Sermon Tone Analysis
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Intro
We will primarily be looking at this evening.
We have certain expectations of other people.
When we drive we expect other drivers to stay on their own side of the road, We expect people to stop at red lights and stop signs.
We expect people to be civil to one another, For the most part people comply.
We expect our leaders to live to a higher standard - and are often disappointed.
The reports of scandals coming out of Washington -fake or real- are enough to make most of us not want to watch the news anymore.
This evening, we are going to look at a woman who failed in living peaceably with others.
We are going to take a few moments to look at Jezebel.
In 1 kings 19:13 we read that Jezebel had killed prophets of God.
Later (v 19) we read that she had 400 prophets of Baal eating at her table.
So this woman not only despised the true God, she provided for at least these 400 false prophets of Baal.
Prayer
I) The Dilemma
I Kings 21:1-
King Ahab desires a vineyard that is positioned near the palace in Samaria.
It is owned by Naboth.
Ahab makes what appears to be not only a fair offer, but even generous.
Under the Mosaic Law, Naboth is not to sell the property, even if he did, it was to return to his family in the year of Jubilee.
Land was highly regarded among the Jewish people of that day.
Lev.
25:
For Naboth this was more than a business deal or sentimental feelings about the old homestead.
There was a theological issue here.
We see no evidence that the Jubilee year was observed every 50 years.
The evidence points to the fact that even the sabbath year rest was not observed.
Very likely, even if the Jubilee year was observed, Naboth may have not believed that the land would be returned to his family.
What did Jeremiah say?
II Chronicles 36:2
While this verse specifically refers to the southern kingdom that had periods of obedience to God and led by kings the tried to father God.
The nothern kingdom never had a godly king.
So after failed negotiations, Ahab comes home and pouts.
See in verse 4.
And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.”
And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food
II) Jezebel the enabler
A) Jezebel attempts to comfort Ahab
Instead she belittles him.
She comes in to comfort and inquires to his sadness, Ahab explains about the vineyard and instead of being an encouragement to him, pointing out his accomplishments and what he does have.
Instead she belittles him.
“You are the king, you can have it if you really want it.
You shouldn’t be sullen, have him done away with.
If you aren’t man enough to do get the vineyard, I’ll do it.
So she belittles him.
And then takes action because the king refuses to.
One commentator states that Jezebel grew up in a culture very different than that of Israel, she grew up in a culture that did not observe the rights of individuals like the Jews did.
So to her, if you want something, and if you are royalty, go out and take it by any means necessary.
Where Jezebel’s father was king, all of the land belonged to the king like fiefdoms and the land was on a grant to from the king that could be with drawn.
To the Jews, all of the land belongs to Yahweh, they were custodians of it.
B.
She falsifies documents
I Kings 21:
Deception at its finest.
She signs the documents as if she were Ahab and uses his personal seal.
While this verse specifically refers to the southern kingdom that had periods of obedience to God and led by kings the tried to father God.
The southern kingdom never had a godly king.
The seal indicated the king’s approval of the contents of the letter.
We use seals in various forms even today.
personal seal.
On Friday, my wife and I had to sign some papers to refinance what we owe on our house.
During the process some documents required a seal of a notary indicating that the people signing the papers are who they claim to be.
This type of a seal has a long history that signifies one of importance and that whatever is sealed is not to be tampered with.
A document or other item sealed in this manner was not to be tampered with by anyone other than the intended recipient.
We see this in other places in Scripture:
In Danial 6:17, King Darius seals the stone that closes the lions den.
and 8:2 make reference to the king giving his signet ring to Haman and then removing the ring and giving it to Mordecai.
Showing that these men could act with the authority of the king.
Mathew 27:66 Pilate seals Jesus tomb because there was fear of Jesus followers stealing the body.
When we understand the significance of a seal, becomes richer understanding that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
As we can see, the use of the kings seal was a significant thing, it is unclear from this passage if Jezebel was using the signet to seal these documents with or without Ahab’s consent.
We see that she is so bold as to sign the document not with her own name, but with Ahab’s name.
C.
She Plots a Murder
So what is in the letters being sent?
I Kings 21:9-10
1.
The two witness
The two witness
Her letter states that the recipients (verse 11 indicates that this seems to be city leaders) they are to find men to lie about Naboth and see to his execution.
We know that both lying or falsification and murder are specifically forbidden in the 10 commandments.
She states that they need to find 2 worthless men.
Why worthless men, because honest men would not tell the lies that needed to be said to carry out this wicked deed.
Why 2 not just one.
The mosaic law states that this is the minimum number of witnesses required to testify against someone.
D
This is repeated in a more general fashion (any crime) in chapter 19 which also goes on to state that it is the job of the judge to diligently inquire of the witness to determine if he is a false witness.
If the witness is found be lying the penalty is to be be found guilty of whatever he was accusing the defendant of .
Deut 19:18-20
Purge the evil from among you.
It appears that Jezebel expected that this portion of the law would be ignored.
The Bible also speaks of the coming to two witnesses in a positive aspect.
Rev
These two men will give witness to the world about the true and living God during the the tribulation.
God will protect them until His time when during the time of their time of proclaiming the message of God.
Sound familiar?
At the end of their time, the beast will rise from the bottomless pit to make war with these two witnesses and finally kill them.
In a sense to purge holiness from the world.
2. The lie to be told
Rev 21:5
He cursed God and the king.
Exodus
Leviticus 24:
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