The End of the King’s Life and The Transition of Power to Solomon (1 Kings 1:1-4)

Wayne Galloway
05/29/14 - N/A

Series: Studies in First Kings

Introduction:

1.  In our previous study we reflected on the last four chapters of 2 Samuel as an appendix to the book. 2.  We learned that the message of that appendix dovetailed with the message of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, namely that God is always faithful. 3.  David had his lapses in faithfulness, as did the nation of Israel.  Even though David is described as a man after God’s own heart he was not sinlessly perfect.  He did however; keep coming back to the Lord. 4.  This disposition of humility and repentance is expressed in his statement in Psa. 51:17:   “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” 5.  We take great comfort in the fact that perfection is not the demand, if it were; none could have a relationship with God.  The demand is a broken and contrite heart, recognition of spiritual bankruptcy and a dependence upon God’s forgiveness. 6.  Today we continue our study with the first two chapters of First Kings.  They tie directly to 2 Sam. 20 and continue the historical account of David’s reign.  These two chapters describe the king in his old age and tell of the transition of the power of the kingdom from David to Solomon.  I want to rehearse the account with you and make some observations that apply what happened to our circumstances.

Discussion:

I.  David is deteriorating from old age (1 Kings 1:1-4).

A.  My first observation:  “Those who are old get cold.”

B.  David is old and cold.

1.  Added clothing may not resolve the problem.

2.  In this case a young virgin named Abishag is taken to be David’s nurse and to lie in his bosom to keep him warm.

3.  The text is very careful to tell us that he did not have sexual relations with her.

C.  Recognizing David’s deterioration, his son Adonijah proceeded to advance himself as the new king (5-8).

1.  He was the oldest living son, after Absalom’s death.

2.  Joab, the commander of the army, supported him.

3.  Abiathar, the priest, supported him.

4.  He celebrated by sacrificing oxen and sheep with all the king’s sons and the men of Judah.

5.  But Nathan, the prophet, Benaiah, one of the mighty men, and Solomon were not invited. Who you invite and do not invite to your party says a lot about your perceptions of friends vs. opponents.

6.  Ambition like Adonijah’s had proven problematic before.  Abimelech, son of Gideon had sought to take power.  He killed his 70 brothers, but God returned his wickedness upon him and a woman threw a millstone from a tower and crushed his head (Judges 9).

7.  David always waited for God to raise him up.

8.  Self-exaltation is always condemned in Scripture (Rom. 12:3ff; Matt. 23:6-12; Cf. Jer. 45:5; James 3:14; Phil. 2:8-9).  “God is in the business of exalting the humble and humbling the exalted.”

II.  Nathan and Bathsheba both appealed to David about the kingship (1:11-31).

A.  David had previously designated Solomon to be king after him (1:13, 17, 30).

B.  He now cast his influence behind Solomon.

1.  Zadok, the priest, Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah supported him.

2.  David had Solomon ride on his mule and sit on his throne.

3.  Zadok anointed Solomon king and the people rejoiced.

C.  The result was that those following Adonijah were terrified and disbersed.  Adonijah took hold of the horns of the altar and pleaded for his life.

III.  God’s promised to David was, “If your sons are careful to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel” (1 Kings 2:4).

A.  David called upon Solomon to walk in God’s way, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what was written in the Law of Moses.” David’s appeal to Solomon contrasts with the approach of Adonijah.  Adonijah sought out things for himself.  David was instructing Solomon to seek out the things of God.  Serve not your own purpose!  Serve the purpose of God.

B.  Observe that the writer of Kings is not just reporting history, but interpreting it in light of the king’s relationship to God.

1.  He is not just recording facts, but explaining events in the context of the promises of God.

2.  He teaches his nation that loyalty to the Lord results in blessings while idolatry results in failure.

3.  The Books of 1, 2 Kings embrace a period of 450 years from the ascension of Solomon in 1015 B.C. to the captivity of Jehoachin in 562 B.C.

4.  1, 2 Kings is the record of the kings loyalty and disloyalty to God.

IV.  Actions taken which stabilized Solomon’s rule.

A.  David appealed to Solomon to take care of the following matters . . .

1.  Joab had killed Abner and Amasa—he was to be punished with death.

2.  Shimei was to be punished with death for cursing David.

B.  Solomon had sent Adonijah to his house even though he had attempted to take the kingship.

1.  Solomon had said if wickedness is found in him he will die.  Sometimes you have to wait for more evidence before you can determine a matter.

2.  Adonijah now asked for Abishag to be his wife.  This was interpreted as an attempt to gain power for the throne.  Thus he was executed.

C.  Abiathar the priest was dismissed as priest.  Solomon said he deserved to die, but spared his life since he had carried the ark of God before David.

Conclusion:

1.  Thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon. 2.  What do we learn?  Not to exalt ourselves.  Not to seek our own purposes, but to seek the purposes of God, to submit to His will and allow Him to use us at the proper time. 3.  We have learned that history is to be interpreted in light of God’s activity in the affairs of man. 4.  We have learned to teach that loyalty to the Lord results in blessings and idolatry results in failure. 5.  These lessons are fundamental and timelessly relevant even to our generation. 6.  Does your life reflect self exhaltation or service to the purpose of God?  Do you interpret history in light of God’s activity in the affairs of men?  Do you see loyalty to the Lord as resulting in blessing and disloyalty resulting in a curse? 7.  We are talking world views here folks!  The implications are astounding.