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"Kings
And Kingdoms" • 10.30.16 • Calvary
Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- For those who have not had the chance to review
their Old Testament chronology, allow me to give you a quick snapshot of
Israel's history.
- Israel has been a nation for 1,069 years,
from Abram's little family of three, to a nation under the long and spiritually
prosperous reign of David.
- The Kingdom has been firmly in David's hand
and God has promised that a descendant of his would remain upon the throne in
perpetuity, ultimately issuing in the Messiah Jesus.
- With such a promise intact, you'd think that
the transition of power would be a simple thing. God has given promises and
Israel just has to follow. With humanity, nothing is that simple!
- Today, we'll begin our trek through the book
of First Kings and see how the first
transition of power took place. Verse 1.
Text
•
I Kings 1:1-4 : "Now King David was old, advanced in
years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm. Therefore his servants said to him,
'Let a young woman, a virgin, be sought for our lord the king, and let her
stand before the king, and let her care for him; and let her lie in your bosom,
that our lord the king may be warm.' So they sought for a lovely young woman throughout all the
territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the
king. The young
woman was very lovely; and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king
did not know her." : For those who traveled
through the books of Samuel, this
set of verses is very strange on multiple fronts.
-
First, we get a glimpse of a King in his final days. We are told in II Samuel 5:4 and I Chronicles 23:1 that David ascended to the throne at 30 years old
and reigned for 40 years.
-
We are witnessing this story from his final year, perhaps even his final
months. David is no longer young and virile and on the battlefield. He's old
and advanced in years, stuck in bed.
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Physically, he's a shell of himself. His servants used all of his wardrobe, but
he could not get up to temperature.
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David, at 69 isn't that old chronologically, but the stresses that we have
observed in Samuel's work have caught up to him.
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The next thing that we observe is that the King is subject to his servants who
are making decisions for him. Josephus makes the comment that these are
physicians.
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Their decision is to seek out a young woman that would care for David, who could
for provide human warmth.
-
This was an accepted medical practice of the day, noted both by Josephus and a
first century Greek doctor named "Galen." This was the equivalent of
an electric blanket!
-
This led to their nation wide search for a lovely young woman. If you are going
to get an electric blanket, you might as well get a good one!
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After their search was completed, they discovered Abishag, whose name means
"My Father is a wanderer," of Shunnem, meaning, "place of double
rest."
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Until the end of his life, Abishag came into the King's service and simply
cared for him.
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The HCSB tells us that she became his caregiver and the King did not involve
himself with her sexually. This was not an illicit scene. For all intents and
purposes, she was his hospice nurse.
-
The point here is that the King is in no position to protect his Kingdom or
it's interests. There is a perceived vacuum of power and there are those that
would seek to take advantage. Verse 5.
•
I Kings 1:5-10 : "Then Adonijah the son of Haggith
exalted himself, saying, 'I will be king'; and he prepared for himself chariots
and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (And his father had not rebuked him
at any time by saying, 'Why have you done so?' He was also very good-looking.
His mother had borne him after Absalom.) Then he conferred with Joab the son
of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah.
But Zadok
the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and
the mighty men who belonged to David were not with Adonijah. And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen
and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel; he also
invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s
servants. But he did not invite Nathan the
prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon his brother." : Adonijah decides that it's time to make a run for his Dad's
throne!
-
The author tells us that he exalted himself. The NET uses the phrase,
"promoted himself." This was entirely his idea and one that made
sense from a human standpoint.
-
According to II Samuel 3:4, Adonijah
was David's fourth son, making him David's oldest living son. In the world's
eyes, he was a natural candidate. He had the ambition and the moxy.
-
He jumps at the chance to enjoy some pomp and circumstance, adding chariots and
horsemen entourage to increase his visibility.
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One might wonder how a person becomes like Adonijah. The scripture answers our
question.
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How does a young man become a man like Adonijah? The author wants us to know
that the lion share of responsibility stemmed from his Father's lack of
discipline in his life!
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You do not want to rebuke your children all of the time. But, you cannot avoid
rebuking them at any time! David didn't question his son's activity at any time
in his life!
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His looks and relation to Absalom, David's other rebellious son, should have
clued the King in. Sadly, David didn't learn from his previous failure.
Gratefully, we can.
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If you know any verses on the discipline of children, you likely know them from
David's younger son Solomon, in his Proverbs!
The Bible never endorses an absent Father.
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Proverbs 13:24 in fact, speaks of a
Father's love being known through prompt discipline!
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Unfortunately, not only was Adonijah spoiled like his brother Absalom, but,
unlike Absalom, he had the support of Joab and Abiathar, two of David's closest
supporters.
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Joab, aside from being David's older "nephew," had been a fierce,
borderline psychotic David supporter from his days in the wilderness, though
one could argue that he simply followed power.
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It makes sense then at this time that Joab follows the most powerful of David's
descendants.
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Abiathar's story offers a deeper intrigue. Abiathar's Father had been killed by
Saul's regime at Nob. Abiathar escaped to David, who promised to keep him safe.
(I Samuel 22:23)
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Certainly, these men are seeing the decline of the King and have begun to move
ahead with plans to follow Adonijah by being his campaign managers in spite of
what they knew.
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Adonijah's influence was growing, but it was not total, as several remained
loyal to David. When Adonijah opened with a big feast, he made sure that none
of the loyal few received an invite!
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As with most self-promoters, the idea of having to stomach
"naysayers" and "dreamkillers" is repugnant! Adonijah was
only interested in men that would promote his leadership.
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What a sad sight to see, as Adonijah goes to these lengths to outwardly worship
God, but his character is marred by his underhanded act of rebellion, which
will become increasingly clear.
-
Like most self-promotors, Adonijah assumes that he can simply will his way into
a place of authority over God's people through personality and powerful
friends!
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The problem here is that Adonijah is trying to do this with God's people! God
has many ways to bring such people into subjection. Observe how He begins to do
this in verse 11.
•
I Kings 1:11-14 : "So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the
mother of Solomon, saying, 'Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith
has become king, and David our lord does not know it? Come, please, let me now give you
advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go immediately to King David and
say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, 'Assuredly
your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne'? Why then
has Adonijah become king?’ Then, while you are still talking there with the king, I also
will come in after you and confirm your words.'" : Nathan, the King's prophet, is quick in bringing this matter
before Bathsheba, who has a vested interest in following along.
-
If Adonijah was to succeed in his plan, he would no doubt make sure that any
rival to the throne, beginning with Solomon, was eliminated. That was the way
of ancient dynastic succession.
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As you consider this section, understand Adonijah's actions in the much clearer
light: It was common knowledge that Solomon was going to reign after David!
We'll get to that in a moment.
-
For now, Bathsheba is given her script and Nathan will follow in for effect.
Verse 15.
•
I Kings 1:15-27 : "So Bathsheba went into the chamber
to the king. (Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving
the king.) And
Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the king. Then the king said, 'What is your
wish?' Then she
said to him, 'My lord, you swore by the Lord your God to your maidservant, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your
son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ So now, look! Adonijah has become
king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about it. He has sacrificed oxen and fattened
cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king,
Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your
servant he has not invited. And as for you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are on
you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king
after him. Otherwise
it will happen, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, that I and my son
Solomon will be counted as offenders.' And just then, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan
the prophet also came in. So they told the king, saying, 'Here is Nathan the prophet.' And
when he came in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to
the ground. And
Nathan said, 'My lord, O king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me,
and he shall sit on my throne’? For he has gone down today, and has sacrificed oxen and fattened
cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, and the
commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest; and look! They are eating and
drinking before him; and they say, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ But he has not invited me—me your
servant—nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant
Solomon. Has this
thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not told your servant who
should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?'" : I can never get over the way that verse 15 and 16 play out.
-
All those years earlier, David, with great lust in his heart, broke every rule
to bring Bathsheba into his bed chamber. Now, she has to formally enter and
that while Abishag is caring for the King!
-
It's quite a scene to consider, but it's also God's grace to see where she has
is!
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She is about to be the queen Mother and reminds David that this had been his
promise to her. When did this happen? The first story is implicit.
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After Solomon was born, Nathan sent a message to David, noting that God looked
upon Solomon with favor, nicknaming him "Jedidah" meaning
"Beloved of the Lord." (II
Samuel 12:24,25)
-
In I Chronicles 22:1-10, David
discloses that God told him that Solomon would build the house that he intended
to build when he was King. Nathan would have told him that! Verse 28.
•
I Kings 1:28-37 : " Then King David answered and said, 'Call Bathsheba to me.' So
she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. And the king took an oath and said,
'As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life
from every distress, just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly
Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my
place,’ so I certainly will do this day.' Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and paid
homage to the king, and said, 'Let my lord King David live forever!' And King David said, 'Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan
the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.' So they came before the king. The king also said to them, 'Take with you the servants of
your lord, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and take him down to
Gihon. There let Zadok the priest and Nathan
the prophet anoint him king over Israel; and blow the horn, and say, ‘Long live
King Solomon!’ Then you shall come up after
him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place.
For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.' Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king
and said, 'Amen! May the Lord God of my lord the king say so too. As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with
Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.'" : All of a sudden, David is up and ready for action! He will do
what he promised. Nothing has changed. He swears by the living God!
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"As the Lord lives who has redeemed my life from every distress."
This is David at the end of his life. He has seen every anxious moment pass
into peace. Can't you say the same thing?
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He has seen His God pull him out of every sticky situation and stands on this
day because of His faithfulness. What a great testimony!
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When you walk with the Lord, you will watch him redeem you from every distress
as well!
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David brings in his remaining loyal staff and dispenses his orders regarding
Solomon. Solomon is going to ride into the city upon David's mule with David's
priest and prophet next to him!
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Interestingly, the mule was not native to Israel, but was an import from
another country due to the law's standard of not cross breeding animals. This
was the only mule in Israel!
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Once he had arrived, the prophet was going to anoint him. This has been the
standard operating procedure for each of the King's thus far. Men like Adonijah
don't care for such particulars.
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Adonijah isn't worried about being anointed because he is not seeking God's
favor. He is usurping the position, standing out of place. He wants all the
power but none of the responsibility!
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He wants to lead God's people without being a man of God! Who would ever think
to do that?
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Solomon will be anointed, then placed upon David's throne as the final sign of
David's choice of him. He will be ruler over Israel and Judah, a sign that
someone wrote this much later in history.
-
Benaiah, one of the priest's sons, celebrates and even utters the prayer that
God would prosper Solomon's throne above that of David. Verse 37.
•
I Kings 1:38-48 : "So Zadok the priest, Nathan the
prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went
down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and took him to Gihon. Then Zadok the priest took a horn
of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn, and
all the people said, 'Long live King Solomon!' And all the people went up after
him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the
earth seemed to split with their sound. Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it
as they finished eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the horn, he said,
'Why is the city in such a noisy uproar?' While
he was still speaking, there came Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest. And
Adonijah said to him, 'Come in, for you are a prominent man, and bring good
news.' Then Jonathan answered and said to
Adonijah, 'No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the
prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and
they have made him ride on the king’s mule. So
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and
they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This
is the noise that you have heard. Also Solomon
sits on the throne of the kingdom. And
moreover the king’s servants have gone to bless our lord King David, saying,
‘May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and may He make his
throne greater than your throne.’ Then the king bowed himself on the bed. Also the king said thus, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has
given one to sit on my throne this day, while my eyes see it!’" : What a dramatic turn of events! Adonijah had thought of
everything, except for his Father's endorsement!
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The meal that he had prepared for his installation has become the meal of his
humiliation!
-
This catches him and his men completely by surprise. They had believed that
they had won the day, but instead, by the end of the day, they are all
implicated as traitors to the Kingdom!
•
I KIngs 1:49-53 : "So all the guests who were with
Adonijah were afraid, and arose, and each one went his way. Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon;
so he arose, and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, 'Indeed Adonijah is afraid
of King Solomon; for look, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying,
‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death
with the sword.’ Then Solomon said, 'If he
proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but
if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.' So
King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. And he came and fell
down before King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, 'Go to your house.'" : Of course Adonijah's guests were afraid! They were enemies of
the state! They scattered in every direction like cockroaches do when the light
is turned on!
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The one that was most afraid however was Adonijah, who promptly ran to the
place of the altar and threw himself there, as a symbol of his desire for
mercy.
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In ancient cultures, men who were presumed guilty but were actually innocent
grabbed ahold of altars in an effort to delay or even overturn their death
sentences. In this case, he isn't innocent!
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He knows that the natural consequence of his actions deserve death, but Solomon
is a man of peace. He simply tells his servants that Adonijah will be on
extended probation.
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When Adonijah comes and falls before Solomon, the new King simply sends him to
his house, away from his presence and away from any notion of potential rule.
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Adonijah began with the thought that he would ascend to rule only to realize
that he belonged on his knees before the altar! That is the where the road of
self-promotion will lead you!
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There is no room for men who exalt themselves before God! Certainly, we must
warn ourselves. How often has God's plan seemed foolish or out of touch with
our sensibilities?
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Solomon was a barely a man, likely a 17 year old, who was a man of peace. How
could he lead the Kingdom? Yet, he was God's choice and no amount of rebellion
was going to change that!
-
Despite David's decline, God was able to put his man into the Kingdom, though,
what we see is that men will ever try to usurp His authority, ultimately, to
their own ruin!
Conclusion
- As we close,
aren't you glad that our King will never get old or grow out of touch? Jesus
Christ, the Ultimate Son of David, the Prince of Peace will reign without
interruption for all of eternity!
- Those that
rebel, those that believe that they can alter that will find themselves bowing
before the God of Creation, wishing for mercy.
- Unlike
Adonijah, it will be too late to expect it then, but the King of Mercy calls
out to all that would be subjects, to bow now and receive His gracious payment
for their sins.
- Is He your
King? May you have the wisdom to settle that with Him!