– by Victor Fawole
It’s a new week and a new month… I welcome everyone to the month of November, as we kickstart our reading of 1st Kings. Together with 2nd Kings, we will be going through approximately 385 years of Jewish history. In the two books of Samuel, we were able to go through the end of Theocracy in Israel to their transition into monarchy, and we studied through the lives and kingdoms of Israel’s first two kings (Saul and David). We have seen that there was no easy transition of power from one generation to another. This chapter reveals the internal division over who would take David’s throne.
Without further ado, let us review…
THE DECLINE OF THE KING
1Kgs. 1:1-2 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.”
The once-mighty David had now become old and frail. The man who slew Goliath now struggled to get warm. The general who fought battles and led armies now shivered under blankets. The king who danced vigorously before the ark could barely rise from his bed. The voice that once commanded soldiers now trembled with weakness. The man who fell into lust at the peak of his reign could now no longer have sexual intimacy even with a fresh young virgin. The reign that began in youthful vigour and divine favour was now drawing to a close.
Although time had taken its toll on David’s body, God’s covenant remained sure and strong. Our strength may fail, but God’s faithfulness will never. The decline of the king could not undo the design of the King of kings. God’s covenant with us is not bound to our vitality but to His own faithfulness. The promises of God do not grow old when we do. They are rooted in eternity, not in our endurance. Our bodies may fade, our abilities may wane, but the covenant of grace remains unbreakable.
THE DEFIANCE OF ADONIJAH
1Kgs. 1:5-6 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.)
As David’s strength decreased, Adonijah’s ambition increased. Notice the following…
1. The Rise of Presumption:
‘I will be king…’
Adonijah was David’s fourth son. Naturally, since Amnon and Absalom had died, and there’s practically nothing said about Chileab, one would have expected Adonijah to be next in line for the throne. However, Adonijah knew that David would make Solomon king according to God’s choice, so he tried to seize the throne. He knew God’s will and chose to pervert it. He felt entitled to succeed his father. He saw his father’s weakness as an opportunity to seize power. Whenever jealousy and selfish ambition co-exist, there will be disorder and every evil thing.
2. The Roots of Permissiveness:
And his father had not rebuked at any time…
We’ve always seen David’s passive attitude towards the discipline of his children. He indulged them a lot. The same indulgence that spoiled Absalom could be seen in Adonijah. The failure to discipline Adonijah boosted his arrogance. Yes, indulgence fertilizes rebellion. Prov. 29:17 warned us to: “Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.”
People who fail to discipline (I didn’t say “abuse”!) their kids are actually showing hatred for them (Prov. 13:24). Such kids will grow up always expecting to have their own way. They will be selfish, irresponsible, wild, unhappy, frustrated, find it difficult to be at peace with other people, and they bring shame to their parents (Prov. 29:15,17).
3. The Radiance of Pride:
He was also very good-looking…
Adonijah was endowed with beauty. Like his half-brother Absalom, he stood out among men. Beauty in itself is not evil. It is part of God’s creative gifts. But every blessing must be treated with a sense of stewardship. Our beauty and influence must be laid at God’s feet. Gifts that are detached from grace become idols to us.
4. The Recruitment of Partners:
Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest…
Adonijah recruited Joab and Abiathar, who were key figures in David’s reign. He needed their endorsement to authenticate his ambition. Like I mentioned in the review of 2nd Samuel Chapter 15, *Conspiracies grow when conspirators capture key influencers.* Adonijah hosted a royal feast, invited the commanders, and performed sacrifices. Everything looked royal but lacked God’s support.
5. The Restriction of Participation:
“But Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother he did not invite.”
On Adonijah’s invitation list, he intentionally excluded the people who aligned themselves with God’s plan. He avoided the prophetic voice of the land, the powerful soldiers of the land, and the prophesied king of the land.
When men turn aside from God’s truth in order to protect our plans, they step outside His providence. But divine purpose cannot be silenced by human schemes. The same God who promised David an everlasting throne through Solomon (2Sam. 7:12-13) would soon overturn Adonijah’s self-made coronation.
THE DISRUPTION FROM NATHAN AND BATHSHEBA
1Kgs. 1:11-12 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.
I love how Prophet Nathan and Bathsheba collaborated to preserve God’s promise from being hijacked. In Nathan, we see discernment, and in Bathsheba, we see devotion. We see the perfect harmony of discernment and devotion. Nathan’s wisdom is noteworthy. He first approached Bathsheba and then guided her on how to approach the king. He presented the matter with urgency and respect. His counsel was timely, his tone was respectful, and his intent was God-honouring.
Bathsheba obeyed promptly, approached David with humility and urgency, and reminded him of his vow concerning Solomon’s throne. Nathan then entered to confirm her words prophetically. With their collaboration, they awakened David’s awareness. They redirected David’s focus towards the word of God. Bathsheba reminded David that her life and Solomon’s life were in imminent danger. Adonijah’s lust for absolute power corrupts absolutely. Such thirst for power can drive men to commit heinous crimes.
THE DECLARATION OF SOLOMON
1Kgs. 1:33-34 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!’
David mustered the little strength left in him to declare God’s chosen king. He went beyond just endorsing Solomon. He enthroned him on the basis of divine authority. He commanded Solomon to be placed on his royal mule. What a beautiful display of legitimate succession! He commanded Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet to anoint him. What a beautiful display of priestly and prophetic approval!
Adonijah’s celebration was secret and self-centered, but Solomon’s coronation was public and God-centered. The true king was ordained by God, and anointed by His priest and prophet. The people rejoiced so greatly that the earth shook with the sound. This was a shout of victory.
Reading through the Bible, two sons of David rode on a mule through the streets of Jerusalem, with the shouts and praises of people. I mean Solomon and One Greater than Solomon, Jesus. Notice the parallels and contrasts:
- Their triumphal ride came after they had been anointed. Solomon was anointed as king. The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus to be king, priest, and prophet.
- They both rode through the city as king. The people cried, “Long live King Solomon!” and in Jesus’ time they shouted, “Blessed is the king that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 19:38)
- They both rode on a mule and were acknowledged as sons of David. To Jesus they said, “Hosanna to the son of David” (Matt. 21:9-15)
- Although Solomon went to sit on his throne, Jesus went to suffer on the cross. Solomon rode to power and glory but Jesus rode to shame and death.
Dear Gogolights, celebrate the King who bled on the cross for your sins!
God bless you for reading this review.
Thank you for sharing your reflections too.
See you tomorrow, beloveds.
Grace to you, Church!
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