Prophet Elijah to King Ahab: You have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord… there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. And he behaved very abominably in following idols. 1 Kings 21:20, 25, 26
Naboth’s vineyard: 21:1-29. Ahab decides he wants a vineyard that belongs to a man named Naboth. Naboth will not sell, for family inheritances of land are not to be transferred (4). Jezebel bribes two men to accuse Naboth of treason and blasphemy, and he is executed. The moral character of the king and queen, and of their religion, is clearly revealed in this terrible incident.
7 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.”
Elijah finds Ahab at Naboth’s vineyard. He announces God’s judgment on this king who has had so many
chances to turn to the Lord. Dogs will eat Jezebel’s body in the streets, and Ahab’s line will be destroyed. Now
Ahab repents (27). God graciously extends the time before the judgment will come.
“In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” ‘ … ‘Behold, I will
bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’ 23 And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ 24 The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.”
–> Jezebel thought that Ahab, her husband and she were in charge as king and queen of Israel, and could do anything to the people they rule. But actually, God was in charge. God reveals himself in every chapter of the Bible. As we read it, we learn to fear God because His judgments can be so terrible. We also start to enjoy the justice being done by the hands of God — like in movies, bad guys get destroyed at the end.
And, it’s not just make-believe fictions. It’s a true story God Himself tells us. It’s His promise about how things will end at the end of history and also at the end of each of our lives.
But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. Micah 4:4
