Dunbar United Church of Christ - June 13, 2010

I. The story in the Old Testament is about a man named Ahab, king of Samaria. He wanted a vineyard close to his palace so he went to the owner and said: “I want your vineyard. I’ll give you a better vineyard in return, or will pay you whatever it’s worth.”

The man who owned the vineyard, Naboth, said he didn’t want to sell it because it’s been in his family for generations. So king Ahab went back to his palace, angry. His wife, Jezebel, said: “Why are you upset?” Ahab explained, and Jezebel said: “But you’re the king! Cheer up -- I’ll take care of it.”

II. On the king’s stationary Jezebel wrote letters to the elders of Naboth’s village, saying: “I have two witnesses who heard Naboth curse God and the king, so according to the law, you must stone Naboth to death.”

The elders did as Jezebel commanded. Then Jezebel went to the king and said, “Good news! Naboth’s vineyard is yours!” Ahab was so happy.

III. But God told the prophet Elijah: “Go meet king Ahab at Naboth’s vineyard. Go, speak my word to him.” As Elijah approached, Ahab said: “Ah, Elijah, prophet of God. My enemy. What do you want?” Elijah said: “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have murdered a man and taken his property. In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, they shall lick up your blood.”

IV. There is a law of Karma in the Bible. Our actions, good or evil, return to us. The prophet’s job is to tell people how things look from God’s perspective. If you read the Bible you’ll see a consistency in the prophet’s message. God is always on the side of the poor and the weak. These people are always oppressed by the strong, so God sends prophets to warn the powerful that if they don’t repent, they bring catastrophe upon themselves.

V. Last Tuesday I did the service at Davenport-Dunbar. I read the two lessons that we heard this morning and a woman asked: “Are there prophets today?” Then she said: “I guess that’s what you are, right? Aren’t ministers prophets?”

VI. I said, “That’s part of my calling. But many of my colleagues would rather stay quiet than upset people, so they avoid controversial issues. I can’t do that. A minister has to be a prophet and speak for the poor and the weak. So I speak with my prophetic voice against the torture of prisoners, against a country that will not give health coverage to its poorest members, and against the evil of a country like ours that arrests poor people who are not citizens and deports them. God sees what we do and is enraged and I am responsible by my calling to tell you that. Maybe we will repent and follow Christ.”

VII. The apostle Paul expressed the goal of the Christian life when he said: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” Our own egos need to die, so God’s presence -- Christ -- can grow in us. This is the whole purpose of the Christian faith that we follow.