Naboth’s Vineyard | Pastor Marcus Mecum

1 Kings chapter 21. I'm not gonna read the whole chapter, but I will be trying to get a message from pretty much every verse here. Sometime 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. And Ahab said to Naboth, let me have your vineyard to use it for a vegetable garden. Let me have your vineyard to use it for a vegetable garden. It's close to my palace. In exchange, I'll give you a better vineyard, or if you prefer, I'll pay you whatever it's worth. But Naboth replied, the Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors. And so Ahab went home solely angry, throwing a temper tantrum, because Naboth, the Jezreelite, said he wouldn't give him his inheritance. And so he lays on his bed, the king's on the bed, sucking his thumb, sulking, refusing to eat. We'll stop right there. And if you wanna keep your Bibles open, you can just follow me. But I want to give you this idea of Naboth's vineyard and what, to me, this is about. We see in this story, you didn't catch it, but in a few verses after this, you're gonna see that it really becomes a very tragic

account of a man who was a good man. He was just living his life. He was causing nobody no problems. But he crosses the wrong people, some extremely powerful people. All kinds of different things are involved, greed. There's a setup, there's a framing involved in this story. There's hired assassins that enter the picture. And it ends up with Naboth, the man that we read about, being brutally murdered. So it's a tragic story, and all of this takes place in Naboth's vineyard. The reason I think that this is important is because vineyards are very prominent in the Bible. You have 114 different references to vineyards. Chapter five, Isaiah sings the song of the vineyard. Vineyards speak of God's relationship with Israel, how God works, how the master of a vineyard would work with the vine. Speaks of how God works with Israel through all the different ways to make it a fruitful vine. Jesus would say in Matthew 20, that the kingdom of heaven is like a vineyard. In Luke chapter 20, Jesus refers to himself as the master or the Lord of the vineyard. In John 15, he said, Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches. Apart from me, you can do nothing. So it's given us a sense that whenever you run across the idea of a vineyard,

Old Testament or New Testament, it is for the kingdom-minded, kingdom-oriented, and not everybody is that, but that's what this church is about, being a kingdom motivated and to do everything we can to keep you focused on the kingdom of God and what that means to your life. So there's a message here. This is about more than a real estate deal, being brokered. This is about more than negotiating over a piece of land. There's a message in the vineyard. Well, we would know that it starts off telling us whose vineyard it is. It's Naboth's vineyard. Naboth means to be fruitful. And so he was born from really his inception. He walks into his family's inheritance, the business of the family, of a vineyard, and his name, his purpose is all about being fruitful, and it involves a vineyard. When you and I get born again, we are born again not to just sit in a seat. We're not born again to just pass time, go through the motions. You are born again to be fruitful with your life, to produce godly fruit, to have something about your life that is productive and adds value to the people around you. And it also, according to scripture,

involves this idea of a vineyard. And so for Naboth, it's 500. hundred years or many generations that preceded him, generations that were faithful with the vineyard. They put their time into it and then it was passed to the next. And now it's Naboth's turn to be fruitful with what previous generations have been faithful with. Well, 2000 years ago, Jesus would pass on to us a promise, an inheritance. And from one generation to the next, it's been passed down. And now here we are. It's our turn to be fruitful with what prior generations have been faithful with. The whole thing takes place. Ahab is at his summer palace in Jezreel. He's on the city walls, overlooking this great city. And for some reason, we don't really catch why, but of all the pieces of property, of all the different things in the city, this vineyard of Naboth stands out. It sticks out. And this king makes the announcement, I want Naboth's vineyard. And I'm guessing people were wondering why you have palaces, Ahab. You have servants, anything you could ever want, you have. What is it about that that you want? And he makes the announcement, I want to turn that vineyard into a vegetable garden.

Now there's nothing evil about a vegetable garden, right? There's nothing sinful or demonic about vegetables. If you're an eight year old, you might think that there is, but for the most part, I think we can agree that a vegetable garden is a good thing, even a healthy thing. So we see here that the initial way that this thing that Naboth was born for, this is his destiny. We begin to see how it's subtly trying to be removed or taken from his life. And the first temptation is just simple, that why don't you give up the vineyard for a vegetable garden? Give up the extraordinary for the ordinary. Exchange the God idea for a good idea. Exchange the great things of God for just, you know, just going through the motions, the eternal, for the temporal, the supernatural, for the natural, the abundant life, for just a normal life. Give up the vineyard for vegetables, just blah, bland, boring vegetables. Give up the life, the fruit, the vineyard, the wine, the joy, the creativity. Give all that up and just settle to live a normal, average, blah, Christian life. When somebody's brain dead on life support, they say that person's gonna be a vegetable for life. And if the devil has his way,

that's what he wants for every Christian, just on life support, brain dead, laying there, buying your time before you get to heaven. Give up the vineyard, give up the life, the joy, the best that God has for you for vegetables. So we know that at this point, that a vegetable garden isn't wrong, it just wasn't best. The Bible says all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial. So this is not a heaven or hell sermon. This is not aimed at the people that are rebelling against God, cold hearted towards God, want nothing to do with them. This is for most of the rest of us that kind of find ourselves being lured into what's permissible. But we need to be asking the question, not what can we get away with, not how can we just kind of get by, but is it best? Is this life that we're living really the vineyard that God had in plan 2000 years ago when Jesus died on a cross and he rose again from the dead? Is this the vineyard? Are we living the kingdom of God on earth the way Jesus in his heart wants us to live? Romans 12, be not conformed to this world, but be renewed. Right? knew your mind, why, that you may prove the good, the acceptable. Most people say, yeah, I'm kinda doing the God thing,

I'm doing it pretty good, kind of acceptable, but then it says there's the perfect will of God, that there's an aim, that there is a high mark, the high call, there is the best. And then there's just vineyards, vegetables, just blah, bland vegetables. So vegetables are good, but they're not God's best. Jesus shows up, and his very first miracle was not to turn water into vegetable juice. It wasn't turn water into kale tonic. It wasn't turning water into V8. No, he turned water into what? And what kind of wine? The best wine. So when you get born again, the first miracle God does in your life is he doesn't save you from your sin to enhance you just a watered down, nothing, normal life. The miracle is he takes the normal, he takes the you, he takes the what do I have to offer, what do I have to give, he takes that and he does a miracle with it, and he turns it into wine, he turns it into something that brings joy and happiness, and not just any kind of life that he's bringing you into, but the best life. So the Bible says that Ahab's looking out off of his palace walls, and he wants Naboth's vineyard. And so he sets up a meeting, and in this meeting, he's going to negotiate with Naboth for his vineyard. And so he says, hey, listen, do you have a price tag?

Do you have an amount that you'll let it go for? Can I maybe go find another vineyard, even a better vineyard to get you to exchange this one for that one? And he's just trying to get to what's your price tag? What are you willing to sell out for? What are you willing to walk away from this vineyard for? What are you really, what's it really gonna take? And the enemy always is working on every one of us, what's your thing? What's your price tag? What's the thing that you say, oh, this is too much, this following God thing's too much, this serving God thing's too much. He knows how to find, and so Ahab's trying to find out, what can I get this guy to walk away from the vineyard for? And Naboth says, I will not give you this vineyard. And he goes one step further, and he says, not only am I gonna not negotiate with you, and not only am I saying it's not for sale, but the Lord forbids it. I'm not selling out, even if I wanted to, I've already talked to God about it, and God said he forbids that. Did you know there are things that if you go to God and there's some things you're gonna wanna do, some ways you're gonna wanna live, some decisions you're gonna wanna make, some directions you're gonna try to detour off on, but if you'll go to God, he'll say a big O-N-O, no. There are things that the Lord forbids,

and we don't like this, Christians don't like this anymore, but there are still thou shalt nots in the Bible. There are still some no-go zones, there are still some no, and I'm not here to give you a bunch of rules and regulations, I'm just here to say, every now and then, you should say, God, what do you think about this? What's your thought on this? And give him permission to say, nope, that's not what I want for your life. I know that's the easy way, I know that's the way a lot of people go, I know it'd be really easy to think that way, but I forbid that for you. I've got something that may be more of a price that you have to pay, it may take you a lot more, but I've got something that I'm calling you to, and I can't let you settle for a bunch of vegetables when I've got this vineyard for you. If it compromises my vineyard, my call, my purpose, my family, My integrity, my standards, my convictions, my values. I do not buckle or yield or retreat. I make the decision, I'm gonna stand. I don't care what the enemy throws at me. I don't care what he offers me. This is my vineyard, and not only do I will to not walk away from it, but the Lord wills that I not walk away from it.

They took Jesus up on the high mountain. Remember, it says, here's the kingdoms of this world. All you gotta do is bow down, and they're all yours. And what does Jesus say? He says, it is written, you shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone do you worship. Jesus said, I'm not bowing my knee for any price tag. It don't matter what kingdoms you're offering. It don't matter how great it looks. I've made the decision, I will not sell out my vineyard. And what was his vineyard? A cross, a bloody, brutal cross that he would have to endure for the joy. There it is, that's the vineyard, that's the wine. For the joy that was set before him, he made the decision, you can offer me the kingdoms of this world, as wonderful as that is, I would rather serve God and fulfill his purpose for my life and include a bloody cross than I would have everything that this world has to offer. At some point, you have to decide, do you have a price tag or not? Well, Ahab is obviously furious, right? I mean, he's a king, he's not used to being told no. He's not used to not being able to have his own way, and so he's sulking and sad, and he's throwing a temper tantrum, he won't get out of bed, he won't eat. And Jezebel, his wife, walks in and says, and says, what's wrong with you?

And he says, well, Naboth won't give me the vineyard. I'm not used to not getting everything I want. And so Jezebel decides to write a letter. And inside of this letter to Naboth is an invitation. And she's set up, she's arranged, this is really an ambush, she's arranged a scenario where there's going to be prominent people there, nobles, the elders, all these prominent people are there, there's gonna be a seat that she gives them, a high position at this celebration. And Naboth gets the invitation, and he immediately accepts it. He doesn't think about the timing. Ahab was just in my house, trying to get my vineyard, and when I wouldn't give it to him, he walked away angry, and mad, and upset. And now his wife sends me an invitation. He doesn't consider maybe there's something here that I should be thinking a little bit more about. Right, because the devil usually just doesn't hit you all at once. He sends the jab, right, the setup punch. And he wants to, are you gonna let your guard down to set you up for the knockout punch, right? So when the enemy attacks, you have to be sensitive, oh, here we go, here we go. Very rarely is it just gonna be just this little hit, and then he pulls back. He knows how to attack, withdraw, look for an opening,

look for a more opportune time, bring more with him to hit your life. But Naboth doesn't think about it. He doesn't seek godly counsel, he doesn't seek God, he doesn't pray, there's no prayer. He just simply receives the invitation, uses no discernment, he's not being sensitive to all that's happening. He walks in, they seat him in this position, this prominent position, and they had hired two assassins that the Bible calls scoundrels to set him up, frame him, and murder him. And these two men do that exactly. And so in the story, Naboth is murdered. And so this beautiful vineyard that caught the attention of a king, after 500 years and generations of faithfulness, has been turned, or is vulnerable to be turned into a vegetable garden. And I don't like this, that Naboth is dead. It's not figurative, he is dead. There's no, he's finished, it's over. No hope, no future, no life, no breath, no heartbeat, no pulse. And then to make matters worse, Ahab is standing in his vineyard. Taking possession of it, he's no longer a sulking, sad king throwing a temper tantrum. Now he's a gloating king. He's doing his little touchdown dance in Naboth's vineyard. And the Bible says, Naboth's gone, and the enemy's winning. Ahab is the one that's got the advantage in this scenario.

I hope you get this. Then it says that the word of the Lord came to Elijah. So remember, this whole thing gets kicked off because Jezebel hires these two assassins. She writes him a letter, brings an invitation. But evidently, the devil's not the only one with a pen. The word of the Lord comes to Elijah. And it's important that you remember, yes, the enemy has an assignment, a plan. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy. He's strategic, you're not to be ignorant of his devices. He knows exactly where to hit you and I. He knows exactly how to find us in vulnerable moments where we lapse in the judgment of the Holy Spirit. He knows how to find that, but God also has a pen. Right, he wrote on the tablets of stone. He wrote in Daniel on the wall the judgment towards the king. Jesus knelt down, wrote in the dirt. He writes on the tablets of our hearts, and he's still writing. And if you did not know this, he wrote 66 books that we call the Holy Bible that were inspired by the Holy Spirit and given to you and I. And Psalms 45, 1 lets us know that his heart is a good, it overflows with a good theme towards you, and that his tongue is the pen of a ready writer. God's not done even if it looks like things have been destroyed. I love this part of the story because it lets us know even when Naboth is dead, God still speaks. I want you to understand this part, that even in the midst of death, God's word was still alive and being sent out to accomplish what he had planned. That's right. God still orchestrates in the lifeless places.

God's still maneuvering his word, his will, his purpose in the lifeless places. He's not just the Lord of the vineyard. He's still Lord in the graveyard too. Nothing's final with him. And the truth is, I didn't like the way this story ends. I didn't like it. Naboth's done. I mean, look at how good he did, right? Like the king came in. I mean, most people would have buckled just in the presence of a king. Sure, king, whatever you want. I mean, he stood so strong. He was there. He stood up for what was right. He stood up for the inheritance he had. He stood up for the inheritance. He said, the Lord forbids it. He didn't compromise. He didn't sell out. And then he just misses it just like a little bit, lacks some discernment and he's done. And then it hit me that Naboth, Needed to die That every now and then we have to be reminded that There are some things in our life that can't live if he's going to be the lord of the vineyard And as long as Naboth was present Elijah was absent the word of the Lord did not come until Naboth exited

Elijah could not enter But once Naboth was put down Every now and then you got to say man God you're gonna have to put Marcus down I'm gonna mess it all up. I can feel it. I can see it. I know how stupid I am I know how I get in the way. I know how I white-knuckle things. I know how I try to control it I know how I try to act like I'm more of an owner of all this than I am and Naboth needs to die so God can raise up the Elijah Naboth is my own strength my own abilities my own intellect the way that seems right to me But ends in death, that's Naboth Naboth has to die. It might be my flesh It might be my past. It might be my feelings. It might be my agenda my opinions Whatever it is, if it's in any way going to get in the way of God Having and staying in his rightful place You see the whole point was an ownership issue It was never Naboth's vineyard to begin with Right. We know that Jesus said in Luke 20 verse 15 that he cast all the people out of the vineyard that did what? they thought they were owners and Jesus announced to them not you can't stay here. If you think like an owner, you're a steward in my vineyard But you're not an owner. You have a part to play but you are not the master of the vineyard I'm divine. You're the branch apart from me You can do nothing like he said to the Church of Galatia. Are you so foolish? That what you began in the Spirit you think you, Naboth, you think you can finish? You didn't start it out and now you let that old man come back He's gonna ruin it all My point is He's the Lord of the vineyard It's not my marriage It's not my kids It's not my grandkids It's not my business It's not my body

It's not my mind. It's not my time. It's not my talents. It's not my gift It's not my money. It's not my life You are the Lord of The vineyard and if you're not Lord of it all you're not Lord at all And until Naboth goes in the ground God can't raise up Elijah But the word of the Lord came to Elijah And God said this is what I want you to do Ahab's down there gloating. He's taken possession of that vineyard. That's not his vineyard And Elijah I want you to go down there and I want you to tell that Ahab devil that I saw what he did I saw the attack and that in no way is the attack going to stop what I've destined for that vineyard God threw the penalty flag God steps in and Elijah shows up and tells Ahab the moment you attack Naboth You signed your own death certificate And in the same way the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth Those same dogs are gonna lick your blood off. God saw what you did and God's going to deal with you You have to remember that the devil is God's devil John Wesley said he uses him as your workout partner The devil has to get permission for every single thing that happens in your life every attack You're not with me on this well, let's do let's talk about it for a minute So you think that God's over here and he's got his little territory and then the devil's got his territory and That God can't in any way impose on the devil's territory Like If God wants to bless you, he has to go ask Lucifer for permission, permission, and can I bless him? Are you going to be okay with that? I know you want to kill him and destroy him. I know that, but is it okay if maybe this one time he's a bulldog, he's fierce, but God holds the chain and he yanks it back.

When Satan crucified Jesus, the Bible goes on to say, if he would have known that that would lead to his defeat, he would have never crucified the Lord of glory. In other words, it's important that you understand that the enemy in no way has any right to your life apart from God granting it to him. And if God grants him access, it's probably to deal with some Naboth stuff. He's just a pawn. He's just a pawn to accomplish the will of God. There is not one single iota, not one thing, not one event, not one circumstance, every single detail of every event, the good, the bad, and the indifferent had to pass through his sovereign hand. And he takes every single bit that the enemy meant for your evil and he works it all together for your good. You know what the Elijah spirit does? And that's what the Bible says in the last days, the spirit of Elijah will come. If you can, you know what the Elijah spirit does? The Elijah spirit is the spirit that reminds God's people to make ready and be prepared for the way of the Lord. You want to know what the way of the Lord is? He's in charge. The devil's not, he's in charge, you're not. He reigns, the Bible says, in the heavens and he reigns in the earth. He reigns in the air and he reigns beneath the sea. There's not one place in all the universe in the heavens or even beneath. That means the devil doesn't even lead and control in hell. You don't remember when he, when Jesus died on the cross, the lamb kicked the devil in the head. He's got permanent brain damage now and the old fool don't have the keys to his own house. God is in charge. He is the Lord of the vineyard. And if anything you've lost in your life and you're sitting around saying, but I should

have never lost that. And I can't believe how much that hurt. And I can't believe how much my heart is broken. That's one way to live. Another way to live is to say the Lord giveth and the Lord does what? Take it the way. Well, if you like the first verse and you don't like the second verse, then you can't sing the third verse. And that is blessed be the name of the Lord. A lot of people can bless God when he's given to them, but can you sing blessed be the name of the Lord when he's taking and removing, or are you here to say, God, have it all have any of it. I don't want any of it. If it's not going to bring you glory in my life, I want you to be the Lord of the vineyard. I want you every lifeless, every dead, every heartbroken place, every area I look at. And I think to myself, man, God, I can't believe the dream died. It feels like the marriage is dying. It feels like I can't figure out what to do with my kids. All those places. Let the spirit of Elijah come on you and look at those things and say, I don't know what's going on, but I know who's in control of it.