1 Kings 21:1-29

Memory Verse: 18

Questions

Outline

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I. Naboth Holds Onto the Lord's Inheritance (21:1-4)

>1. Who was Naboth? (1)

* 1 Kings 21:1 "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."

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>What was his that Ahab desired? (2)

* 1 Kings 21:2 "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."

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>Was this a reasonable request?

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>2. Why did Naboth want to keep the land? (3)

* 1 Kings 21:3 "But Naboth replied, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."

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>How might this have been a hard decision?

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>How did Ahab respond?

* 1 Kings 21:4 "So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat."

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II. Jezebel's Evil Plan (21:5-16)

>3. What did Ahab reveal to his wife? (5-7)

* 1 Kings 21:5-7 "His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, "Why are you so sullen? Why won't you eat?" 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.'" 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."

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>What kind of influence did Jezebel have? (8-10, 18:4)

* 1 Kings 21:8-10 "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. In those letters she wrote: "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."

* 1 Kings 18:4 "While Jezebel was killing off the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)"

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>4. How did the spiritual condition of the nation make it possible for Jezebel to carry out her murderous plot? (11-14; Deut. 13:12-14; and 1 Tim. 1:8)

* 1 Kings 21:11-14 "So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 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. Then they sent word to Jezebel: "Naboth has been stoned and is dead."

* Deuteronomy 13:12-14 "If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in that wicked men have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods you have not known), then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you,"

* 1 Timothy 1:8 "We know that the law is good if one uses it properly."

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>How do some use the word of God to satisfy their selfish desires even if it harms others to this day?

* 2 Timothy 3:6-9 "They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone."

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>5. Was Ahab aware of how Naboth had died? (15-16)

* 1 Kings 21:15-16 "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." When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth's vineyard."

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>Should he have been?

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>What shows his lack of respect for Naboth?

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III. Judgment of Dogs and Birds (21:17-29)

>6, In what ways was Jezebel and Ahab wrong in the sight of the LORD? (17-19)

* 1 Kings 21:17-19 "Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: "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. 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!'"

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>Where they evil? (20; 25-26)

* 1 Kings 21:20 "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."

* 1 Kings 21:25-26 "(There was never a man 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.)"

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>7. What were Elijah's messages of God's judgment in regard to Ahab and Jezebel? (21-24)

* 1 Kings 21:21-24 "'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel--slave or free. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.' "And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' "Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country."

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>8. How did Ahab respond? (27)

* 1 Kings 21:27 "When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly."

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>What do you learn from God who accepted Ahab's repentance? (28-29; Acts 3:19-21)

* 1 Kings 21:28-29 "Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: "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."

* Matthew 4:17 "From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

* Mark 1:14-15 "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

* Acts 3:19-21 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets."

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>9. Think about Elijah's attitude in delivering the message of God even to King Ahab who did evil. How had he change toward Jezebel? (19:3; 21:23)

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