INTRODUCTION. 1st Kings 1:1-10 At the end of David's life, there is a little foreshadowing of things to come in the future because of failure. David seemed past caring about anything except trying to keep warm. The actions of Abishag were not considered offensive in those days because, as his nurse, the body heat of her young body would be absorbed by David’s cold and weak body to give him some physical comfort. The moisture and heat of a human body can benefit one who is cold better than an animal. Because the body temperature of most humans is nearly the same, it is compatible. This must have been recommended by the Jewish doctors who served David.
Old age changes one's perspective, and the world in which an old person lives becomes very small. Most of one's interests and concerns in later years are regarding one's own well-being, health, and survival. David was "very old" at seventy years of age. Caleb was strong and vigorous at eighty-five years of age. It may be that the rigors of living can make one person strong and another person weak. David's active mind, emotional bent, and productive life may have worn out his body, so his whole system was gradually shutting down. When that happened, he couldn't be bothered by his family's intrigue.
I guess physical changes may come to me as I get older. Weakness and lack of energy will inevitably affect me, and maybe I will even start to sleep more. As the years pass, I will feel the cold creeping up quietly and unseen, and my thin skin and thin blood will make me more aware of the temperature. My honest prayer is that I will always be reachable and warm inside, as a branch must abide in the Vine to bear fruit still. I hope that inner heat will make it possible to continue to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. I will pray that by God’s grace, my spiritual heat and light will stay at the normal temperature of those committed to walking with the Lord in the light of His word.
The things of earth and materialism have a way of pushing into my thinking, not because I want more but because I am curious about things I shouldn’t waste my time thinking about. Those things outside the realm of the kingdom of God divide people and can easily separate me from my Lord and tempt me to overlook sin. It is easy to think I see it in others, but it has not affected me. It’s easy sometimes to condemn my brother for some little thing, and I never see the log in my eye.
The fact of the matter is that I am no longer young. Stopping momentarily, I think about this: What do I have to show for the years of living when my life is done? I pray that I won’t become foolish and lose all my credibility. I have so little to show for all those years I have spent in this world; how I wish I had served God more faithfully.
Adonijah was the heir apparent as the oldest living son of David. He knew that Solomon was David’s choice to be kind, and as yet there was no protocol in Israel as to the right of succession to the throne. God had designated who was to lead and rule His people. However, Adonijah followed the practice of pagan nations and unilaterally took upon himself to usurp the throne. He bypassed David and arranged a parade of chariots, horsemen, and fifty runners to go before him and impress some of David’s chief men to support his claim to the throne. A goodlooking man of thirty-five years old, and the oldest living son of the king would seem like the natural choice to be the leader.
In the kingdom of God there are clear instructions given in the Bible as to how things are to be done. It is God who knows who is qualified to lead His people in the assemblies of those who gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Age and spiritual maturity are not always the same. Some men who set their hearts on the things of God right from the start of their spiritual journey with the Lord may spiritually mature quite fast. Some older believers who are wise in the ways of business and success, may not be wise in spiritual discernment even though they may be “good speakers.”
Absalom had killed Amnon, his half-brother. Daniel, David's second son, may have died from some natural cause. Absalom died in rebellion, and Adonijah seemed to be the natural successor. Even Joab, the general, and Abiathar, the priest, expected this succession to the throne. It was in this setting that Adonijah made his move to become the king of Israel. He was good-looking, youthful, self-confident, and able to gather a following, including Joab, the leading general of the army, and a religious leader, Abiathar, the priest. When he had gathered his followers for the special sacrifice, he did not include Solomon, although he did all his other brothers. He did not include Nathan, the prophet, or those loyal to David. He knew David favored Solomon and intended him to succeed him on the throne of Israel. Those people had learned to consult with the Lord before taking action, but Adonijah wanted to do things his way.
It is a serious matter to take matters into one's own hands at any time, let alone when we are conscious of acting in self-will for self-advancement. Self-exaltation will ultimately bring one down in disgrace and defeat. When we fail even in parts of our responsibility, there are consequences to come that we can foresee.
Another problem with Adonijah was that he had never experienced correction or significant guidance from David, his father. David had never caused him to feel the pain of wrongdoing and the consequences it brings. Instead of respecting his father, Adonijah ignored his father’s wishes, set his own course, did his own thing, and usurped his father’s authority.
We do no favor to our children if we do not correct their misbehavior when needed. We are also remiss if we do not encourage, support, and praise them when they do what is right. Negligence in disciplining our children leaves them at a great disadvantage when it is time to assume responsibility for their own lives. It is worse when they have not learned how to discern and practice what is right when leading other people. Even worse, they do not know how to take God seriously and have not learned how essential it is to seek God’s will in every matter and then do what that is.
If young people are left to their own devices to do what they want, they will be inwardly crippled for life. They will have never learned how to live as well-rounded, disciplined, and independent people who know their limitations and strengths. An undisciplined adult is a menace to society because they will destroy themselves, their reputation, and their usefulness and those who follow them.
Limits have to be set for our children beginning when they are young. In their teens, they will try to extend those boundaries, and different ways of enforcing them will have to be used than when they were young children. By the time they are ready to move on to adulthood, they will have developed self-restraint and values that will control their choices and practices. A self-disciplined person has leadership strengths that must be taught from the Bible, learned, and then shown how to practice their strengths. Then, their life will be established on the unchanging standards the Bible teaches, and they will find the practice of truth and righteousness under the Lord’s leadership will give them “abundant life.”
We cannot take for granted the spiritual state of our children. Our best course is to be open about our faith as we talk with them so they know why we do what we do. We must live consistently before them and seek to impart moral and spiritual character and guidelines for them to follow. To pass on those things requires self-discipline on my part, as well as patience. A servant-leader can be so involved in his or her service to God that he or she neglects her children. Time and energy are needed for me to fulfill my responsibilities for the benefit of my family. If I am careful, I will use that time and energy for the right things.
David did not set limits on his children or give them serious boundaries they could not cross. Adonijah wanted his way no matter what his father or God wanted. Lack of discipline in childhood leads to undisciplined adults. Undisciplined adults who live without self-restraint may soon find themselves ruining life for others and self-destructing. It takes time and patience to train, guide, control, and teach self-discipline to children. Still, the result will be an effective adult who can control themselves even in challenging circumstances.
Unfortunately, some older, well-meaning people use discontented young people to advance their agendas. Joab was concerned with maintaining his position as the army leader rather than keeping the trust and favor of David, his king. Abiathar also must have had some ulterior motive that led him away from the man he knew God had chosen, to identify himself with a usurper. Even when years come upon us, and we are anxious to leave the body and go to be with the Lord, we need to remember that as long as we are able, we must tend to the Lord's people and His work without letting our guard down or being careless about our obligations.
Solomon’s older brother, Adonijah, thought he should be the one to take over the leadership and sit on the throne of Israel. That was the way of transferring property and designating leadership in families. However, self-exaltation ignores that when all is said and done in God’s kingdom, the way up is down! Leading people is not the same as leading one’s own family. This fact is true in all phases of life. Self-exaltation opens the door to strife in nations, assemblies, businesses, and families. Even in the relationship of husband and wife, submission to each other is essential. God is determined to bring the humble man up and the proud man down!
There’s a lot that is unseen, but God knows the heart. An undisciplined person is off to a bad start in life because, by nature, we are self-centered and selfish. “Me first” is a natural mindset of the unregenerated person. A self-exalted person cannot take the part of one who can be trusted to lead God’s people. It is wise to humble oneself under God’s hand and realize that we need God in every decision and action. One who seeks God’s guidance before making any decision is a very wise man. People will accept such leaders, knowing God can trust him to lead them.
An indulgent father who avoids taking control over the direction of his children when they are young makes a fool of himself. In time to come, it will be evident that he has helped make fools of his children when they act without discipline and even ignore him. Though they may not be able to express or even understand what they have missed, it will be evident to others. To please them and excuse himself for this, he left undone the fundamentals of guidance. When they are grown, and no longer beside us or under our authority as parents, they have no guidelines to follow, no boundaries. Around them will be those who use them to get some advantage, and they fall into traps. Then, they yield to temptation when people may flatter them because of good looks or some personal characteristic they are proud of. They have been deprived of an area of education that doesn’t come from books but should have learned from their parents before they left home. So, instead of acting with integrity and prudence when temptations come, they fall victim to their egocentric desires.