“Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” ” 1 Kings 21:7 (NKJV)
Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard to use as a vegetable garden for the palace because it was close. He offered to either pay cash for it or to trade another piece of property for it. However, the property had been in Naboth’s family for generations and he didn’t want to lose it. He turned down Ahab’s offer and that made Ahab sulk back to the palace. Then Jezebel offered her services to get the vineyard for Ahab.
Jezebel used Ahab’s seal and sent a letter to the leaders of the city where Naboth lived. She told them to have a religious fast with Naboth as an honored guest. They were also to have seated on either side of Naboth two scoundrels who would lie and say that Naboth blasphemed God and the king. Then they were to take him out and stone him to death.
The leaders of the city did exactly as Jezebel using Ahab’s seal had directed and Naboth was murdered because he had not blasphemed God or the king. Jezebel told Ahab to now go get the property he wanted because Naboth was dead and Ahab did.
Reading this story I could very easily think that there’s nothing in this story remotely reflecting anything in my life. But the Holy Spirit nudges a little harder. The principles here were greed, lying to damage another’s reputation and ultimately murder.
Am I ever tempted to say or do something that might negatively affect someone else’s reputation? I may not ever realize what the consequences of my words or actions might be. Oh, Lord, forgive me for times when I may have said something that even unintentionally has harmed someone else’s reputation or caused them to lose sight of your love for them.
Listen to Still Waters’ rendition of “Forgive Me Lord.”
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 2/17/25, 5:00 pm