyone. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:02.120 Often we think, what does it matter if I do that right now? 00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:05.240 Often we don't even see a problem with the idolatry of our hearts. 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:08.920 When we sell out like this, it's too late. 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:10.519 But Naboth didn't sell out. 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:14.400 It would have been a good deal for Naboth. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:16.319 Nobody would have been hurt. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:18.120 Nobody would have known. 00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:21.319 But Naboth chooses to follow God's commands. 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:24.440 And I think we can learn a lot from him. 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:32.400 It requires so much strength to be faithful to God's word in what seems to be a godless 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:34.519 world. 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:40.519 See when you sometimes can't see why God requires some of those things from you. 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:43.079 Does he not want me to be happy? 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:46.400 Does God not want me to live life to the fullest? 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:49.599 Yes, he does. 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:52.440 God does want you to live life to the fullest. 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:57.639 But God also knows what it is we really need. 00:24:57.639 --> 00:25:04.160 And God requires that we trust that and we place our faith in His promises. 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:06.120 Even when we think we know better. 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:10.440 Especially when we think we know better. 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:13.480 Especially when we really want something. 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:15.560 And Naboth understands that. 00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:18.160 And he did not sell out. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:23.440 If you're a little bit like me, which maybe you aren't, but maybe you are, then you will 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:26.680 say right now, well, that's great for Naboth, okay? 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:31.400 Great that he didn't sell out, but didn't he get killed for that in the end? 00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:35.759 And also, I don't think I'm as strong as Naboth. 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:40.680 I've tried again and again and again, and I just mess it up every single time I'm selling 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.680 out. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:45.240 I can't be as good as Naboth. 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:49.840 Well, I'm not here to tell you to just try harder, okay? 00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:52.040 That's not what we're doing here. 00:25:52.040 --> 00:25:56.240 That person Naboth in this story is not just an example of how to live. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.920 He is that. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:02.000 But actually, he's a picture for someone else as well. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:07.160 We get a picture here in this story that reminds us of someone who's righteous, right? 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:09.600 A true owner of a vineyard. 00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:12.640 The true owner of God's people. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:18.800 A righteous one who lived according to God's law and fulfilled every single iota of it. 00:26:18.800 --> 00:26:20.960 One who gets accused of blasphemy. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:25.880 One who's given a false trial with false witnesses. 00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:35.760 One who gets dragged out of the city and who is killed for the idolatry of his own people. 00:26:35.760 --> 00:26:43.200 The picture of Naboth should remind us of Jesus Christ, of our Lord and Savior, of the 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:48.320 one who never sold out, of the one who was righteous, of the one who had a false trial, 00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:55.320 false witnesses who got dragged out of the city and who got killed. 00:26:55.319 --> 00:27:05.119 By his blood, we are forgiven, even if we sell out, even if we mess up. 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:10.439 Forgiveness is something that requires repentance. 00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:14.639 Our story doesn't end here, right? 00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:17.200 The story doesn't end with the death of Naboth. 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:21.720 Actually, we hear from our main character Elijah again. 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:26.880 God commands Elijah to prophesy a very difficult message to Aeob and Jezebel. 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:29.240 It's not a nice prophecy. 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:36.519 It predicts their coming death for all the sins they have committed and all the idolatry 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:38.360 they have committed. 00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:44.039 After all the signs that God had given them, after all the miracles and all the victories 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:46.200 God had given them. 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:50.799 And King Aeob actually reacts in a way that we wouldn't have expected, right? 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:56.599 King Aeob goes and he humbles himself before God and God rewards that and delays his punishment. 00:27:56.599 --> 00:28:05.319 But the problem is King Aeob humbles himself, but he doesn't repent. 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:13.119 If you read the next chapter, you will see that King Aeob consults 400 false prophets 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:20.519 and he goes and he does things again that are not what God commands him to do. 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:22.119 So he's continuing that idolatry. 00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:26.400 He's continuing to follow his own heart. 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:31.279 It seems as though Aeob is repenting in that moment, but that is not what's happening. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:37.119 But the text is trying to show us that it would have been the right response. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.119 Repentance. 00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:42.000 True repentance would have been the right response to all the sin and idolatry that 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:44.000 has been going on there. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:47.879 Repentance actually is the antidote to sin and idolatry. 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:55.200 If you went to the prayer meeting on Wednesday night, you heard Corey talking about repentance. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:29:00.480 But what we see Aeob doing here is sadly not real repentance. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:05.000 He shows by ripping apart his clothes that he is sorry, but what is he actually sorry 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.400 for? 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:10.880 Is he sorry that he was found out for his sin? 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:15.960 He's probably sorry that a neighbor, an innocent man, died. 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:19.160 There wasn't his idea to do that after all. 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:23.960 But is he actually sorry that he offended the holy and living God? 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:29.120 See, I'm not sure because someone who would be sorry for that wouldn't go and consult 00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:34.759 400 false prophets afterwards. 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:41.680 Sometimes I think this is like, I don't know if you know Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:45.400 Corey's not the only person who can make references to that. 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:49.440 It's like Gollum and his relationship to the ring. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:53.600 He hates it, but he loves it. 00:29:53.600 --> 00:29:55.160 And he hates that he loves it. 00:29:55.160 --> 00:30:01.240 But in the end, it causes him to die. 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:04.120 True repentance is what all of us need. 00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:09.120 And there's an early church father called Chrysostom. 00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:11.759 I think that's how you pronounce his name. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:14.120 Who writes this about repentance and sin? 00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:20.759 He writes, be ashamed when you sin, but don't be ashamed when you repent. 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:24.839 Sin is the wound, repentance is the medicine. 00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:30.839 Sin is followed by shame, repentance is followed by boldness. 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:37.079 Satan, the enemy, has overturned this order and he's given boldness to sin and shame to 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:39.959 repentance the wrong way around. 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:44.920 Ahab was bold in his sin, Jezebel was bold in her sin. 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:52.039 Ahab was ashamed in his repentance and Jezebel didn't repent from what we know. 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:58.240 Listen, if you're here today and you're aware that the desires of your heart are twisted, 00:30:58.240 --> 00:31:00.279 then do not wait any longer. 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:05.240 Then run to God, ask him for forgiveness, ask him for a new heart. 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:06.920 And because that's why Jesus came. 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.920 That's why he died. 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:10.279 That's why he rose again. 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:14.320 Humble yourself before him, admit your wrongdoings. 00:31:14.320 --> 00:31:16.840 Martin Luther said it so fittingly. 00:31:16.840 --> 00:31:24.039 He says, when our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said repent, he willed the entire life of 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:26.680 believers to be one of repentance. 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:34.240 Our whole lives from day to day, every day needs to be one of repentance. 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:36.800 Are you sorry for the things you have done? 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:41.159 Are you sorry for how you have offended God and others? 00:31:41.159 --> 00:31:44.759 Not just sorry that someone found out about your sin. 00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:49.200 Not just sorry to the person that you have offended, perhaps. 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:56.559 But are you actually sorry that you offended the holy and living God? 00:31:56.559 --> 00:32:02.319 This is what this passage tonight here asks of you, to lead a life of true repentance, 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:07.559 to live in and through the forgiveness that the Father has given you in Jesus Christ, 00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:10.559 the righteous one who died for you. 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:17.679 Neighbors didn't sell out because the inheritance of that vineyard wasn't for him to give away. 00:32:17.679 --> 00:32:23.319 But in Jesus we have an older brother, an older brother who died to protect and to share 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:27.439 his inheritance with us, his people. 00:32:27.439 --> 00:32:29.439 Let us pray. 00:32:29.439 --> 00:32:31.839 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for tonight. 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:39.399 We thank you for your word, for your story about Naboth and how he did in compromise. 00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:47.639 Father we thank you for the example in your word of what sin is and what it does and how 00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:52.519 our hearts and the desires of our hearts are twisted. 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:59.079 Father we ask you tonight to give us a new heart, to forgive us all of our sins, not 00:32:59.079 --> 00:33:05.599 for our sakes but for the sake of your Son, the righteous one who died for us, Jesus. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.599 In his name you pray. 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:32.599 Amen.