Proper 6 / Pentecost 4 / Ordinary Time 11
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
And Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house...."
-- 1 Kings 21:2a
The story of Naboth's vineyard is a carefully crafted tale of the conflict of power in the world. A primary question of faith is what would happen if you truly tried to live a life of faith in a world that only believes might makes right. King Ahab of Samaria noticed a vineyard next to his palace that would bring him pleasure to have as a garden. As do many people of wealth and power, Ahab assumed that everyone had their price; so he made an offer to buy Naboth's vineyard. He was not trying to be unfair but simply assumed that the critical issue was the issue of price. Naboth, however, operated from a different set of values. Within the traditions of ancient Israel, all land belonged to God and was entrusted to families for their use. To sell the land for money was to break that trust and violate the person's responsibility for future members of the family. So he refused to sell the land. Now Jezebel, Ahab's wife, set out to secure the vineyard for her husband. She craftily used the traditions of Israel to achieve her purpose. She enlisted the help of the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city to proclaim a fast. Such fasts were generally proclaimed in times of community stress to appeal to God for relief.
During the fast, two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth and accused him of cursing God and the king. Naboth had used God's name and offended the king, who was God's anointed. Since it seemed right that someone had to be at fault for the stressful conditions of the community and since, according to custom, two separate witnesses had accused Naboth, Naboth was judged guilty. The punishment was that he would be stoned to death, and this was carried out.
It would seem that the innocent can be unjustly accused by the powerful and even the religious traditions of the community can be used against them. But God was not oblivious to what was happening. He sent Elijah to confront Ahab and pronounce judgment upon him. The story allows that the powerful can take advantage of the innocent, but God will not allow such injustice to go unpunished. Christians would later see this same scenario played out in the life of Jesus and later in the lives of his disciples. God does not shield the faithful from evil, but he does not allow evil to escape ultimate judgment.
-- 1 Kings 21:2a
The story of Naboth's vineyard is a carefully crafted tale of the conflict of power in the world. A primary question of faith is what would happen if you truly tried to live a life of faith in a world that only believes might makes right. King Ahab of Samaria noticed a vineyard next to his palace that would bring him pleasure to have as a garden. As do many people of wealth and power, Ahab assumed that everyone had their price; so he made an offer to buy Naboth's vineyard. He was not trying to be unfair but simply assumed that the critical issue was the issue of price. Naboth, however, operated from a different set of values. Within the traditions of ancient Israel, all land belonged to God and was entrusted to families for their use. To sell the land for money was to break that trust and violate the person's responsibility for future members of the family. So he refused to sell the land. Now Jezebel, Ahab's wife, set out to secure the vineyard for her husband. She craftily used the traditions of Israel to achieve her purpose. She enlisted the help of the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city to proclaim a fast. Such fasts were generally proclaimed in times of community stress to appeal to God for relief.
During the fast, two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth and accused him of cursing God and the king. Naboth had used God's name and offended the king, who was God's anointed. Since it seemed right that someone had to be at fault for the stressful conditions of the community and since, according to custom, two separate witnesses had accused Naboth, Naboth was judged guilty. The punishment was that he would be stoned to death, and this was carried out.
It would seem that the innocent can be unjustly accused by the powerful and even the religious traditions of the community can be used against them. But God was not oblivious to what was happening. He sent Elijah to confront Ahab and pronounce judgment upon him. The story allows that the powerful can take advantage of the innocent, but God will not allow such injustice to go unpunished. Christians would later see this same scenario played out in the life of Jesus and later in the lives of his disciples. God does not shield the faithful from evil, but he does not allow evil to escape ultimate judgment.
