A Coveting King

Introduction

Have you ever wanted something so bad that you couldn’t stop thinking about it? You end up scrolling on websites that sell the item, dreaming of what could be. You hold on to that magazine cover that sports the beautiful item. You become jealous of your neighbor who has the coveted item. All of a sudden, your life becomes swamped with jealousy and envy, wishing you had this thing, craving something new and better than before. Then, all at once, you do something foolish: buy something you can’t afford, insult your longtime friend over this item, belittle your family because of it, and even lose part of your integrity because of this strong desire. This is what the Bible calls “coveting.”

Looking at the skill of other people or their possessions and desiring to grow and be better can be healthy competition. Any way that we can be challenged to develop as individuals and Christians is good. The problem comes when the desire for things or achievements or skills becomes all-consuming. It infects our thoughts and drives our actions to gain the thing we don’t have. The pursuit of earthly gain leads us away from God and ends in our own self-destruction.

Ahab coveted his neighbor’s vineyard (1 Kings 21). In the previous chapter, after Israel was threatened with war from Aram. A prophet of Yahweh went to Ahab saying that the Lord has been slandered and blasphemed by the Arameans, thus, God would use Ahab to demonstrate His power and preeminence. King Ahab followed the prophet’s directions and received victory! However, Ahab did not completely obey, thus, the Lord spoke through the prophet that Ahab would be destroyed and so would Israel (vs. 41-43). Ahab was sullen and vexed about these things when he returned to Samaria. It was there that he turned his attention to getting more stuff, possibly to make him feel better.

-Naboth means sprout. Jezreel is a town in Issachar, a valley just south of Galilee

I. Deal Gone Wrong (vs. 1-16)

A. Ahab took note of a vineyard next to his palace and he wanted it (vs. 1-4)

1. He was going to be fair and buy the vineyard or trade one of his other plots for it, but Naboth refused

a. There was no maliciousness. It was a simple refusal to do a business transaction, all of which was perfectly in line with the Law

b. Naboth did not wish to relinquish the inheritance of his fathers and keep the land in the family for his children

2. Ahab began to pout as a result (vs. 4)

a. He was vexed (irritated, ill-humored) and sullen (angry, rage). He could not believe he, the king, was denied what he desired

b. Ahab then pouted like a stubborn child by refusing to eat because the business deal went south

B. Jezebel’s Plot (vs. 5-16)

1. Even Jezebel realized how ridiculous Ahab’s behavior was (vs. 5)

a. “Why are you so rebellious (stubborn or sullen) that you don’t eat?” Ahab explained what happened with Naboth, the man simply said no (vs. 6)

b. She rebukes him saying, “You’re the king, buck up and eat. Don’t worry about the vineyard, I’ll get it for you” (vs. 7).

2. She then wrote letters with Ahab’s name and seal to the elders and nobles in Jezreel (vs. 8-10)

a. She then demanded a fast be proclaimed and accusations of blasphemy be raised against Naboth by two worthless men (no man of integrity would discredit Naboth dishonestly, but worthless men would)

b. These men were worthless (vain, useless, or wicked), they served no purpose for the Lord because they rebelled in evil, resulting in the death of an innocent man. The just punishment for blasphemy is death. If Naboth is taken out of the picture then the vineyard can be claimed or purchased by the palace.

c. The fast was meant to deceive the people into joining the side of Jezebel and the elders/nobles

1. Fasting was the abstinence of food for the purpose of connecting with God in some way: enhancing worship, remembering God’s works in one’s life, humble repentance, sorrow over a wrong committed, etc.

2. In this instance, fasting was meant to be an outcry to God, humbling themselves when confronted with the sin of blasphemy, hoping and praying God would relent punishment from the whole people and have judgment fall on the one responsible, and seeking God’s guidance/approval in enacting the appropriate punishment.

3. Jezebel’s plan was enacted and resulted exactly as she said it would (vs. 11-13).

a. The people did not realize the false vengeance they took on Naboth. They were simply told to fast over sin committed, heard the accusation, and followed the biblical punishment. How could they know that deceit and greed of royalty was the cause of all this?

b. When the deed was done, Jezebel told Ahab to take possession of the land (vs. 14-16)

c. No longer was it about fair trade or paying for the land, now it was taken from the family by Ahab.

II. Elijah’s Rebuke (vs. 17-26)

A. Elijah has been anointing Hazael and Jehu as kings and serving with Elisha, as the Lord had commanded in chapter 19

1. Now God spoke to Elijah to bring the Lord’s judgment down to Ahab for murder and stealing (vs. 17-19). The dogs lick up the blood of Naboth and the same will be true of Ahab.

2. “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed” (Genesis 9:6)

B. The judgment of the Lord upon Ahab and his household (vs. 20-26)

1. Jeroboam and his household were destroyed by the Word of the Lord through Ahijah the Shilonite because of their wickedness (1 Kings 15:29), as was Baasha and his household killed (1 Kings 16:11-12) for rebelling against God and provoking Him to anger. The punishment for Ahab, the most wicked of them all, would be the same

2. When God’s people ignore Him to serve their own purposes it angers Him

a. For God is to be treated as holy, thus, His people are to grow in holiness

b. Our deliberate sinfulness makes God angry until His patience runs out, then there is punishment.

c. He disciplines those He loves to keep them on the right path, but when we spur that discipline it turns into punishment and rejection, for we have rejected God.

3. Ahab and Jezebel would be destroyed for provoking the Judge to anger and leading His people astray.

a. Again, no one had done as much evil in Israel as Ahab and Jezebel (vs. 25-26)

b. God had cast out the ways of the Amorites and Jezebel brought them back through Ahab

c. The king had done evil, thus, evil will be returned to him. Just judgment was about to fall on account of all the wickedness he had done.

III. Ahab’s Repentance (vs. 27-29)

A. Ahab was humbled and sorrowful when confronted with the pending judgment (vs. 27-29)

1. He fasted, wore sackcloth (symbol of repentance and grieving, in this case, grieving over sin), and was gentle (despondent or soft) after this news (vs. 27)

2. Notice, his fasting was sincere and prompted from his sorrow/grief over his personal sin. Whereas, the town of Jezreel fasted because of deception

3. God relinquished the punishment in the days of Ahab because of his repentance. His son, however, continued in sin and would receive the full punishment. But for now, God showed His mercy (vs. 28-29)

B. The question needs to be asked, “Why was God so angry?” “Is coveting really that big a deal?”

1. First of all, ask king David if coveting Bathsheba was a big deal

2. Second off, we are made in the image of God!

a. Our very purpose for existing is to bring glory to Him!

1. In addition, we have been called out of the world to represent Christ

2. As the light of the world we must shine Jesus everywhere, that is our mission

b. When we choose to glorify some other person or thing as god then we fail at representing Yahweh, the glorious God who created us, and will lead people astray in the process

c. No wonder our Heavenly Father becomes angry when we forsake Him and do evil instead by placing money, jobs, hobbies, stuff, personal feelings, personal vendettas, and personal desires ahead of God’s will and purpose for us

Conclusion

What’s the solution? Grow in holiness. 1 Peter 1:15–16 “but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” When we begin to think and act like God we will treat others with the kind of respect and love that God shows. We will learn to be content with what we have been given and will be a blessing instead of a curse.

Jesus showed us the way to becoming more like our Heavenly Father. Let’s get into the Word to understand God’s character and find out how we can begin to emulate Him. In time we will develop the same kind of disgust and hatred at sin that God has. It all starts with repentance.

Therefore, humble yourself, grieve over your sin and struggles, fast before the Lord to connect with Him, and be gentle before God. He can and will forgive and help us in our time of need. Be content with what God has given you and be a blessing by loving your neighbor as yourself.