Get A Clue

When Jezebel heard the news, she said to Ahab, “You know the vineyard Naboth wouldn’t sell you? Well, you can have it now! He’s dead!” [1 Kings 21.15]

I want to discuss Naboth today. Most of the times I have ever heard any discussions about this event, it is always about Ahab or Jezebel. No doubt, they were no-good wicked individuals.

Of course it was obviously Naboth's choice of whether or not to sell his land to Ahab, but was it a good choice? Naboth told Ahab the land was an inheritance, but I would think that was pretty much the case with everyone's land at that time. Would it only be speculation to think Naboth had other intentions - namely just to spite the king? Perhaps, the land was particularly good and was somewhat a ' prize' as land goes... who knows? Ahab did say he would replace it with better land. The record shows that Ahab's reason for wanting it was one of convenience - the vineyard was near Ahab's palace.

While I know the story is about the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel, I still wonder how things would have gone differently for Naboth had he acknowledged the king's reason for wanting it and worked something out. My guess is, had Naboth sold or traded the land to Ahab, he would have lived a longer life!

There may or may not be a lesson in this story of Naboth, but it would seem that an obvious lesson would be that possessions aren't worth dying for. But how could Naboth have known his life was at stake? The fact is, we all know that Ahab and Jezebel were wicked and it is certain the people of that time and kingdom knew they were wicked as well.

It all comes back to the fact that Ahab and Jezebel were just wicked people. Sure, Ahab was probably a likable guy (un-scrupled, but likable), but Jezebel is never seen in such a light. Again, the people of their time and kingdom were surely aware of their political leadership's worthlessness. Naboth probably 'had a clue' but went against better judgement. it cost him his life.

Father, help me to 'have a clue' when it comes to dealing with the political system under which I live.