INTRODUCTION

A strong desire for something that belongs to another has often moved men to partake in violent deeds that they might not otherwise have been willing to do. Ahab, a wicked king, had a strong desire to obtain a vineyard belonging to Naboth (1 Kings 21:1-4 [1] And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. [2] And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. [3] And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. [4] And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
See All...). When Naboth refused to sell the vineyard, Ahab went home to mourn. When Jezebel saw her husband’s grief, she created a plan to take the vineyard by force (1 Kings 21:5-16 [5] But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? [6] And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. [7] And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. [8] So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. [9] And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: [10] And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. [11] And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. [12] They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. [13] And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. [14] Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. [15] And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. [16] And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
See All...). This principle is not limited to Ahab and Jezebel, but has unfortunately been the motive of many acts of violence throughout history. When men cannot fulfil the lusts of their flesh in a righteous man-ner, they often resort to any means necessary, including violence.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) In the story of the good Samaritan, the man who was traveling was a victim of violence by covetous men (Luke 10:30And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
  See All...). The Book of Job speaks of the covetousness of the wicked (Job 20:19Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
  See All...; Job 24:2-4 [2] Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. [3] They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. [4] They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
  See All...). Ephesians 4:28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
  See All... tells us how to get what we desire.
• Have you seen or read in the news about any acts of violence done in order to gain someone else’s possessions? How is that similar to what was done by Ahab and Jezebel?
• What are some things for which you long (i.e., material goods, emotional needs, physical needs)? What would you be willing to do in order to obtain those things?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to help you be content with what He has given you.
• Ask the Lord to help you see the wickedness of violence.

HYMN

He Leadeth Me

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