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Naboth's Vineyard · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it, that
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  Speaker 1: I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
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  Speaker 1: 1 Kings 21.1 As I sit and ponder on the
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  Speaker 1: truths in today's reading of 1 Kings 21, I'm reminded
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  Speaker 1: how critical it is to operate my life in complete
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  Speaker 1: honesty and integrity. Through the life of Ahab and Jezebel,
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  Speaker 1: I will do everything in my power to only go
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  Speaker 1: after what you've positioned for me to possess. I bind
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  Speaker 1: any thoughts that would have me act in any deceitful
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  Speaker 1: way to obtain someone else's inheritance. I declare that what
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  Speaker 1: God has for me is perfect for every need I
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  Speaker 1: will ever have. Forgive me for any jealous thoughts and
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  Speaker 1: actions I may have committed, both knowing and unknowing. In addition,
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  Speaker 1: I declare that any blessing that was wrongfully taken from
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  Speaker 1: me be replaced and that I would receive extra for
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  Speaker 1: the wrong committed against me. I know you are a
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  Speaker 1: just God and that justice is part of your character.
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  Speaker 1: Move on my behalf today, Lord, so that I can
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  Speaker 1: continue to flourish in the promised place you've prepared for me.
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  Speaker 1: In Jesus' name.
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  Speaker 2: Amen.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you for making prayer a priority in your day.
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  Speaker 1: To learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story.
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  Speaker 1: Brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 3: Naboth's Vineyard. In our last story, we learned about Elijah
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  Speaker 3: meeting with God on Mount Sinai. He had fled from Jezebel,
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  Speaker 3: the witch queen. and was afraid for his life. His
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  Speaker 3: troubled and weary mind was met with the gentle touch
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  Speaker 3: of God's presence and direction. The Lord gave guidance to
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  Speaker 3: Elijah and told him that there was a civil war
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  Speaker 3: approaching that would topple the kingdom of Ahab and Jezebel.
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  Speaker 3: Now we see Jezebel working behind the scenes to shed
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  Speaker 3: blood in corruption, and Elijah finally returns to confront the
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  Speaker 3: king and enact the judgment of God. inspired by the
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  Speaker 3: book of 1 Kings.
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  Speaker 2: We're so glad you joined us on the Bible in
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: a Year podcast today. The Bible in a Year podcast
• 2:35
  Speaker 2: is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come
• 2:39
  Speaker 2: to you each week through the support of listeners just
• 2:42
  Speaker 2: like you. Your support today is so important that we
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: want to thank you for your gift by giving you
• 2:47
  Speaker 2: a copy of my book called The Jesus Book. It
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: is a powerful guide that shows how every book of
• 2:53
  Speaker 2: the Bible points to Jesus. and how his living word,
• 2:56
  Speaker 2: the truth of God's word, will transform your life. So
• 3:00
  Speaker 2: to get a copy of the Jesus book, simply go
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: to jackgraham.org slash Jesus. That's jackgraham.org slash Jesus. And thank
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: you for your support. In our last time together, we
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  Speaker 2: heard how Elijah fled the ruthless and violent Queen Jezebel.
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  Speaker 2: She wanted to kill him for humiliating and killing the
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  Speaker 2: prophets of her false god, Baal. Elijah was frightened and
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  Speaker 2: he became depressed, even asking God to take his life
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  Speaker 2: and end his misery. But the Lord came to Elijah
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  Speaker 2: on a mountain and gave him assurance and direction. He
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  Speaker 2: told Elijah that there was a war coming and new
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  Speaker 2: kings who would help cleanse the land of the worship
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  Speaker 2: of Baal. He also led Elijah to find a new prophet, Elisha,
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  Speaker 2: who would learn from him and live with him and
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  Speaker 2: follow in his footsteps. Today we will return to Ahab
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  Speaker 2: the king and the wicked queen Jezebel and discover how
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  Speaker 2: God dealt with them for their unrighteousness, unfaithfulness, and sheer evil.
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  Speaker 2: Jezebel will prove as bloodthirsty and evil as ever, but
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  Speaker 2: God will prevail against those who mock his name, and
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  Speaker 2: Elijah will appear again before Ahab to bring forth God's judgment.
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  Speaker 2: So get ready and listen now to today's scripture.
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  Speaker 3: Naboth was tending to the soil of his vineyard. The
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  Speaker 3: sun was high in the sky, but the breeze provided
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  Speaker 3: a cool respite from the heat. Naboth smiled and breathed
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  Speaker 3: in deeply. He loved his land. He loved his vineyard.
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  Speaker 3: It had been passed down from many generations, and he
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  Speaker 3: saw vine dressing as his true passion in life. Naboth
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  Speaker 3: looked to his left to see a massive home in
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  Speaker 3: the distance, King Ahab's palace. It was ideal for him
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  Speaker 3: to be so close to the king. It made Naboth
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  Speaker 3: feel safe knowing that the palace guard was so close
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  Speaker 3: to his little vineyard. As he was peering into the distance,
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  Speaker 3: he saw a horse approaching with a rider from the palace.
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  Speaker 3: Upon further inspection, Naboth realized that it was King Ahab himself. Flustered,
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  Speaker 3: Naboth dusted off his clothes and ran towards him. Before
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  Speaker 3: Naboth could greet the king, he spoke, saying, Since your
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  Speaker 3: vineyard is so close to my home, I would like
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  Speaker 3: to buy it from you. Perhaps I will plant a
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  Speaker 3: vegetable garden. Of course, I will not leave you empty-handed.
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  Speaker 3: I shall either buy it outright from you or find
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  Speaker 3: you a better vineyard in a different location. Which do
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  Speaker 3: you prefer? Naboth was surprised at the king's candidness. He
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  Speaker 3: bowed his head and said, Oh, the Lord forbid that
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  Speaker 3: I just give away the inheritance of my father, grandfather,
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  Speaker 3: and great-grandfather. It has been passed down for many generations.
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  Speaker 3: Naboth was nervous at the king's response. He had heard
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  Speaker 3: stories of Ahab's volatility. He prepared himself for a lashing
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  Speaker 3: of the whip or tongue. However, to Naboth's surprise, Ahab
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  Speaker 3: said nothing. Instead, he simply walked away with his head
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  Speaker 3: held low. Like a sulking child, Ahab departed. Ahab slammed
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  Speaker 3: the door to his chambers. His anger burned against Naboth.
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  Speaker 2: He hated him.
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  Speaker 3: Food was waiting for him at the table beside his bed.
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  Speaker 3: He refused it, took off his robe, and laid face
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  Speaker 3: down on his bed. Jezebel slithered into the room with
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  Speaker 3: barely a sound. She sat beside Ahab on his bed
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  Speaker 3: and began stroking his hair.' What is the matter, my king?'
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  Speaker 3: she whispered.' Why do you refuse to eat?' Ahab rolled
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  Speaker 3: over on his side to look at her. His eyes
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  Speaker 3: were red with tears and rage. This small and insignificant
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  Speaker 3: vineyard truly bothered Ahab. Naboth will not sell or trade
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  Speaker 3: his vineyard to me, Ahab said. Jezebel sighed. She stroked
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  Speaker 3: Ahab's head, vexed by her husband's weakness. Are you not
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  Speaker 3: the king? she said sternly. Ahab shrugged and put his
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  Speaker 3: face back on his pillow. Jezebel rolled her eyes back
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  Speaker 3: and twitched her neck. She stood to her feet and
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  Speaker 3: looked at her pathetic husband. When he looked back at her,
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  Speaker 3: she forced a smile and said, Get up and eat something.
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  Speaker 3: I will go get you Naboth's vineyard. With that word,
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  Speaker 3: she slowly closed the chamber doors. Jezebel's evil heart knew
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  Speaker 3: no conviction.
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  Speaker 2: She was a.
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  Speaker 3: Brutal and bloodthirsty woman. However, she was wise. She was
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  Speaker 3: tactful and careful to never get her hands dirty unless
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  Speaker 3: it was absolutely necessary. She gathered together letters under Ahab's
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  Speaker 3: name and sent them to the elders and other leaders
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  Speaker 3: around the city, saying, Call every citizen to a time
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  Speaker 3: of fasting. Give Naboth a place of very special honor.
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  Speaker 3: When he is reveling in his newfound glory, have two
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  Speaker 3: scoundrels accuse him of treason before everyone. Hold no trial.
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  Speaker 3: Take him out and stone him to death. Jezebel sealed
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  Speaker 3: the letters and sent them away. In this Jezebel was tactful.
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  Speaker 3: Not only were the elders the ones to kill Naboth,
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  Speaker 3: but they will think they are doing so under orders
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  Speaker 3: of Ahab. This is how Jezebel operated. She was secretive
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  Speaker 3: and outsmarted everyone under and over her in command. All
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  Speaker 3: that Jezebel ordered had taken place. Naboth was elevated to
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  Speaker 3: a seat of honor. As he gleamed with the adoration
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  Speaker 3: of his peers, he was torn down and brutally stoned.
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  Speaker 3: Jezebel was not around to hear them. but she assumed
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  Speaker 3: his screams for mercy were great. She closed her eyes
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  Speaker 3: and imagined Naboth dying before her. The very thought of
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  Speaker 3: it made her feel alive. As soon as Jezebel knew
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  Speaker 3: Naboth was dead, she entered into her husband's chambers. She
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  Speaker 3: sat beside his bed again and stroked his hair.' You
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  Speaker 3: know the vineyard Naboth refused to sell you?' Ahab sat
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  Speaker 3: up in tension.' It is yours now, my king. He
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  Speaker 3: is dead.' Ahab leaped out of his bed in excitement.
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  Speaker 3: Jezebel watched him dance like a little child. That's who
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  Speaker 3: he was to her. A simple child. Ahab wasted no
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  Speaker 3: time and mounted his horse to go and claim the vineyard.
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  Speaker 3: He rode fast and excitedly. What a pleasant surprise it
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  Speaker 3: was for him to discover Naboth was dead. He was
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  Speaker 3: sure his wife arranged something, as she always does. However,
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  Speaker 3: it benefited Ahab to not ask questions about his wife's methods.
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  Speaker 3: The wind began to pick up slightly. Evening was only
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  Speaker 3: a few hours away, and Ahab wanted to get the
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  Speaker 3: plan started for his new garden. Ahab looked at the land,
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  Speaker 3: imagining himself like King Solomon with vast gardens to prove
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  Speaker 3: his wealth. As Ahab was basking in his victory, he
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  Speaker 3: saw a dark figure in the corner.
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  Speaker 2: Of his eye.
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  Speaker 3: Ahab jolted behind him to find Elijah standing ten feet
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  Speaker 3: away from him. His brow was furrowed and his gaze
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  Speaker 3: was piercing. Ahab felt the blood leave his face as
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  Speaker 3: Elijah looked straight through his soul. So it was not
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  Speaker 3: enough to kill Naboth, Elijah said. Now you must rob
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  Speaker 3: him too? The words shot force like arrows towards Ahab's chest.
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  Speaker 3: The conviction of the Lord was looking to penetrate Ahab's heart.
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  Speaker 3: Listen to me, Ahab. Because you have done this, dogs
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  Speaker 3: will lick the blood off your lingering corpse on this
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  Speaker 3: very ground. Ahab did his best not to seem frightened
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  Speaker 3: by Elijah. Last time he saw him, Elijah was calling
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  Speaker 3: down fire from heaven and summoning tempests. Ahab stood upright
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  Speaker 3: with his shoulders back. So you have finally found me,
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  Speaker 3: O enemy of mine, Ahab said. He forced a sly grin,
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  Speaker 3: but it only served to reveal his nervousness. It is true,
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  Speaker 3: Elijah said as he took a step closer. I have
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  Speaker 3: come because you have whored yourself off to evil. The
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  Speaker 3: Lord is not pleased. Elijah took another step towards Ahab.
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  Speaker 3: Ahab's heart began to beat faster as Elijah approached him.
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  Speaker 3: Elijah spoke for the Lord, saying, I will bring destruction
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  Speaker 3: upon you. I will destroy all of who you are.
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  Speaker 3: Your descendants, servants, and livestock will be consumed. My anger
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  Speaker 3: is targeted towards you, O Ahab, for you have led
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  Speaker 3: my children into sin. At this point, Ahab was stepping
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  Speaker 3: back from Elijah, breathing heavily in fear. Elijah was close
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  Speaker 3: enough to grab Ahab now. And as for Jezebel, your
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  Speaker 3: witch queen, Elijah paused. Dogs will eat her body on
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  Speaker 3: the wicked land of Jezreel. All the members of your
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  Speaker 3: family will be picked apart by vultures. The Lord's anger
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  Speaker 3: burned against Ahab for allowing his heart to slip into
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  Speaker 3: complete corruption. He had sold himself to the powers of
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  Speaker 3: darkness and allowed Jezebel to poison his mind. No one
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  Speaker 3: else in Israel had completely given themselves over as he had. However,
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  Speaker 3: upon hearing this rebuke, the heart of Ahab began to melt.
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  Speaker 3: He tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted before
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  Speaker 3: the Lord. He humbled himself towards the point of poverty
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  Speaker 3: to prove his sorrow to God. Elijah learned of this,
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  Speaker 3: and God spoke, saying, Do you see how Ahab has
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  Speaker 3: humbled himself? Although his dynasty will still be cut off,
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  Speaker 3: I will not deliver my judgment to him while he lives.
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  Speaker 3: God always honors a repentant heart. As far gone as
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  Speaker 3: Ahab seemed, there is no one so far gone that
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  Speaker 3: God will not hear their cries for mercy.
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  Speaker 2: In today's passage, we meet a man named Naboth, who
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  Speaker 2: owned a vineyard near the palace of King Ahab. The
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  Speaker 2: king wants Naboth's land for himself, so he tells Naboth
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  Speaker 2: to sell it to him or trade it for an
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  Speaker 2: even better plot of ground. But Naboth is unwilling to
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  Speaker 2: part with his family land that he had inherited from
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  Speaker 2: his father. Ahab doesn't respond in violence, but he goes
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  Speaker 2: home and sulks like a child, whining to his wicked
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  Speaker 2: wife Jezebel that Naboth refused to give him what he wanted.
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  Speaker 2: What a weak king he is. But if Ahab was
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  Speaker 2: unwilling to take what he wanted by force, Jezebel had
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  Speaker 2: no issue with taking what He wanted and what she wanted.
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  Speaker 2: So she told Ahab that as ruler of Israel, he
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  Speaker 2: could have whatever he wanted and that she would make
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  Speaker 2: sure that he got the vineyard. She was very cunning
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  Speaker 2: and knew how she could use deception to accomplish her plan.
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  Speaker 2: So she wrote letters in Ahab's hand telling the elders
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  Speaker 2: to call a fast and to put Naboth in a
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  Speaker 2: place of prominence. This wasn't meant to honor Naboth, but
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  Speaker 2: bring false charges against him. The punishment would be given
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  Speaker 2: then and there, a public stoning. Her plan went off
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  Speaker 2: without a problem and Naboth was killed by the elders.
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  Speaker 2: The vineyard Ahab wanted was as good as his now
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  Speaker 2: and Jezebel delivered the news to the king. Ahab was overjoyed.
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  Speaker 2: He knew Jezebel had employed unscrupulous methods, evil methods to
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  Speaker 2: get him what he desired, but he asked no questions.
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  Speaker 2: Jezebel was wicked to the core, and our heart was
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  Speaker 2: on evil continually. Ahab was guilty by compliance, giving consents
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  Speaker 2: through his silence and his own personal wickedness. And for
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  Speaker 2: the moment, it seems that the plans of these evil
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  Speaker 2: people had prevailed. In the Psalms, we read about how
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  Speaker 2: it seems at times wicked people prevail and boast in
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  Speaker 2: their triumph over good people. But as the Psalms would proclaim,
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  Speaker 2: God will always avenge his people, and judgment does come
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  Speaker 2: in due time. Whatever a man sows, he will reap.
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  Speaker 2: So as Ahab stood in his vineyard, basking in his conquest,
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  Speaker 2: a familiar figure approached. It is Elijah. Ahab seemed to
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  Speaker 2: know that the end was near. His choices had consequences.
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  Speaker 2: And rather than run, he listened to what God was
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  Speaker 2: saying through Elijah. In 1 Kings 21, 20, and 21,
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  Speaker 2: this is what God says to Ahab. Because you have
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  Speaker 2: sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight
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  Speaker 2: of the Lord, behold, I will bring disaster upon you.
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  Speaker 2: I will utterly burn you up and will cut off
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  Speaker 2: from Ahab every male bond or free in Israel. Elijah
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  Speaker 2: went on, telling him that he would take from him
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  Speaker 2: the kingdom because he had led so many people astray.
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  Speaker 2: Ahab had given himself over to evil, though he was
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  Speaker 2: the king of the nation. God would judge both Ahab
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  Speaker 2: and Jezebel, and their sin would cost them their lives.
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  Speaker 2: Jezebel would be thrown off a balcony and die and
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  Speaker 2: be eaten, her blood lapped up by the dogs in Jezreel.
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  Speaker 2: And many others would die there to be eaten by
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  Speaker 2: dogs or carried away by birds who foolishly turned from
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  Speaker 2: the Lord. It was surely evil. Payday someday for Ahab
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  Speaker 2: and Jezebel. Ahab was cut to the heart with these
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  Speaker 2: words and tore his clothes as a sign of mourning
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  Speaker 2: and repentance. He fasted and wore sackcloth. God seemingly had
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  Speaker 2: gotten through to him, and the Lord was moved by
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  Speaker 2: Ahab's humility and contrition. He spoke again through Elijah, telling
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  Speaker 2: Ahab that his life would be spared because he humbled himself,
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  Speaker 2: but disaster would still be visited upon his household. The
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  Speaker 2: stain of his sin would have consequences. You see, the
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  Speaker 2: Lord is always near to those who seek him. There
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  Speaker 2: is no lost cause in God's grace. And God stands
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  Speaker 2: ready to forgive anyone who would earnestly repent and return
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  Speaker 2: to him, even Ahab, even you and me. Dear God,
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  Speaker 2: we thank you that you are a God of justice,
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  Speaker 2: but that you are also a God of great mercy.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you for your love that extended all the way
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  Speaker 2: to Jesus and his cross and resurrection. And through your grace,
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  Speaker 2: amazing as it is, we can have forgiveness and eternal life.
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  Speaker 2: In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for listening to today's
• 17:52
  Speaker 2: Bible in a Year podcast. And before we go, I
• 17:55
  Speaker 2: wanted to let you know that the Bible in a
• 17:57
  Speaker 2: Year podcast is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries, and can
• 18:01
  Speaker 2: only come to you each week through the support of
• 18:04
  Speaker 2: listeners like you. Your support today is so important that
• 18:09
  Speaker 2: we want to thank you for your gift by giving
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: you a copy of my book called The Jesus Book.
• 18:15
  Speaker 2: This book is a powerful guide that shows how every
• 18:18
  Speaker 2: book in the Bible points to Christ and how you
• 18:20
  Speaker 2: can better read and understand the Bible and how God's
• 18:24
  Speaker 2: Word transforms our lives. So to get your copy of
• 18:27
  Speaker 2: The Jesus Book, Simply go to jackgram.org slash Jesus. That's
• 18:32
  Speaker 2: jackgram.org slash Jesus. And thank you for your support.