Naboth’s Righteousness

Synopsis     1Kings 21:1-10    7/1/2019 

During the reign of King Ahab, there was a man named Naboth. And Naboth owned a vineyard in Jezreel next to Ahab’s palace.  

Now Ahab desired to own Naboth’s vineyard. So, he offered to purchase the vineyard. But Naboth refused because the garden had been inherited from his ancestors.  

Because his offer had been rebuffed, Ahab returned to his palace and sulked. Finally, Ahab’s wife Jezebel intervened on his behalf. So, she instructed the leaders of Jezreel to frame Naboth by falsely accusing him of a crime. And she did this in King Ahab’s name.  

Naboth’s Righteousness 

Naboth was right not to sell or trade his vineyard. Under the law of Moses, the land was supposed to remain with families through the process of inheritance. And while Naboth also had the right to sell the land if his circumstances required, the sale was never intended to be permanent. 

Even so, Jezebel acted in Ahab’s name to illegally take Naboth’s property. In the end, Naboth was persecuted for doing what was right.  

Righteousness and Persecution 

Persecution comes from the abuse of power. It couldn’t come from anywhere else.

But your commitment to righteousness is safe. And in the end, it is peace.

“I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” John 16:33