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Naboth's Vineyard - The Book of 1 Kings · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Let us pray. And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord
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  Speaker 1: forbid it, that I should give the inheritance of my
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  Speaker 1: fathers unto thee. 1 Kings 21.1 As I sit and
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  Speaker 1: ponder on the truths in today's reading of 1 Kings 21,
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  Speaker 1: I'm reminded how critical it is to operate my life
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  Speaker 1: in complete honesty and integrity. Through the life of Ahab
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  Speaker 1: and Jezebel, I will do everything in my power to
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  Speaker 1: only go after what you've positioned for me to possess.
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  Speaker 1: I bind any thoughts that would have me act in
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  Speaker 1: any deceitful way to obtain someone else's inheritance. I declare
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  Speaker 1: that what God has for me is perfect for every
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  Speaker 1: need I will ever have. Forgive me for any jealous
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  Speaker 1: thoughts and actions I may have committed, both knowing and unknowing.
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  Speaker 1: In addition, I declare that any blessing that was wrongfully
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  Speaker 1: taken from me be replaced and that I would receive
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  Speaker 1: extra for the wrong committed against me. I know you
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  Speaker 1: are a just God and that justice is part of
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  Speaker 1: your character. Move on my behalf today, Lord, so that
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  Speaker 1: I can continue to flourish in the promised place you've
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  Speaker 1: prepared for me. 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 2: Naboth's Vineyard In our last story, we learned about Elijah
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  Speaker 2: meeting with God on Mount Sinai. He had fled from Jezebel,
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  Speaker 2: the witch queen, and was afraid for his life. His
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  Speaker 2: troubled and weary mind was met with the gentle touch
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  Speaker 2: of God's presence and direction. The Lord gave guidance to
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  Speaker 2: Elijah and told him that there was a civil war
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  Speaker 2: approaching that would topple the kingdom of Ahab and Jezebel.
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  Speaker 2: Now we see Jezebel working behind the scenes to shed
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  Speaker 2: blood in corruption, and Elijah finally returns to confront the
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  Speaker 2: king and enact the judgment of God. inspired by the
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  Speaker 2: book of 1 Kings.
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  Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of The
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  Speaker 3: Bible in a Year. In our last time together, we
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  Speaker 3: heard how Elijah fled the ruthless and violent Queen Jezebel.
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  Speaker 3: She wanted to kill him for humiliating and killing the
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  Speaker 3: prophets of her false god, Baal. Elijah was frightened and
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  Speaker 3: he became depressed, even asking God to take his life
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  Speaker 3: and end his misery. But the Lord came to Elijah
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  Speaker 3: on a mountain and gave him assurance and direction. He
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  Speaker 3: told Elijah that there was a war coming and new
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  Speaker 3: kings who would help cleanse the land of the worship
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  Speaker 3: of Baal. He also led Elijah to find a new prophet, Elisha,
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  Speaker 3: who would learn from him and live with him and
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  Speaker 3: follow in his footsteps. Today we will return to Ahab
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  Speaker 3: the king and the wicked queen Jezebel. and discover how
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  Speaker 3: God dealt with them for their unrighteousness, unfaithfulness, and sheer evil.
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  Speaker 3: Jezebel will prove as bloodthirsty and evil as ever, but
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  Speaker 3: God will prevail against those who mock his name, and
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  Speaker 3: Elijah will appear again before Ahab to bring forth God's judgment.
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  Speaker 3: So get ready and listen now to today's scripture.
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  Speaker 2: Naboth was tending to the soil of his vineyard. The
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  Speaker 2: sun was high in the sky, but the breeze provided
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  Speaker 2: a cool respite from the heat. Naboth smiled and breathed
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  Speaker 2: in deeply. He loved his land. He loved his vineyard.
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  Speaker 2: It had been passed down from many generations, and he
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  Speaker 2: saw vine dressing as his true passion in life. Naboth
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  Speaker 2: looked to his left to see a massive home in
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  Speaker 2: the distance, King Ahab's palace. It was ideal for him
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  Speaker 2: to be so close to the king. It made Naboth
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  Speaker 2: feel safe knowing that the palace guard was so close
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  Speaker 2: to his little vineyard. As he was peering into the distance,
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  Speaker 2: he saw a horse approaching with a rider from the palace.
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  Speaker 2: Upon further inspection, Naboth realized that it was King Ahab himself. Flustered,
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  Speaker 2: Naboth dusted off his clothes and ran towards him. Before
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  Speaker 2: Naboth could greet the king, he spoke, saying, Since your
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  Speaker 2: vineyard is so close to my home, I would like
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  Speaker 2: to buy it from you. Perhaps I will plant a
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  Speaker 2: vegetable garden. Of course, I will not leave you empty-handed.
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  Speaker 2: I shall either buy it outright from you or find
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  Speaker 2: you a better vineyard in a different location. Which do
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  Speaker 2: you prefer? Naboth was surprised at the king's candidness. He
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  Speaker 2: bowed his head and said, Oh, the Lord forbid that
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  Speaker 2: I just give away the inheritance of my father, grandfather,
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  Speaker 2: and great-grandfather. It has been passed down for many generations.
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  Speaker 2: Naboth was nervous at the king's response. He had heard
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  Speaker 2: stories of Ahab's volatility. He prepared himself for a lashing
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  Speaker 2: of the whip or tongue. However, to Naboth's surprise, Ahab
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  Speaker 2: said nothing. Instead, he simply walked away with his head
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  Speaker 2: held low. Like a sulking child, Ahab departed. Ahab slammed
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  Speaker 2: the door to his chambers. His anger burned against Naboth.
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  Speaker 3: He hated him.
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  Speaker 2: Food was waiting for him at the table beside his bed.
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  Speaker 2: He refused it, took off his robe, and laid face
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  Speaker 2: down on his bed. Jezebel slithered into the room with
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  Speaker 2: barely a sound. She sat beside Ahab on his bed
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  Speaker 2: and began stroking his hair. What is the matter, my king?
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  Speaker 3: She whispered.
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  Speaker 2: Why do you refuse to eat? Ahab rolled over on
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  Speaker 2: his side to look at her. His eyes were red
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  Speaker 2: with tears and rage. This small and insignificant vineyard truly
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  Speaker 2: bothered Ahab. Naboth will not sell or trade his vineyard
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  Speaker 2: to me, Ahab said. Jezebel sighed. She stroked Ahab's head,
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  Speaker 2: vexed by her husband's weakness. Are you not the king?
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  Speaker 2: she said sternly. Ahab shrugged and put his face back
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  Speaker 2: on his pillow. Jezebel rolled her eyes back and twitched
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  Speaker 2: her neck. She stood to her feet and looked at
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  Speaker 2: her pathetic husband. When he looked back at her, she
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  Speaker 2: forced a smile and said, Get up and eat something.
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  Speaker 2: I will go get you Naboth's vineyard. With that word,
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  Speaker 2: she slowly closed the chamber doors. Jezebel's evil heart knew
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  Speaker 2: no conviction.
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  Speaker 3: She was a.
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  Speaker 2: Brutal and bloodthirsty woman. However, she was wise. She was tactful.
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  Speaker 2: and careful to never get her hands dirty unless it
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  Speaker 2: was absolutely necessary. She gathered together letters under Ahab's name
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  Speaker 2: and sent them to the elders and other leaders around
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  Speaker 2: the city, saying, Call every citizen to a time of fasting.
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  Speaker 2: Give Naboth a place of very special honor. When he
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  Speaker 2: is reveling in his newfound glory, have two scoundrels accuse
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  Speaker 2: him of treason before everyone. Hold no trial. Take him
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  Speaker 2: out and stone him to death. Jezebel sealed the letters
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  Speaker 2: and sent them away. In this, Jezebel was tactful. Not
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  Speaker 2: only were the elders the ones to kill Naboth, but
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  Speaker 2: they will think they are doing so under orders of Ahab.
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  Speaker 2: This is how Jezebel operated. She was secretive and outsmarted
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  Speaker 2: everyone under and over her in command. All that Jezebel
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  Speaker 2: ordered had taken place. Naboth was elevated to a seat
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  Speaker 2: of honor. As he gleamed with the adoration of his peers...
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  Speaker 2: he was torn down and brutally stoned. Jezebel was not
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  Speaker 2: around to hear them, but she assumed his screams for
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  Speaker 2: mercy were great. She closed her eyes and imagined Naboth
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  Speaker 2: dying before her. The very thought of it made her
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  Speaker 2: feel alive. As soon as Jezebel knew Naboth was dead,
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  Speaker 2: she entered into her husband's chambers. She sat beside his
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  Speaker 2: bed again and stroked his hair. You know the vineyard
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  Speaker 2: Naboth refused to sell you? Ahab sat up in tension.
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  Speaker 2: It is yours now, my king. He is dead. Ahab
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  Speaker 2: leaped out of his bed in excitement. Jezebel watched him
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  Speaker 2: dance like a little child. That's who he was to her,
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  Speaker 2: a simple child. Ahab wasted no time and mounted his
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  Speaker 2: horse to go and claim the vineyard. He rode fast
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  Speaker 2: and excitedly. What a pleasant surprise it was for him
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  Speaker 2: to discover Naboth was dead. He was sure his wife
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  Speaker 2: arranged something, as she always does. However, it benefited Ahab
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  Speaker 2: to not ask questions about his wife's methods. The wind
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  Speaker 2: began to pick up slightly. Evening was only a few
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  Speaker 2: hours away, and Ahab wanted to get the plan started
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  Speaker 2: for his new garden. Ahab looked at the land, imagining
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  Speaker 2: himself like King Solomon, with vast gardens to prove his wealth.
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  Speaker 2: As Ahab was basking in his victory, he saw a
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  Speaker 2: dark figure in the corner of his eye. Ahab jolted
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  Speaker 2: behind him to find Elijah standing ten feet away from him.
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  Speaker 2: His brow was furrowed and his gaze was piercing. Ahab
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  Speaker 2: felt the blood leave his face as Elijah looked straight
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  Speaker 2: through his soul. So it was not enough to kill Naboth,
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  Speaker 2: Elijah said. Now you must rob him too? The words
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  Speaker 2: shot force like arrows towards Ahab's chest. The conviction of
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  Speaker 2: the Lord was looking to penetrate Ahab's heart. Listen to me, Ahab.
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  Speaker 2: Because you have done this, dogs will lick the blood
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  Speaker 2: off your lingering corpse on this very ground. Ahab did
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  Speaker 2: his best not to seem frightened by Elijah. Last time
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  Speaker 2: he saw him, Elijah was calling down fire from heaven
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  Speaker 2: and summoning tempests. Ahab stood upright with his shoulders back.
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  Speaker 2: So you have finally found me, O enemy of mine,
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  Speaker 2: Ahab said, He forced a sly grin, but it only
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  Speaker 2: served to reveal his nervousness. It is true, Elijah said
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  Speaker 2: as he took a step closer. I have come because
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  Speaker 2: you have whored yourself off to evil. The Lord is
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  Speaker 2: not pleased. Elijah took another step towards Ahab. Ahab's heart
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  Speaker 2: began to beat faster as Elijah approached him. Elijah spoke
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  Speaker 2: for the Lord, saying, I will bring destruction upon you.
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  Speaker 2: I will destroy all of who you are. Your descendants, servants,
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  Speaker 2: and livestock will be consumed. My anger is targeted towards you,
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  Speaker 2: O Ahab, for you have led my children into sin.
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  Speaker 2: At this point, Ahab was stepping back from Elijah, breathing
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  Speaker 2: heavily in fear. Elijah was close enough to grab Ahab now.
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  Speaker 2: And as for Jezebel, your witch queen, Elijah paused. Dogs
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  Speaker 2: will eat her body on the wicked land of Jezreel.
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  Speaker 2: All the members of your family will be picked apart
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  Speaker 2: by vultures. The Lord's anger burned against Ahab for allowing
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  Speaker 2: his heart to slip into complete corruption. He had sold
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  Speaker 2: himself to the powers of darkness and allowed Jezebel to
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  Speaker 2: poison his mind. No one else in Israel had completely
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  Speaker 2: given themselves over as he had. However, upon hearing this rebuke,
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  Speaker 2: the heart of Ahab began to melt. He tore his clothing,
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  Speaker 2: dressed in burlap, and fasted before the Lord. He humbled
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  Speaker 2: himself towards the point of poverty to prove his sorrow
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  Speaker 2: to God. Elijah learned of this, and God spoke, saying,
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  Speaker 2: Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself? Although his
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  Speaker 2: dynasty will still be cut off, I will not deliver
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  Speaker 2: my judgment to him while he lives. God always honors
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  Speaker 2: a repentant heart. As far gone as Ahab seemed, there
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  Speaker 2: is no one so far gone that God will not
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  Speaker 2: hear their cries for mercy.
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  Speaker 3: In today's passage, we meet a man named Naboth, who
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  Speaker 3: owned a vineyard near the palace of King Ahab. The
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  Speaker 3: king wants Naboth's land for himself, so he tells Naboth
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  Speaker 3: to sell it to him or trade it for an
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  Speaker 3: even better plot of ground. But Naboth is unwilling to
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  Speaker 3: part with his family land that he had inherited from
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  Speaker 3: his father. Ahab doesn't respond in violence, but he goes
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  Speaker 3: home and sulks like a child, whining to his wicked
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  Speaker 3: wife Jezebel that Naboth refused to give him what he wanted.
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  Speaker 3: What a weak king he is. But if Ahab was
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  Speaker 3: unwilling to take what he wanted by force, Jezebel had
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  Speaker 3: no issue with taking what He wanted and what she wanted.
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  Speaker 3: So she told Ahab that as ruler of Israel, he
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  Speaker 3: could have whatever he wanted and that she would make
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  Speaker 3: sure that he got the vineyard. She was very cunning
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  Speaker 3: and knew how she could use deception to accomplish her plan.
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  Speaker 3: So she wrote letters in Ahab's hand telling the elders
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  Speaker 3: to call a fast and to put Naboth in a
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  Speaker 3: place of prominence. This wasn't meant to honor Naboth, but
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  Speaker 3: bring false charges against him. The punishment would be given
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  Speaker 3: then and there, a public stoning. Her plan went off
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  Speaker 3: without a problem, and Naboth was killed by the elders.
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  Speaker 3: The vineyard Ahab wanted was as good as his now,
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  Speaker 3: and Jezebel delivered the news to the king. Ahab was overjoyed.
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  Speaker 3: He knew Jezebel had employed unscrupulous methods, evil methods, to
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  Speaker 3: get him what he desired, but he asked no questions.
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  Speaker 3: Jezebel was wicked to the core, and our heart was
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  Speaker 3: on evil continually. Ahab was guilty by compliance, giving consents
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  Speaker 3: through his silence and his own personal wickedness. And for
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  Speaker 3: the moment, it seems that the plans of these evil
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  Speaker 3: people had prevailed. In the Psalms, we read about how
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  Speaker 3: it seems at times wicked people prevail and boast in
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  Speaker 3: their triumph over good people. But as the Psalms would proclaim,
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  Speaker 3: God will always avenge his people, and judgment does come
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  Speaker 3: in due time. Whatever a man sows, he will reap.
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  Speaker 3: So as Ahab stood in his vineyard, basking in his conquest,
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  Speaker 3: a familiar figure approached. It is Elijah. Ahab seemed to
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  Speaker 3: know that the end was near. His choices had consequences.
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  Speaker 3: And rather than run, he listened to what God was
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  Speaker 3: saying through Elijah. In 1 Kings 21, 20, and 21,
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  Speaker 3: this is what God says to Ahab. Because you have
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  Speaker 3: sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight
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  Speaker 3: of the Lord, behold, I will bring disaster upon you.
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  Speaker 3: I will utterly burn you up and will cut off
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  Speaker 3: from Ahab every male bond or free in Israel. Elijah
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  Speaker 3: went on, telling him that he would take from him
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  Speaker 3: the kingdom because he had led so many people astray.
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  Speaker 3: Ahab had given himself over to evil, though he was
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  Speaker 3: the king of the nation. God would judge both Ahab
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  Speaker 3: and Jezebel, and their sin would cost them their lives.
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  Speaker 3: Jezebel would be thrown off a balcony and die and
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  Speaker 3: be eaten, her blood lapped up by the dogs in Jezreel.
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  Speaker 3: And many others would die there to be eaten by
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  Speaker 3: dogs or carried away by birds who foolishly turned from
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  Speaker 3: the Lord. It was surely evil. Payday someday for Ahab
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  Speaker 3: and Jezebel. Ahab was cut to the heart with these
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  Speaker 3: words and tore his clothes as a sign of mourning
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  Speaker 3: and repentance. He fasted and wore sackcloth. God seemingly had
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  Speaker 3: gotten through to him, and the Lord was moved by
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  Speaker 3: Ahab's humility and contrition. He spoke again through Elijah, telling
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  Speaker 3: Ahab that his life would be spared because he humbled himself,
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  Speaker 3: but disaster would still be visited upon his household. The
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  Speaker 3: stain of his sin would have consequences. You see, the
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  Speaker 3: Lord is always near to those who seek him. There
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  Speaker 3: is no lost cause in God's grace. And God stands
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  Speaker 3: ready to forgive anyone who would earnestly repent and return
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  Speaker 3: to him, even Ahab, even you and me. Dear God,
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  Speaker 3: we thank you that you are a God of justice,
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  Speaker 3: but that you are also a God of great mercy.
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  Speaker 3: Thank you for your love that extended all the way
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  Speaker 3: to Jesus and his cross and resurrection. And through your grace,
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  Speaker 3: amazing as it is, we can have forgiveness and eternal life.
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  Speaker 3: In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for listening to today's
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  Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas.
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  Speaker 3: Let me encourage you to download the Pray.com app And
• 17:24
  Speaker 3: always make Bible reading and Bible study a priority in
• 17:27
  Speaker 3: your life, along with prayer. If you enjoyed this podcast,
• 17:31
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• 17:34
  Speaker 3: by sharing this podcast, you can truly make a difference
• 17:37
  Speaker 3: in someone's life. And if you want more resources from me,
• 17:41
  Speaker 3: Jack Graham, as to how you can grow in your
• 17:44
  Speaker 3: Christian life, then go to jackgraham.org. That's jackgraham.org. God bless you.
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