Scripture

1 Kings 21:7-21

Summary of Scripture

 1 Kings 21 tells the story of Naboth the Jezreelite, who owned a vineyard next to the King Ahab’s
palace. King Ahab offers to purchase Naboth’s vineyard or exchange it for another (even better) somewhere else. Naboth however rejects the Kings offer. The king who becomes very displeased returns home to sulk. At home, Queen Jezebel enquires about the King’s mood and subsequently orchestrates events in order for Naboth to be convicted on false charges and stoned to death. King Ahab then seizes Naboth’s vineyard, but the prophet Elijah is sent by God to Ahab to foretell the downfall of Ahab’s rulership.

The power of tacit approval of wrongdoing

So as I was doing my quiet time one morning, my Bible reading schedule took me to the story of Ahab and Naboth and I was inspired to write this piece which I believe everyone can relate to.  From the story of King Ahab and Naboth we read that Jezebel made a suggestion to Ahab when she saw that Ahab was unhappy about Naboth’s refusal to give up his vineyard. She said to Ahab: 

“You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

The Bible does not state whether or not Ahab agreed to Jezebel’s suggestion to get Naboth’s vineyard for him; however, from reading the text, there was clearly no response from Ahab regarding her suggestion. Ahab did not probe into what means Jezebel was going to use to get the vineyard from Naboth – he only heard her say she would get it and watched her walk away without asking how she was going to execute such a mission. A mission King Ahab himself could not execute. What children of the Lord must know is that the devil is always looking for an opening to operate with your consent – expressly or tacitly; implicitly or explicitly. Remember, the Bible in 1 Peter 5:8 admonishes us to “be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” – and know that he will use any means necessary!

Just as the Latin maxim “Qui tacet consentit” means “silence gives consent”, in the same way, you can give your consent to foul suggestions when you do not voice out your objection when such suggestions are made. The devil takes your silence or failure to object as your consent and runs with it. Jezebel took Ahab’s failure to comment on her suggestion to take Naboth’s vineyard for Ahab as his consent to her taking the vineyard from Naboth by any means necessary – including murder. 

The evil one, (devil, demons, witches, etc) knows this protocol very well and will exploit it with the littlest opportunity. Although it may seem rude sometimes to object, all the enemy is waiting for is your silence. In fact, they come knowing very well you couldn’t possibly object, so they take your silence, run with it and do all kinds of things on your behalf. Object to negative and foul suggestions!

In many subtle ways, you have given yourself away for the devil to act in your stead. You have given the devil power of attorney to act on your behalf.

In verse 8 of 1 Kings 21, we read that Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal and sent them to nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. The letters said “proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; and seat two worthless men before him and let them testify against him saying, ‘You cursed God and the King’. Then take him out and stone him to death.” 

What or who gave Jezebel that power to write these letters? Ahab! Indirectly, he consented to Jezebel taking possession of Naboth’s land by whatever means she saw fit. 

So, Jezebel’s instructions were carried out and when Jezebel received word that Naboth was dead, she went to Ahab and said to him, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” The Bible then says that, “When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take hold of it”. 

Ahab did not ask Jezebel any questions. He did not even ask how Naboth died or what Jezebel did to acquire the land. Nothing! He just rose and took possession of the vineyard.

The Lord then instructed Elijah to go to Ahab, who at the time was in Naboth’s vineyard, and say to him: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” One might ask: – “who instructed for Naboth to be falsely accused and stoned to death? Was it not Jezebel? And God who knows all things, did He not know it was Jezebel who wrote the letters? Of course, He did! But judgement came upon Ahab – why? Because tacitly, he gave consent when Jezebel said she would take Naboth’s vineyard for him and he agreed with his silence. Ahab did not say, “Oh, don’t worry about it” or “No, don’t do it” or “how exactly are you going to take this vineyard” at least so he could vet the means. He said nothing.

And when he got the news that Naboth was dead, he didn’t even ask for details. Know the details! When someone brings you an unusual gift, ask questions. When you cannot fathom how they could possibly have acquired such a thing, ask questions like “where did you get this from”, “how did you pay for it”, etc. Sometimes you get a niggling suspicion that the person may have gotten it by foul means but you shut our conscience out just so you can enjoy what looks like a gift but is in reality your own judgement wrapped up and handed to you. You seal your fate when you accept it without questions.  

What have you consented to – expressly or tacitly? What judgement has come upon you and your household because of your tacit agreement? What has been spoken into your life and is now playing out in because you failed to object? What crime are you complicit to?

When Elijah arrived at Naboth’s vineyard to deliver God’s message to Ahab, on seeing Elijah Ahab said, “Have you found me, o my enemy?” and Elijah answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord.” 

Do not sell yourself to do evil with your silence!

I hope this piece has been a blessing to you. You can share your experiences with us so others can also benefit. Send us a note with your name and we will publish it on the website.

Prayer

If you believe this lesson applies to you, you can ask God for mercy and pray that every consent you have given knowingly or unknowingly which is operating against you be erased by the blood of Jesus. Pray this:

Dear Lord Jesus, I come to you and ask for your mercy. I employ the blood of Jesus to erase every consent I have given to the devil, knowingly or unknowingly, which has now become judgement against me and my family. May my prayer register in every realm as my dissent to every demonically inspired consent I have ever given and may the finished work of the cross operate to buy back my freedom from the repercussions of every ill consent I have given in Jesus’ name. Amen!