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"Who
Can Stand Before The King?"
• 11.13.16 •
Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Our first study in the book of I Kings revealed what it took for
Solomon to become King over Israel. That chapter deals with the intent to make
him King. Today, we see the full transition to power.
Text
•
I Kings 2:1-4 : "Now the days of David drew near
that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: 'I go the way of all the earth; be
strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to
keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it
is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and
wherever you turn; that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If
your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their
heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the
throne of Israel.’" : We first met David while he
was watching his Father's sheep. We find him here at the door of death.
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We are the proverbial fly on the wall, witnessing David calling his son, his
successor to his side to fully transfer his Kingdom and to share his final and
most important thoughts.
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He begins with this amazing statement: "I go the way of all the
earth!" What a beautifully poetic, yet haunting phrase to describe one's
death!
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This is the way that all of Earth's inhabitants will one day travel! Every road
will lead to it and every person, barring the rapture of the church, will
experience it! Like David, no true believer fears it.
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Before David makes his way, he looks into Solomon's eyes and says be strong. He
is to be resolute, secure in his path as the King and act like a man! How does
David define that?
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Is he to be "macho" or filled with the bravado of self assurance?
Being God's man means that you are a man of God's Word! Solomon's first duty
was to keep, to guard the word of God!
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This is much more than a passing interest in the word of God. This is a word of
action.
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The word carries the idea of protecting it, first from myself, as I might seek
to minimize it and second, from others, who seek to marginalize it!
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Each of these words that David uses serve to describe or enlarge upon the
concept of God's Word. God's man will walk in His ways. His manner of life will
follow God's leading and direction.
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He will keep God's statutes or ordinances, as well as attending to what He
prohibits. He will accept God's decrees and His revelation. Where would Solomon
find this treasure?
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In the law of Moses, the single volume of God's revelation kept for His people
Israel, recognized as the sole authoritative source at King Solomon's time.
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Deuteronomy 17:18,19 tells us that
Solomon was to keep a hand written copy to read every day! It was valuable to
the King then and is valuable to the King's kids now! Why?
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Because attending to God's word is the most sure way to prosper in this life!
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This does not refer to financial prosperity, as the false teachers of the
prosperity gospel would have us believe. God's Word reveals a pattern for a
successful and healthy Christian to follow!
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A commitment to live out God's word leads to blessing in what you do, wherever
you go!
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Verse 3 belongs to everyone, but
verse 4 is for Solomon in particular.
His obedience to God's word would ensure that God's promises would be fulfilled
that were made to David.
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The covenants of the Old Testament were often contingent upon the obedience of
God's people to follow them. Solomon was to continue in David's way if he were
to see God's faithfulness.
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This is the sure recipe for his Kingdom's success. David now unloads some
unpleasant duties that he would have to attend to, beginning in verse 5.
•
I Kings 2:5-9 : "Moreover you know also what Joab
the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the
armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he
killed. And he shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put the blood of war on
his belt that was around his waist, and on his sandals that were on his feet. Therefore do according to your
wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace. But show kindness to the sons of
Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for
so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother. And see, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a
Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious curse in the day when I
went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him
by the Lord,
saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.' Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise
man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the
grave with blood.'" : Joab had recently defected
to Adonijah's side during his short lived rebellion, but he had also killed two
men who were going to supplant him as Captain.
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Abner had been Ishbosheth's General. Amasa had been Absalom's General. David
had granted them both a place in his army, but Joab would have none of it.
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He killed both of them when they were not expecting it, their swords at their
sides. The blood from their killings stained his clothes, another way of saying
that he was responsible for brutality.
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Solomon was charged with his execution. Near the same breath, Barzillai the
Gileadite was to be a constant dinner companion for the kindness that he showed
to David.
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Solomon's kindness would have been extended to Barzillai's son who had chosen
to remain on the West side of the Jordan river.
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Then we have Shimei, the man who cursed at King David as he left Jerusalem.
When Abishai wanted to separate his head from his shoulders, David would not let
him, choosing mercy on that day.
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He swore to him that he would not kill him, but over time, probably realized
that he should not have made that promise. Thankfully, Solomon hadn't sworn!
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Now, David is calling upon Solomon to use his wisdom to expose his contempt for
the King.
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You may be wondering why David didn't merely do this himself. There is a lot of
speculation, ranging intimidation by Joab to he not wanting to further stain
his reputation with more bloodshed.
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I'm of the mind that Adonijah's rebellion forced his hand. Solomon was declared
King, but given his relative youth, a time of transition was necessary.
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If David executed these people, he would have taken away from Solomon's
credibility in the eyes of the people. At the same time, he may have simply
been giving Solomon a Kingly test.
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Whatever the actual case, Solomon is a young man, perhaps as young as 15, and
he needs to prove himself a man if he is going to lead God's people.
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That often includes distasteful and difficult duty. No man of God can call
himself that if he avoids that!
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David knows that these men would present problems that left unchecked, would
overwhelm and threaten his Kingdom. And David won't be around to help. Verse 10.
•
I Kings 2:10-12 : "So David rested with his fathers,
and was buried in the City of David. The period that David reigned over Israel was forty years; seven
years he reigned in Hebron, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years. Then Solomon sat on the throne of
his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established." : Those that were honorable, rested with their Fathers and were
buried in a place of honor. The city of David, near the heart of Jerusalem was
considered the most honorable place.
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David began his reign in Hebron as the King over Judah. Israel was surrendered
to him 7 years later by Abner. It's at this time that Solomon's kingdom was
"firmly established."
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The idea is that there was great strength behind Solomon's reign from the very
beginning. He was given the very best foundation that a man could have. David
did this for him in 4 ways.
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First, David provided Solomon with a wonderful heritage and example to draw
from.
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We have studied David's life and we've been greatly enriched. Solomon saw his
life and what his Father built, in rich technicolor.
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There is nothing that you can give to your children that is better than this: A
heart that seeks to please God and a life that embodies worship! David was a
great sinner and a great repenter!
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Second, David left Solomon without a rival, putting his stamp of approval upon
Solomon and then sitting him upon his own throne.
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Additionally, outside of the Kingdom, David also left Solomon with a peaceful
set of borders.
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II Samuel 8 records David's
conquering of all the lands surrounding Israel in every direction. - Solomon's nearest enemy was far from the
center of his Kingdom and those that were subject to him were rich in resource.
Solomon is poised to be the most rich King in Israel's history!
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Finally, Solomon was given a great purpose, that was funded by David, which we
will cover at a later time. Solomon has the best foundation to be the greatest
King Israel has ever seen.
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Keep that in mind as we continue to examine his life. Verse 13.
•
I Kings 2:13-18 : "Now Adonijah the son of Haggith
came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, 'Do you come peaceably?' And he said, 'Peaceably.' Moreover he said, 'I have something to say
to you.' And she said, 'Say it.' Then he said,
'You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations
on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has
become my brother’s; for it was his from the Lord. Now I ask one petition
of you; do not deny me.' And she said to him, 'Say it.' Then he said, 'Please speak to King Solomon, for he will
not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.' So Bathsheba said, 'Very well, I will speak for you to the
king.'" : Adonijah had been warned by
Solomon to show himself a worthy man, lest he be found to be wicked and die in I Kings 1:52,53. He's been on probation
and under house arrest.
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He approaches Bathsheba with the pretense of peace for the purpose of a
seemingly innocuous proposal, which given the circumstances, is quite small.
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He intimates that he could have pushed for the Kingdom and that all would have
accepted it, but admits that it had turned over because it belonged to Solomon
from the Lord.
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What he misses in actual history he gets right in theology. The Kingdom was
God's to give and Solomon was the rightful recipient. It's too bad that
Adonijah isn't truly satisfied with this.
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There are those that believe that Bathsheba was ignorant of what was occurring.
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I don't believe that for a minute! Her son had naively allowed Adonijah to live
under house arrest. She knows that Adonijah's request was an ancient way of
making a claim to the throne.
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She agrees to go to her son, who will have a very strong reaction! Verse 19.
•
I Kings 2:19-25 : "Bathsheba therefore went to King
Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and
bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the
king’s mother; so she sat at his right hand. Then she said, 'I desire one small
petition of you; do not refuse me.' And the king said to her, 'Ask it, my
mother, for I will not refuse you.' So she said, 'Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah
your brother as wife.' And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, 'Now why do
you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also—for
he is my older brother—for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the
son of Zeruiah.' Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, 'May God do so to me, and
more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life! Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has confirmed me and
set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a house for
me, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!' So King Solomon sent by the hand of
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died." : Bathsheba has privileged access and Solomon is happy to hear
her request, which she deems to be a "small petition."
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Before her words are complete, Solomon's face turns red with fury! He knows
exactly what Adonijah was trying to do and he believes that Joab and Abiathar
are in on it as well.
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Solomon went from allowing Adonijah the chance at "rehabilitation" to
calling out for his execution. Adonijah's executions sets off a chain of
events. Verse 26.
•
I Kings 2:26,27 : "And to Abiathar the priest the king
said, 'Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are deserving of death; but
I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the
Lord God before my father David, and
because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted.' So Solomon removed Abiathar from
being priest to the Lord, that he might fulfill the word of the Lord which He spoke concerning the
house of Eli at Shiloh." : Abiathar had been a
co-conspirator, but he had also been
a dear friend of King David's for many years.
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Every time David was afflicted, Abiathar shared in it. Solomon wasn't going to
execute him, though he certainly deserved it. He was however going to remove
him from the priesthood.
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In deposing Abiathar, Solomon fulfilled a prophecy that stood over Abiathar's
great ancestor Eli, who had displeased the Lord by choosing his sons over the
Lord. (I Samuel 2:30-36)
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For Abiathar's part, consider all the loss that this section represents. He has
lost a friend, influence in a new government and most importantly, the
privilege of ministry.
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He gets to go home to his fields in Anathoth, a gracious concession to be sure,
but here was a man who had carried the very ark of God!
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Abiathar is a man who reminds us to finish well! He had such a great testimony
for most of his life but made one foolish mistake. What a precipitous fall and
what a warning for us! Verse 28.
•
I Kings 2:28-30 : "Then news came to Joab, for Joab
had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab fled
to the tabernacle of the Lord, and took hold of the horns of the altar. And King Solomon was told, 'Joab
has fled to the tabernacle of the Lord; there he is, by the altar.' Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son
of Jehoiada, saying, 'Go, strike him down.' So Benaiah went to the tabernacle
of the Lord, and said to him, 'Thus says the
king, ‘Come out!’ And
he said, 'No, but I will die here.' And Benaiah brought back word to the king,
saying, 'Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.'" : Joab knows now that Solomon was not the puppet King that he
thought that he was.
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He is well aware that his defection to Adonijah was enough to condemn him. Joab
took Adonijah's path, running to the altar, away from those that sought his
life.
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As we mentioned in our first study, this was an ancient way of seeking for
mercy, especially when one was innocent. Far from innocence, Joab's action
proves his guilt!
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Benaiah, being a son of a priest, has great respect for the altar and isn't
sure what to do. Solomon is much less hesitant. Verse 31.
•
I Kings 2:31-35 : "Then the king said to him, 'Do as
he has said, and strike him down and bury him, that you may take away from me
and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed. So the Lord will return his blood on his head,
because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed
them with the sword—Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel,
and Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah—though my
father David did not know it. Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab and
upon the head of his descendants forever. But upon David and his descendants,
upon his house and his throne, there shall be peace forever from the Lord.' So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went
up and struck and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the
wilderness. The
king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king
put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar." : Solomon acts entirely within the realm of God's law, as stated
in Exodus 21:14 and Deuteronomy 19:12,13.
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Joab represents every man who has no regard for worship until it is too late. You
will never find Joab at an altar in his life! He never had any time for God.
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But when his life is in it's greatest jeopardy, Joab, this mighty man, ran in
fear, hoping for a reprieve that wouldn't come! Joab was buried and Benaiah and
Zadok were both promoted.
•
I Kings 2:36-38 : "Then the king sent and called for
Shimei, and said to him, 'Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there,
and do not go out from there anywhere. For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook
Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own
head.' And
Shimei said to the king, 'The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so
your servant will do.' So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days." : Shimei has been on probation and was now consigned to house
arrest.
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He could dwell in peace as long as he stayed within the Kings's reach. If he
crossed over the border given to him, it was akin to surrendering his life.
This is a very gracious concession.
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Shimei agrees to the King's word and for many days, he dwelt there in the
King's shadow.
•
I Kings 2:39-46 : "Now it happened at the end of three
years, that two slaves of Shimei ran away to Achish the son of Maachah, king of
Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, 'Look, your slaves are in Gath!' So Shimei arose, saddled his
donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and
brought his slaves from Gath. And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath
and had come back. Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, 'Did
I not make you swear by the Lord, and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go
out and travel anywhere, you shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I
have heard is good.’ Why then have you not kept the oath of the Lord and the commandment that I gave
you?' The king
said moreover to Shimei, 'You know, as your heart acknowledges, all the
wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore the Lord will return your wickedness on
your own head. But
King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established
before the Lord forever.' So the king commanded Benaiah the son
of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus the kingdom
was established in the hand of Solomon." : Three
years had passed by peacefully until Shimei's slaves went out into Philistine
territory. Three good years without incident.
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When he heard about his slaves leaving, he got up and took his time saddling
his donkey.
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Another servant could have done this duty, but Shimei imagines that the King
won't really be bothered if he goes out after them. He gambled against his own
life!
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The moment he returned, the King sent for him, reminding him of their
agreement. "Shimei, you said, 'The word I have heard is good." Shimei
has nothing to say.
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He stands before the King whose hands are clean, whose way is just. He can only
agree to the King's sentence. Solomon goes on to even make a judgment
concerning his motives.
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"You know, as your heart acknowledges." We might say, "Deep
down, you know that this is true!" Shimei's actions spoke loudly of his
disregard for Solomon's authority.
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Shimei didn't die because he went to get his slave. He died for his callous
refusal of Solomon's grace!
Conclusion
- As we close,
remember that while Solomon was a historical figure, he also provides us with a
picture of the King of Kings.
- Like David,
the Father has committed all judgment into the hands of the Son. (John 5:22-24) The men who stood before
him are those that will stand before Jesus as well.
- Jesus will
stand to judge rebels like Adonijah who cannot accept His rule. He will rightly
weigh men like Abiathar, who despite starting well, finished poorly.
- Jesus will
condemn men like Joab who lived by their own violent code and sought Him only
as a means of preserving their life, as well as men like Shimei, who would
refuse His grace.
- Like Solomon,
Jesus will have mastery of God's law and a clear vision of the motives of men.
- And like
every man in this chapter, not one word will be uttered by them in their own
defense! Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord
and their judgment is just!
- Solomon
reigned according to God's law for this period of time. Jesus will reign according
to God's law for all of time! Who can stand before this King?
- Those who
love the Son and stand in the righteousness that He provides! Hail to the
everlasting King of Kings!
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