“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” –Jesus Mark 8:34-37

King Ahab lost himself in greed as a satisfier of his heart, mind, and soul.  Getting more was the goal of his existence no matter who it hurt or destroyed.  We ended yesterday’s reading, (1 Kings 20), with an “angry and sullen” King Ahab returning to his palace in Samaria after the battle with evil nations.  Instead of giving God glory for victory; He is mad because God reminds Ahab that he didn’t follow all the instructions given to him. Ahab’s arrogant pride turned to anger at God who did what was good for His people in glorious ways that would lead people to know Him for who He was—their God!  God said to eradicate the problem with evil nations but instead Ahab let the main king of evil run free!

So, now King Ahab sits and stews in his palace looking for more ways to add to his wealth in ways to satisfy his need for greed. His soul is empty without God.

1 Kings 21

Naboth’s Vineyard

Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. ² Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”

³ But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”

⁴ So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.

⁵ His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”

⁶ He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”

⁷ Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

⁸ So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. ⁹ In those letters she wrote:

“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. ¹⁰ But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”

¹¹ So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. ¹² They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. ¹³ Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. ¹⁴ Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

¹⁵ As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.” ¹⁶ When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.

¹⁷ Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ¹⁸ “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. ¹⁹ Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”

²⁰ Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”

“I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. ²¹ He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. ²² I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’

²³ “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’

²⁴ “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.”

²⁵ (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. ²⁶ He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)

²⁷ When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

²⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ²⁹ “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Ahab is lost and soul searching.  His outward human emotions of being lost are on display for all to see!  His “toddler-like” moods display anger, sullenness, pouting, and depression until he gets what he wants. Jezebel, his idol worshiping wife came to him lost.  Together, they are two lost souls who seek everything on earth to satisfy their true and real need. Ahab knows of God but He doesn’t KNOW God. 

Only the One True God can refresh and cleanse our souls with living water that fully satisfies makes us whole. No one but God will do because there is no one like our God!

King Ahab was not content with what he already had. In partnership with his wicked wife, Jezebel, he killed the owner of a choice vineyard, and they took it for themselves. God promised to bring them to justice. 

King Ahab relied on a wicked wife to soothe all his desires. We must always be on alert: Jealousy may creep into life and lead us to more sin. Surrounding ourselves with bad relationships during these vulnerable times of discontent can lead to more sin. Bad company can corrupt good character. And bad company can lead to bad choices. Where do you go for guidance in those times when you feel depressed and confused?  

We might pause to ask ourselves; Is prayer our first reaction—or our last resort?

God’s prophet Elijah finally gets through to King Ahab 

Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”

“I have found you,” he answered. Then Elijah tells Ahab how God will discipline him, “because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.”  

God’s Word also included… (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.) What a character description! Yikes!

Ahab’s immediate response was to humble himself before God.

“When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.”

God saw his heart begin to change and responded in Elijah’s presence;

“Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Jesus taught the what the soul of a true discipleship must be and do

• We must surrender ourselves completely to him;
• We must identify with Him in suffering and death
• We must follow Him obediently, wherever He leads.

If we live for ourselves, we will lose ourselves, but if we lose ourselves for His sake and the gospel’s, we will find ourselves.

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us and reminding us of what soul on fire looks like to you. Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within all who seek a humble walk with you. I’m yours. I’m listening.  Help us to lose to find.

In Jesus Name, Amen