May 29, 2014 - Thursday

Start Time: 8:37 A.M.

End Time: 9:30 A.M.

Title: Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King

Scripture: 1 Kings 1:1 – 52

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.” Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.  The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her. Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses^[a] ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him.  (His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)  Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimeiand Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah. Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.  Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.  Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.” So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king. “What is it you want?” the king asked.  She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to restwith his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”  While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. And the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.  Nathan said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’  But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

NOTES:

Ø Without God’s permission, man’s decision even if he’s thinking of the good the Lord’s people, will never prevail.  Adonijah is the 4^th son of David and if we really think and analyze, he is rightful to inherit the kingdom and become king yet he made the decision without seeking God’s counsel and approval.  God will not allow it to succeed because He is leading God’s people.  In our lives, we belong to God and our every decision must be with God’s permission.  Let it be that we take God in every action or decision we have in our lives.  Know that our decisions no matter how good our intentions are, will fail without God.  The same with Adonijah, his decision to make himself king was for the people and himself, yet in the end, the Lord opposed it and placed Solomon as king and not him.

Ø Respect is crucial in treating others especially the man of God.  Let it be as it we treat them like how we treat God.  Nathan knew this and his behavior is truly a good example for everyone to follow.  David failed to fulfill his responsibility as a king by doing nothing when Adonijah declared himself as the new king.  Yet Nathan, did not come to put blame on David, instead he politely asked David if Adonijah’s declaration as king is David’s will or not.  He did not react impulsively instead, Nathan, clarified everything and responded to what happened and provided a solution.  So Nathan’s respect for David remained intact until the end and he did not only went to David to present a problem but also provided the solution by telling Bathseeba to come first and talk to the King about Solomon who is next in line as God said he would.  Wow!  This is what God wants us to portray in our lives.  The gentleness, respect and love towards others.  Let us learn it from Nathan who represented the Lord greatly in his life.  Nathan knew when to rebuke and correct (when he confronted David of his sin) and when to be gentle and show respect (when meeting David in his death bed).  We should learn how to act appropriately to best represent the Lord in our lives.

→ Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.  The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,  I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”  King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king,  he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpetand shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’  Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.” Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!”  So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”  And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.  Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?” Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.” “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule,  and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.  Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed  and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’”  At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed.  But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”  Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.”  Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”

NOTES:

Ø God will silence whoever takes the role He has entrusted on you without His permission!  Amazing how God made Solomon king.  It was a truly exhilarating time.  Imagine Solomon, fearing for what is to come of him, now that Adonijah has declared himself king and has invited everyone except him.  Clearly, Adonijah was not pleased of Solomon, because he is God’s chosen king to succeed David.  But here God, ensured Solomon with what little support he has on him, most of the leaders are with Adonijah, but all he needs to be King is with him because God is with him.  Amazing how God can silence those who robs us from what is ours and bring it back to us.  King Solomon’s proclamation was something pivotal during this time.  We have King David who is weak and Adonijah claiming the throne behind his back and God turned it around to make a big spectacle of Solomon’s appointment as the true king of Israel.  Hallelujah!

Ø God will ensure that we fulfill every promise and duties we have to His people even to our last breath!  God makes certain that we complete our mission on earth!  The same way as David in his death bed rose up to declare his successor before he died.  God gathered everything needed for David to do his duty.  Bathseba, Solomon, Nathan, Zadok, Benaiah, the Pelethites and Kerethites, even David’s mule.  God collected each valuable pieces to ensure His plan was completed and David’s mission finished!  Praise Jesus!  Thank You!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, how amazing and wonderful You are.  Thank You because all I need to reign in this life is You.  Your approval is what it takes to make my decisions a success!  Thank You because You find a way to complete my mission, my task, my purpose!  Thank You because You silence those who tries to take away what You have imparted for me.  Lord thank You because all I need is You!  Help me Lord to always carry with me the respect and the love your people deserve or should I say do not deserve.  Lord let me see that when I give love and respect to Your people, I give it to You.  Father, let me follow Your example and show them Your love…the love that no one deserves including me.  Help me Lord to be the best representative I can be, as great as a ruler as King David, as strong and solid as the prophet Nathan, as wise and simple hearted as Solomon, as brave and courageous as Bathsheba, and as loyal and sincere to You as Zadok, Benaiah, the Pelethites, the Kerethites and Nathan.  Lord thank You because You collect everything and gather them all together just for me to fulfill my purpose in this life.  So there’s no point of worrying nor any value in thinking of what is to come negatively because You are in full control and You take the lead in everything in my life as I listen to Your word and approval in the decisions I make in my life.  Let me live according to Your plan Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!