May 25, 2025 – 1 Kings 21 – 22

Lesson Date: May 25, 2025

Focal Scripture Passage: 1 Kings 21:1-29; 22:29-39

AIM: To lead students to discover the downward course and fatal end of coveting in King Ahab’s life, and to examine themselves for any signs of covetousness in their lives so they can confess and turn from it before it is too late.

 

Before class: Read the notes on 1 Kings 21 – 22 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Covet” on the board or screen.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct the students’ attention to the word “Covet” written on the board or screen.  Ask: “What does the word ‘covet’ mean?” (to desire something very strongly, especially something that belongs to someone else or something that is forbidden or not permitted).

Ask: “Did God have anything to say in His Word about coveting?” (yes; in the Ten Commandments [Ex. 20:17], God said, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s”).

Ask: “What are some bad things that can happen when people covet things that belong to others?” (theft, lust, lying, robbery, embezzlement, adultery, murder, war, etc.).  Tell the class that most crime and sin has its beginnings in coveting; in fact, if there was no coveting the world would be a much safer and happier place.

Tell the class that today’s lesson is about the dangers of coveting.  Tell them the title of today’s lesson is Deadly Coveting.  Tell them we will discover the downward course and fatal end of coveting in King Ahab’s life, and examine ourselves for signs of covetousness in our lives.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Tell the class that this is our last lesson from the Old Testament book of 1 Kings.
   • Tell them that next week we will begin a study of the New Testament book of Galatians.
   • Give everyone a copy of the new Sunday School Member Quarterly for the summer quarter.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Encouragement; we discovered ways God encouraged Elijah, so we could use those methods to encourage ourselves and others).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s suggested memory verse (Psalm 56:3).
   • Tell the students in 1 Kings 20, God graciously gave Ahab and the army of the Northern Kingdom of Israel two amazing victories over the attacking Syrian army, but King Ahab disobeyed God by sparing the Syrian king; for this sin, God promised Ahab would die.
2. Ahab Coveted Naboth’s Vineyard.
   • Read 1 Kings 21:1-3.
   • Tell the class that verse 1 says Naboth had a vineyard near King Ahab’s palace in Jezreel (locate Jezreel on the Map).
   • Ask: “According to verse 2, how did Ahab feel about this vineyard?” (he wanted it for his own, so he offered to buy it from Naboth).
   • Tell the students that Ahab coveted something that belonged to someone else.
   • Ask: “According to verse 3, why wasn’t Naboth willing to sell his vineyard?” (he valued his God-given inheritance).
   • Explain the following:
     • When God brought the Israelites into the Promised Land, He gave an inheritance of land to each tribe and family.
     • He forbid the Israelites from selling their property to members of other tribes (Lev. 25:23; Num. 36:7).
     • Naboth did not want his vineyard to pass out of the possession of his family.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 21:4.
   • Ask: “How did Ahab react to Naboth’s refusal to sell his vineyard?” (he went home angry and displeased; he laid on his bed and pouted).
   • Tell the class that Ahab’s unfulfilled coveting caused him to fall into self-pity.
   • Summarize: Wicked King Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard. When he couldn’t have it, he went home and threw himself a pity party.
3. Jezebel’s Murderous Scheme to Take the Vineyard.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 21:5-7.
   • Tell the class that Jezebel asked Ahab why he was so sad, and he told her that he wanted Naboth’s vineyard, but Naboth refused to sell it to him.
   • Ask: “What did Jezebel tell him in verse 7?” (you’re the king of Israel, so you can have anything you want; cheer up and eat something, and I will get Naboth’s vineyard for you).
   • Read 1 Kings 21:8-11.
   • Tell the class that Jezebel contrived a murderous plot to get Naboth’s vineyard for Ahab, and she wrote letters to the city leaders.
   • Ask: “According to verse 8, whose name and seal did she put on the letters?” (Ahab’s).
   • Tell the class that Ahab’s coveting led to deception.
   • Ask: “According to verses 9-10, what did Jezebel want the city leaders to do?” (put Naboth in a prominent place at a city-wide assembly, hire some unscrupulous men to bring false charges against Naboth, and then stone him to death for blasphemy).
   • Ask: “According to verse 11, did the city leaders go along with Jezebel’s murderous plot?” (yes, they did exactly as she instructed).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 21:12-14.
   • Ask: “What happened?” (the city leaders carried out Jezebel’s murderous plot, killed Naboth, and notified Jezebel that the wicked deed was done).
   • Tell the class that Ahab’s coveting led to murder.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 21:15-16.
   • Ask: “What did Jezebel do when she learned that Naboth was dead?” (she told Ahab to go take possession of the vineyard, since Naboth was now dead).
   • Ask: “What did Ahab do?” (he immediately went to take possession of the vineyard).
   • Ask: “Did Ahab ask why Naboth suddenly died?” (no).
   • Ask: “Did Ahab ask if any of Naboth’s family wanted the vineyard?” (no).
   • Explain that even if Naboth had no children, inheritance laws in Israel would have assured that ownership of the vineyard passed to some other near relative.
   • Tell the class that Ahab’s coveting led to stealing.
   • Summarize: Jezebel devised a murderous scheme to have Naboth killed so Ahab could take his vineyard.
4. The Lord Promised to Wipe Out Ahab’s Family.
   • Read 1 Kings 21:17-19.
   • Ask: “What did the Lord tell Elijah to do?” (go confront Ahab about his crimes of having Naboth killed and taking his vineyard).
   • Remind the students that Jezebel devised the murderous plot and sent the letters, but she wrote them in Ahab’s name, which meant that he was just as guilty of Naboth’s murder as Jezebel, the city leaders, and the men who actually stoned Naboth to death.
   • Ask: “According to the last part of verse 19, what was Elijah supposed to tell Ahab?” (the Lord said that in the place where Naboth was stoned to death and the dogs licked up his blood, the dogs would also lick up Ahab’s blood).
   • Tell the class that Ahab’s coveting led to judgment.
   • Read 1 Kings 21:20-22.
   • Ask: “What other message did the Lord have for Ahab?” (He promised to completely wipe out Ahab’s family).
   • Remind the students that God had already sentenced Ahab to death for freeing the Syrian king, Ben-hadad (1 Kings 20:42), but his sins of coveting, murder, and idolatry brought his entire family under God’s judgment.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 21:23-24.
   • Ask: “What did the Lord say about wicked Queen Jezebel?” (her body would be eaten by dogs and no member of Ahab’s family would have a decent burial).
   • Remind the students that proper burial was very important to the ancient Jews; the idea that their body would be eaten by animals was utterly repugnant to them.
   • Read 1 Kings 21:25-29.
   • Tell the class that Ahab was more evil than any of his predecessors (v. 25-26).
   • Tell them Ahab repented and mourned over his sin, so the Lord mercifully delayed the full judgment until his son’s reign.
   • Summarize: Because of his wicked idolatry, coveting, murder, and theft, God promised to completely wipe out Ahab’s family.
5. Ahab’s Cowardly Death.
   • Explain the following:
     • In chapter 22, Ahab got Jehoshaphat, the king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, to join him in a campaign to retake Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians.
     • Locate Ramoth-gilead on the Map).
     • Ahab’s false prophets promised them victory, but Jehoshaphat didn’t trust the false prophets, so they called for a true prophet of the Lord.
     • The true prophet said they would lose the battle and Ahab would die.
   • Read 1 Kings 22:29-30.
   • Ask: “What did Ahab do when they went out to battle?” (disguised himself, but let Jehoshaphat wear his royal robes so the Syrians would target him).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 22:31-33.
   • Tell the class that the King of Syria told his men to target Ahab; they mistakenly pursued Jehoshaphat, but turned back when they realized he was not Ahab.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 22:34.
   • Ask: “What happened?” (an unaimed arrow mortally wounded Ahab, carrying out God’s judgment on him).
   • Read 1 Kings 22:35-39.
   • Ask: “What happened?” (Ahab died and the dogs licked up his blood, fulfilling God’s promise in 1 Kings 21:19).
   • Tell the class that Ahab’s coveting ultimately led to his death.
   • Tell the students that the remainder of the chapter tells about the wicked reign of Ahab’s son Ahaziah over Israel, and Jehoshaphat’s righteous reign over Judah.
   • Summarize: Ahab was a coward who disguised himself while placing Jehoshaphat in danger. Ahab died in battle and the dogs licked up his blood, just as the prophet foretold.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct the students’ attention once again to the word “Covet” written on the board.  Remind them that coveting is desiring something that belongs to someone else, and that God clearly told His people, “Thou shalt not covet.”

Ask: “What were some of the results of Ahab coveting Naboth’s vineyard?”  They should name the following:

• Ahab’s unfulfilled coveting caused him to fall into self-pity.
• Ahab’s coveting led to deception.
• Ahab’s coveting led to murder.
• Ahab’s coveting led to stealing.
• Ahab’s coveting brought God’s judgment.
• Ahab’s coveting ultimately led to his death.

Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is Deadly Coveting.  Tell them that the example of King Ahab clearly shows that coveting is sinful, leads to other sins, and can be deadly.

Ask: “Are you a covetous person?”  Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to examine themselves for any signs of coveting in their lives.  Tell them to silently confess and turn from the sin of coveting before it leads them into more and more sins.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Tell everyone to watch out for covetousness in their lives this week, and to be content with what they have.  Suggest that they memorize Hebrews 13:5, which says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”  Be sure everyone has a copy of the new Sunday School Member Quarterly.  Tell them to begin the Daily Bible Reading Guide in that quarterly tomorrow.