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 not  accused  him  or  sentenced  him  to  death! No, but  Achab  knew perfectly well  that  his  wicked  wife  would  use  unlawful  means  to  gain possession of  the  vineyard,  and  yet  not  only  did  he  utter  no  word  of protest,  but  consented  to  Jezabel’s  writing  a letter  in  his  name  and sealed it  with  his  royal  seal! Thus, by  his  silence,  he  consented  to his  wife’s  wicked  project. Neither did  Jezabel  kill  Naboth  with  her own hands;  but  she  commanded  the  ancients  of  the  city  to  have  him falsely accused  and  put  to  death. In this  way  she  shared  in  the  guilt of others  by  command  and  was  guilty  of  murder.

Unlawful obedience.  The  ancients  of  the  city  ought  not  to  have obeyed the  royal  command.

Covetousness. The source  or  root  of  all  these  sins  we  have  been hearing about  was  covetousness. Achab’s desire  to  possess  Naboth’s vineyard led  to  anger,  bribery,  injustice,  murder  and  robbery. Covetousness or avarice  is  therefore  one  of  the  capital  sins.

Inordinate desires  make  men  unhappy,  peevish  and  ill-tempered. Achab, not  being  able  to  gratify  his  longing  for  the  vineyard,  became sad and  angry,  and  his  very  life  was,  as  it  were,  darkened. Was not that silly  and  ridiculous?

Have you  ever  taken  anything  that  does  not belong to  you,  such  as  fruit  &amp;c. ? Are you  contented  with  what you have  got? If the  desire  to  have  that  which  is  unlawful  seizes you, overcome  it  at  once  and  think  of  the  just  God  who  hates and punishes  injustice. He who  is  contented  is  happy,  but  he who  is  discontented  lives  a life  of  disquiet  and  is  in  great  danger of sin  and  eternal  damnation.

T one  time  Elias,  being  persecuted  by  Jezabel,  fled  into  the desert. He was  very  sad and  desired  to  die,  for  he thought  all  the  Israelites  had  fallen  into  idolatry. Being fatigued,