Brown's Daily Word 6-14-10

Good morning,
Praise the Lord for He is worthy of the praise from His people and creation. We are having summer-like weather here in New York. It is spectacular. We have lots of trees in the church and parsonage grounds. We can see and hear countless birds of diverse colors and shapes making a sweet sounds and music to the Lord God the maker of Heaven and earth. It looks like a bird sanctuary. Our Lord is beautiful beyond description. He makes all things beautiful in His time.
The Lord blessed us in His house yesterday. There are times we go through some awful experiences in this life but our Lord is always awesome in His place amongst His people.
Sunita flew back to Washington after her fruitful trip to Ethiopia. She called us, excited about the World Cup that is played for the first time in Africa. Sunita and Andy were invited to watch the game between USA and UK in one of the African Embassies in Washington. Laureen and I watched it at home. Laureen was shouting for team USA and I was for the UK.
One of the readings for yesterday was taken from 1 Kings 21. This is part of the message I shared yesterday. In this famous text we find that Ahab was like many of us in that he wanted something he couldn’t have. Vs. 1-2, “ 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. 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.'"
It must have been a beautiful vineyard, and it was right next to the summer home of Ahab. The problem was is that it wasn’t his. Normally that would be really no problem at all, because Ahab was a powerful man, and Ahab always got what Ahab wanted. Ahab was used to saying the word, and people ran to answer his request. Imagine the horror on Ahab’s face when Naboth said, "No, you can’t have it!” In fact, in vs. 3, “But Naboth replied, 'The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.'"
Naboth’s actions were not prompted by monetary considerations, but by biblical principles. When God gave the land of Canaan to Israel, He divided it among the tribes of Israel. Given the nature of men, the land (like money) would have tended to accumulate into the hands of the few, leaving the rich to get richer, and the poor to get poorer. The law, as given in Deuteronomy 25:5-10 prevented the land from permanently changing hands, outside the family or tribe to which it was allotted. Because of these laws, Naboth knew that he could not sell or trade his land. It was not just that Naboth was being unreasonable; this was something he could not do, according to the law, and thus it was something he would not do, even if the king made him a deal that was tempting.
Let’s give Naboth a lot of credit here, not only in refusing a tempting offer, but remember also that this was an offer from a ruthless tyrannical dictator. Yet Naboth was not about to budge because he was a man driven by Principles. You see, no matter how tempting the offer was, Naboth had to refuse because God said so. Naboth had made up in his mind that he would be obedient to God’s law, and everything else would come 2nd.
Wayne Smith once told about a man who was applying for special insurance, and the insurance agent asked him, "How old is your mother?" He said, "She’s dead." "How old was she when she died?" "She was forty-one." "What did she die of?" "Tuberculosis." "How old is your father?" "He’s dead." "How old was he when he died?" "Forty-three." "What did he die of?" "Heart attack." The agent tore up the form and said, "You’re a terrible risk! There’s no way you can get this special insurance; your heredity is not good."
So the man went to another agent, and the agent asked the same questions: "How old is your father?" "He’s dead." "How old was he when he died?" "Ninety-four." "What did he die of?" "He fell off a horse, playing polo." The agent said, "How old is your mother?" "She’s dead." "How old was she when she died?" "Ninety-one." "What did she die of?” "Childbirth."
What wouldn’t we sacrifice just for something as small as a discount? But what if it was more? Would we still keep our integrity for let’s something like 10 million dollars?
In his book, When God Whispers Your Name, Max Lucado told the story of a hypothetical game show. In it, you are on stage, and the spotlight is on you. He writes, “It can be yours. It can be all yours. The choice is up to you. The only question you have to answer is, ‘What is your price?’” Applause rings again, the band plays, and you swallow hard. Behind you a second curtain opens, revealing a large placard. “What are you willing to give?” is written on the top. The host explains the rules. “All you have to do is agree to one condition and you will receive the money.” “Ten million dollars!” you whisper to yourself. Not one million or two, but ten million. No small sum. Nice nest egg. Ten million bucks would go a long way, right? Tuition paid off. Retirement guaranteed. Would open a few doors on a few cars or a new house (or several).
You could be quite the benefactor with such a sum. Help a few orphanages. Feed a few nations. Build some church buildings. Suddenly you understand: This is the opportunity of a lifetime. “Take your pick. Just choose one option and the money is yours.”
A deep voice from another microphone begins reading the list. “Put your children up for adoption.” “Become a prostitute for a week.” “Give up your American citizenship.” “Abandon your church.” “Abandon your family.” “Kill a stranger.” “Have a sex-change operation.” “Leave your spouse.” “Change your race.” “That’s the list,” the host proclaims. “Now make your choice.”
Now what would you pick?
The sad thing is that most people would pick something. In a national survey that asked the same question, many said what they would do. Seven percent of those who answered would murder for the money. Six percent would change their race. Four percent would change their sex. If money is the gauge of the heart, then this study revealed that money is at the heart of most Americans. In exchange for ten million dollars: 25 percent would abandon their family. 25 percent would abandon their church. 23 percent would become a prostitute for a week. 16 percent would give up their American citizenship. 16 percent would leave their spouse. 13 percent would put their children up for adoption. Even more revealing than what Americans would do for ten million dollars is that most would do something. Two-thirds of those polled would agree to at least one—some to several—of the options. The majority, in other words, would not leave the stage empty-handed. They would pay the price.
That’s a sad truth of today’s world. We would throw aside just about anything, all for some money. Yet not Naboth. Naboth could have been offered the world, yet he knew what God said, God said no. Therefore, no matter how pleasing the offer was, Naboth’s answer would be no, and that was his final answer.
Ahab couldn’t understand it because Ahab did not share Naboth's convictions regarding God’s law. Because he did not share those convictions, the he could not understand why Naboth wouldn’t take him up on his offer.
In this world, many us odd if we don’t follow their value system. They think it strange that to family above promotion. They think it odd that any would say no to sinful pleasures because of his or her faith. They cannot understand anyone who would value integrity over profit.
Naboth had integrity, but Ahab persisted in his pursuit. He was going to get what he wanted one way or another. So, after Naboth said no, Ahab did what almost every spoiled person does when they don’t get there way…he pouted. Vs. 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.”
Even though Ahab had almost the entire Kingdom at his disposal, he was throwing a fit because he didn’t have that one vineyard. Matthew Henry wrote that discontentment is a sin that is its own punishment.” If you are discontent you are never satisfied, and you are never happy.
As Ahab pouted, his wife, the evil Jezebel, entered. Jezebel reminded Ahab that he was the king, and as a king he was entitled to get whatever he wanted. Jezebel insisted that Ahab should act like a king and stand up for himself. This woman was evil to the core. No longer was the problem the mere desire for a vineyard; Naboth insulted her husband by having the audacity to say no and Jezebel wanted revenge. She concocted a plan - a trap for Naboth. Vs. , "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.' 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.'"
The orders were carried out, and Naboth was not only killed, but his reputation was ruined. He was said to be a blasphemer, and Ahab got not only the vineyard he always wanted, but also the integrity of Naboth was now ruined in the people’s minds. Such injustice all over a piece of land.
Jezebel thought that she had gotten away with murder, but God saw it all. One lesson we all need to learn is that a secret sin on earth is an open scandal in heaven. Also, injustice on earth is met with the judgment of God. Vs. 20, “Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!" Notice that the king of God’s people called God’s prophet his enemy. Vs. 21-24 “I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. ’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."
The judgment on Jezebel was fulfilled in 2 Kings 9, but something amazing happened with Ahab. When this cold, heartless man was confronted with the judgment of God, he actually humbled himself and, because he did this, God relented on His judgment.
God included, “Thou shalt not Covet” in the Ten commandments, because it is so dangerous. James 4:2 in the Living Bible says, “You want what you don’t have, so you kill to get it. You long for what others have, and can’t afford it, so you start a fight to take it away from them .”
Though we may have a bad past, but it doesn’t matter how rotten we have been, but what matters is who we want to be now. God is not a heartless judge who can’t wait to punish us, but rather He is a compassionate Father who stands eager to forgive.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVVW5EakyEc