The real life Jezebel, was a shrewd, beguiling and intriguing character. She was a master of manipulation as shown in the incident of Naboth of Jezreel.
1 Kings chapter 21 tells the story. Naboth, an ordinary Samaritan citizen is living a tough laborious life, toiling and tilling the land of his inheritance. Of all the possessions he might have on earth nothing was more significant to Naboth than the real estate he inherited from his fathers. He understood its importance as a means of making a living. and an inheritance to his own children. He would work, guard and protect it. And as we shall see, pay for it with his life.
It was Naboth’s unfortunate circumstance that his land, and the vineyard he had cultivated on it, was located adjacent to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. The scripture says that Naboth’s vineyard was “hard” by the king’s palace. That statement indicates that there was very little land separating Ahab’s palatial structure and Naboth’s humble vineyard.
The king wanted Naboth’s parcel so that he could convert it to a garden of herbs. The king approaches Naboth with an offer to purchase the land or to trade it for an even better parcel. Naboth refuses. Ahab, knowing there is nothing he can do to force the transaction, becomes so disappointed that he takes to his bed, refuses to eat and turns his face away. Under the Law of Moses there was no means whereby a family inheritance could be permanently purchased. Even if an inheritance was sold, the seller, or his descendants could redeem it at the year of jubilee, which was every 50-years. Nobody, not even a king could deny a family its inheritance, or the right of redemption.
Enter Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, who comes in to find her husband in this terrible depression. Asking why he is so sad, Ahab tells her about Naboth’s refusal to sell or trade his inheritance. In an an astonishingly arrogant declaration she tells Ahab to get up, be happy and to eat. She will give Naboth’s vineyard to Ahab. How is she going to give that which is not hers to her husband?
Usurping Ahab’s authority, Jezebel sends letters in the name of the king, sealing them with his seal to the leaders of Naboth’s town. Her forgery includes instructions to proclaim a fast, and set Naboth as the Grand Marshall of a parade in his honor. The elders and nobles do as Jezebel has written in her forgeries. The fast is proclaimed, a feast is celebrated and Naboth is exalted, but at the end of the parade there are two wicked men, servants of Jezebel, who publicly accuse Naboth falsely saying he has blasphemed God and the king. Naboth is immediately taken out of the city where he is stoned to death.
When Jezebel knows that Naboth has died she tells her husband to take possession of the vineyard because Naboth is dead. Delighted with this outcome, Ahab makes Naboth’s land his own. For this crime Elijah, the true prophet of God, issues the LORD God’s decree that Ahab’s house will be cut off forever. No name. No descendants. The only remembrance being his evil works.
Let us move on to the book of Revelation chapter 2:19-23 where we read the Lord’s declaration to the church at Thyratira:
19I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience and your works; the latter to be more than the first. 20Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22I will cast her into a bed and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23And I will kill her children with death; and the churches shall know that I am He which searches their deepest, half-hidden desires, and their deliberate thoughts and intentions; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
That same Jezebel spirit lives today. By her cultish practice, she beguiles the simple and the foolish with compelling rhetoric, dramatic performances and boldly articulated lies. Declaring herself to be the LORD God’s anointed prophetess, she loves nothing more than the sound of her own voice, the adoration of many followers and the idol she calls her ministry. She laments that nobody loves her, or appreciates her self-sacrifice, as she screeches at an ever-shrinking cadre of scurrying courtiers who are desperately trying to satisfy her latest whim.
This Jezebel is a dangerous person! She and her retinue destroys reputations, threatens physical harm and would readily kill any who dare question or criticize her unassailable virtue. Yet the Lord Himself, Jesus Christ, has given her the space to repent.
Because of your willful, obstinate and vengeful nature you have hurt many people, turning some to unbelief and atheism. The adoring crowds and the cameras don't see it, but you, cloaked in fine apparel, wear the mantle of Jezebel.
WILL YOU REPENT?