1st Kings 1:1-10 INTRODUCTION There is always a notable contrast between those who live for God and those who choose not to. The promise of the Lord to Solomon for faithfulness and righteousness in chapter 9 and verses 4 and 5 form the key to both books of Kings. There are always lessons for us to learn from the lives of those who have lived in the past. Wisdom is good, but genuine obedience to God is a higher good. Obedience to God should characterize our lives.
The years of David's reign were a God-centered, glorious time in Israel's history. The Lord had established the kingdom of Israel as He intended it to be as we look at it at the beginning of the book of 1st Kings. The two books of Kings were actually one book that was divided into two sections in 1448. The two books of Samuel and the two books of Kings give a whole history of the kingdom of Israel from the time of Samuel to the fall of the nation to the Babylonians. The divisions of the books may have been made arbitrarily, but they seem to be appropriate to the historical account. Likely these books were written during the time of the exile of Israel by someone like Jeremiah to remind the Jews of who they were, what they had done, and the consequences of their actions.
The Lord had made a covenant with Israel that regulated their conduct and maintained their identity as a kingdom. The welfare of the nation depended on their obedience to God and reliance upon Him for guidance and strength. When they were faithful to God, they prospered. This is not an account of social or political matters basically, but rather a review of covenant obligations and the results when there is failure to meet the terms of a covenant formed. The form of the covenants we make, are contracts. "It is better to not vow, than to vow and not pay." In marriage, in business, in buying and selling property, the contracts we make are covenants between two parties. Israel had made a covenant with God and for a long time had not lived up to their obligations. The book of 1st Kings is an account of their repeated failure to meet the terms of the covenant.
During the reign of the kings, those kings who supported and affirmed the covenant God made with the nation are given quite a lot of written attention. Those who were the worst offenders in failing to keep the covenant are also given a lot of attention as a warning to us to give understanding that sin brings severe consequences on a nation as well as on the leadership.
The ministry of the prophets during the time of the monarchy is emphasized as they were the emissaries from the court of the Eternal King to the court of an earthly king giving them warnings and exhortations. All of the books of the prophets fit into this historical account. Through the prophets before and during the exile, the people were told of the reason for their humiliation and captivity. They had ignored the covenant and broken its terms. There was always a hope given in relation to the future and those who would come after them. God's faithfulness can be counted on when His covenant terms are met.
At the end of David's life there is a little foreshadowing of things to come in the future because of failure. When we fail even in parts of our responsibility, there are consequences to come that we can foresee. Amnon had been killed by Absalom his half-brother. Daniel, David's second son may have died from some natural cause. Absalom died in rebellion and Adonijah seemed like the natural successor. Even Joab the general, and Abiathar the priest expected this kind of succession to the throne.
Old age brings a change of 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 their 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, his emotional bent and his productive life may have worn out his body to the extent that his whole system was gradually shutting down. When that happened, he couldn't be bothered with the intrigue going on right in his own family.
It was in this setting that Adonijah made his move to become the king of Israel. He was good looking, youthful, self-confident, 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 to the special sacrifice, he did not include Solomon although he did all his other brothers. Neither did he include Nathan the prophet, and those who were obviously 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 own way. It is a serious matter to take matters into one's own hands 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.
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 need to 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. It is possible for a servant-leader to be so involved in his or her service for God that we neglect our children. Time and energy are needed for me to fill my responsibilities for the benefit of my family. If I am not careful, I will use that time and energy for the wrong things.
David apparently did not set limits on his children nor give them serious boundaries which they could not cross. Adonijah wanted his own way no matter what his father wanted, or even what God wanted. Lack of discipline in childhood leads to undisciplined adults. Undisciplined adults who live without self-restraint may soon find themselves not only ruining life for other people but self-destructing. It takes time and patience to train, guide, control and teach self-discipline to children, but the end result will be an effective adult who can control themselves even in very difficult circumstances.
Unfortunately, some older well-meaning people use discontented young people to advance their own agendas. Joab was concerned with maintaining his position as the leader of the army 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.
1Kings 1:1. “Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.” HE GAT NO HEAT. I guess it’s possible when I get old That changes will come to me And as the years pass, I will feel the cold That creeps up quiet and unseen My real prayer is that deep inside I will always be reachable and warm As a branch must in the Vine abide My inner heat will stay at norm.
The things of earth and materialism Have a way of pushing in To divide asunder me from Him And tempt me to overlook sin It is easy to think I see it in others But not think it has affected me It’s easy at times to condemn my brother And the log in my eye never see.
Actually, the fact of the matter really is I am no longer young Stopping for a moment I think about this What do I have when my life is done? I am praying that I won’t become foolish Loosing all my credibility For all of those years spent, I really wish I had served God more faithfully.
“O God who knows what makes old men behave foolishly; I pray that by Thy grace, Thou will keep me from anything that will dishonor Thee. May I never do anything that would humiliate or embarrass my wife and family. I know there is a tendency in
old men to be very self-centered. May I always consider how my actions reflect on my Savior. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
1Kings 1:5. “Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.” SELF-EXALTATION. Other brothers thought they’d be the one To take over the leadership and sit on the throne But self-exaltation ignores the fact when all is done – In God’s kingdom the way up is down!
This fact is true in all phases of life Self-exaltation opens the door to strife Even in the relationship of husband and wife – God is determined to bring 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 A self-exalted person cannot take the part – Of one who can be trusted to lead.
It is wise to humble oneself under God’s hand One who seeks God’s guidance is a very wise man Other people will accept such leaders for they know he can – Be trusted by God to lead them.
“Lord God, preserve Thy people from leadership that imposes itself on them in a self- exalting way. Give us humble and wise men to show us the way. Help me to be one of them. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
1Kings 1:6. “And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, ‘Why hast thou done so?’ And he was also a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.” HIS FATHER HAD NOT DISPLEASED HIM. An indulgent father who avoids taking control Over the direction of his children is making a fool Of himself and then in time to come, his children Will act without discipline and even ignore him Though they may not be able to express what they have missed It is obvious to others, that to please them in this – He left undone the fundamentals of guidance So that when they are grown and no longer beside us They have no guidelines to follow, no boundaries around And fall into traps and yield to temptation’s sound People may flatter him because of good looks And they have been deprived of education that doesn’t come from books But should have learned from parents before they leave home So, they can act with integrity and prudence when temptations come.
“Father, I pray this morning for my family. May the things they learned from their mother and me be still functioning in their decision-making processes. May the guidelines we set, still have some influence on them as they teach and guide their own children. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”