Solomon Established As King

Transcript

GRS 2-87
11/4/2007
Solomon Established As King
1 Kings 1
Gil Rugh

We are going to be beginning the study of First Kings together, so if you want to turn to First Kings in your Bible. We are looking at the history of Israel, really the history as it unfolded the Old Testament. We started with the Book of Genesis. Israel’s history began in Genesis Chapter 12, with the call of Abraham; Abram whose name would become Abraham. And from him, comes the nation Israel, from this elderly man and his elderly wife, no children until they are well advanced and God miraculously intervened and they have a son and that is the beginning of the nation that will fulfill the promises given in the Abrahamic Covenant, the covenant that God established with Abraham and his descendants, the nation Israel.

We moved to a new book of the Bible, but the history continues seamlessly. First Samuel, beginning in Chapter 9, really through the rest of the book Chapters 9 to 31 contain the history of Saul, and the life of Saul, his reign over the nation Israel. Saul was the first king of Israel. Then we came to Second Samuel and Second Samuel was the history of David’s reign over the nation Israel.

Now, as we come to Kings we will pick up with the reign of David’s son Solomon. The first 11 Chapter of First Kings will cover the reign of Solomon. Then with Chapter 12, the kingdom will split under Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. The 10 tribes of the north will break away and no longer submit themselves to the throne of David and his descendants. They will establish and appoint their own king and they will remain a divided kingdom, the southern kingdom Judah basically and Benjamin, but the southern kingdom known as Judah will remain under the reign of the descendants of David. The title Kings, we have First and Second Kings in our English Bible comes from basically the fact that this is the account of the kings that reign over Israel.

We will go from the reign of Solomon and that begins about 970. You will note that, if you have dates in your Bible and that maybe a year’s variance, we will talk about that later when we get into the discussion of the kings, as they come to the fore. But about 970 BC is where we are, then we pick up with Solomon at the beginning of Kings. First and Second Kings and they were a unit, they have been divided very early to make them more manageable. That will carry us all the way down to the Babylonian captivity. So it will be about 560 BC, so roughly a period of 400 years of Israel’s history is covered by First and Second Kings.

And in that time the northern 10 tribes who have been carried already into captivity, 722 BC by the Assyrians. And then we come to the Babylonian captivity, and then it’s associated with that capture of Jerusalem. We don’t have any author identified, the book would have been written these books of Israel’s history about 550 BC. Now they start with Israel’s history in 970 and carry us all the way to about 560, so obviously it wasn’t written earlier. Now the person who put this history together under the inspiration of the spirit drew from other materials and we will find those referred to, sort of like Luke did, he assembled his materials when he wrote his gospel. So here the writer of Kings utilized the various histories that had been recorded, and the sprit directed him in putting this material together.

Jeremiah was suggested and claimed to be the writer in an ancient Jewish tradition that could be but it’s doubtful, because of where we go into the Babylonian captivity when Jeremiah went to Egypt against his will during that time and age wise and so on. But in all probability was a prophet of that time, who it was, is not necessary it’s inspired by the Holy Spirit and contained the necessary history of Israel.

The purpose very simply, to record a history of Israel under its various kings, until the kingdom really comes to an end. It is a record of God’s sovereignty over the nation, his providential care of the nation. You will see the promises reiterated to them, if you will be faithful, if you will obey me; I will continue to bless you and your kingdom will go on. But also the warning for unbelief they will be subjugated to their enemies. And by the time we get to the end of Second Kings, we find the disastrous results of the rebellion of all 12 tribes, as left them under the captivity of their enemies.

So obedience and the necessity of obedience is a key thing. We will see when we come to the divided kingdom. The kingdom will divide under Solomon son, and the northern kingdom will not have one godly king. Judah will have a mixture of godless and godly kings. So it is a sad history in many ways. But it is an encouraging history in that we see the hand of God in control sovereignty working his purposes for his nation, through all their history.

We pick up with First Kings Chapter 1 and really there is no break in the history. It picks up right where Second Samuel left of basically. We come to the end of David’s life, and we have the transition and transfer of the kingdom from David to Solomon in Chapter 1. And then in Chapter 2, we will have the death of David and the independent reign if you will of his son Solomon.

So we are going to look at Chapter 1, and here is Solomon will be established as the legitimate heir of the throne of David, the legitimate successor appointed by God before his birth, as we will see to be the king to follow his father David. This will be set in the context of a power struggle in David’s family when an older son Adonijah attempts to assume the throne and fort the purposes and plans of God as he has made them known that Solomon would succeed David.

The first four verses talk about David's old age and it's necessary for understanding subsequent events. So it's not just relating interesting tidbits, but these matters will become important for what will happen later. These four verses the emphasis will be on David’s frail physical condition at this stage of his life. And then there will be young virgin that will come to the picture, because of David's frail condition her name is Abishag, and she will be mentioned and then she will be drop from the account, but she will become significant later, and become a key figure in Solomon having his brother executed. So becomes a figure that will come to the four again here, even though she just mentioned and then will not be a prominent person until later.

Verse 1 says now David was old advanced in age. They covered him with clothes, but could not keep him warm. David is a shivering old man, nothing personal that’s what the Bible says. You know what any people my age and around thinking I speak harshly of the elderly. I find myself at night pulling up the covers male and puts on an extra cover at night, so I can pile it on, then I find it hard to move. But some happens when you get older you get colder.

Now we have central heat most of you probably do in your house too. But David lives in a palace, but you know it's like the castles of old they say there were damp cold place. As you look at the castle and say, wow winter to be something to live there, but not in winter months. And even though David lives in a splendid palace, there is central heat, and winter in Palestine can be cold and damp, winter runs and it's the rainy season from about October to March, and all you have to heat this majestic palace is a fire place or multiple fire places.

So here you have the king of Israel and its advanced gears old and frail, shivering and they put extra clothes on him, but he just can't get warm that’s the setting, maybe we have how old David is, it makes me feel old, but David is 70. Back up to second Samuel Chapter 5, now it say, well in our day it depends on how old you are if you are 20 you probably think well I would expect it 70 out of the shivering, but if you are 72 you think, well 70 not that old, you know we like to say today your own as old as you feel, you know that’s really lie.

I mean I am 64 even if I feel like I am only 44, too bad you are 64. That doesn’t have anything to do with David. I am just giving you a chance to get through Second Samuel Chapter 5. Look at verse 4, David was 30 years old when he became king. He reigned 40 years. So no doubt how old is David, when we get to First Kings Chapter 1, and he will transfer the kingdom to Solomon. And then he will shortly thereafter pass away.

He sat on the throne of David for 40 years on the Davidic throne that he established, and he was 30 when he began. So, most of your young children could add that up, he was 70. So that’s where he is at this stage of his life. Now David’s a hard life, I men he was at one time as a young person a mighty soldier, a mighty warrior even before he became officially a soldier, he was a valiant man. He kept sheath, he fought and killed a bear, and he fought and killed a lion with his bare hands. He took on Goliath with just a swing shot. The women of Israel sang Saul was killed his 1000s, and David is tens of thousands.

But those years are past and, the battles, the difficulties, the trial and just age has cut up the David. So now here is lying in bed with the extra clothes piled on and he can’t stay warm. Come to back First Kings one, so a servant said to him, let them seek a young virgin from my Lord the king. Let her attend the king and become his nurse, and let her lie in your bosom that my Lord the king may keep warm. Now this may seem strange advice, maybe just as calling ten of his favorite wives and have them all pile in, and keep him warm.

For some reason he doesn’t go to as multiple wives, he doesn't go to his concubines. They go to a young woman who was probably an older teenager, and she will become the source of warmth for him. Some of these things are so for-end to us today. You know we don’t even know how to relate to it, I won’t go off side tracks on this, let’s stay get into more trouble, then I would want to be in. And this was not usual in the time, and then David is, he is king. So they find a beautiful young woman.

Verse 3, they search for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel. When you are going to find a woman who is going to become in effect the nurse for David, it just can't be someone who is average. So they look all over Israel, but they find the most beautiful young woman they can, and she will become in effect David's nurse. And well it's or major part of her responsibility will to be in bed with David. So he can be close to her and she is young, and so her body heat will help keep him warm. That’s the simple plan.

The Bible tells us that the David did not have sexual relationship with her. In the verse 4, David did no cohabit with her, did not know her. The women they find is Abishag the Shunammite, and they brought her to king. She was very beautiful. She became the king’s nurse, and part of her responsibility is to keep David warm.

So now we can break off and move to the other major character, and that will David son Adonijah and these two people, Abishag the Shunammite and Adonijah will become connected, not physically. But the end result of Adonijah ultimately asking for Abishag to be his wife will result in Solomon executing Adonijah. So she has a, what we do he has characters introduced here and we know will know now about Abishag and her key position here, because she really becomes concubine of David with his action, not one of his formal wives, but being brought into this relationship, she would become part of his harem one of his concubines.

Verse 5 picks up now with Adonijah and verses 5 to 10 talk about David son Adonijah, and his attempted coup. Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself saying, I will be king. Now Adonijah is evidently David's older surviving son. Go back to Second Samuel Chapter 3, sometimes hard to keep track of different individuals, their names and who they are, but his position in the family line becomes important; as the oldest surviving son, you think he is the natural heir to the throne. But that’s not the plan of God.

In Second Samuel Chapter 3 verse 2, sons were born to David at Hebron; his first born was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess. Now Amnon is dead, remember he was killed by one of David's other son Absalom for rapping Absalom sister. Absalom, Amnon are really half brothers, same father different mothers. So the oldest son Amnon is already dead; his second son Cheleab by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. We know nothing more about him. Evidently there is good probability he died in youth. He does not become an issue in the succession matters here. So he just disappears from the history. So that would probably indicate he perhaps suffered an early death as many babies and children did in those days, anywhere he doesn’t appear as a player in what’s going to go on.

The third son is Absalom, and we know Absalom is dead; he was killed by Joab, as a result of his rebellion and an attempt to overthrow David. The fourth son is Adonijah, the son of Haggith. In the history of the Kings, as we move along the Kings of Judah always are mentioned in the context of their father and their mother, who was their mother; where the kings of the northern kingdom their mothers are not mentioned that they are not that significant, because they are not in the Davidic Line. So the record is not as specific for them as we have it with these Kings of Judah.

We want pick up here David's fourth son Adonijah, evidently the oldest surviving son at this point. He attempts to power play here to take over the throne, even though as we will see from things will look at in a moment, it was evidently common knowledge that Solomon was the one who was destined to be the king. What does that state here? Remember when David sinned, God said the sword would never depart from his house, and this is just an ongoing thing.

Here you have a son attempting to fort the revealed purpose of his father. So it's an active rebellion against David, and the end result of all of this, another son Solomon will kill this son and him executed, and you just see this going on the sword will never depart from your home God told David. And it continues on verse 5, Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself saying, I will be king and not attempt here to kill his father as Absalom wanted to do, because David is an old man on his death bed. So it just a matter to take the throne, his father is in a weaken condition, his reign is over for all intents and purposes. So Adonijah simply attempts to step up and take the throne for himself.

Turn over to First Chronicles Chapter 22, you know the parallel account. Chronicles records some of the same history; Chronicles focusing on the Southern Kings, the kings of Judah, but covering the same time period. First Chronicles 22, when David charges his son Solomon with the responsibility to build the temple after his death. He says to him, verse 7 David said to Solomon, my son I had intent to build a house to the name of the Lord my God, but the word of the Lord came to me saying, you have shed much blood and waged great, you will not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before me, behold a son will be born to you.

Now note this is being told David, the son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name will be Solomon, and I will give him peace and quiet. I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever. Now David says, you know the Lord had told me this, you know the desire my heart would have been to build a temple for him. He told me that you would be my successor, it will be Solomon it won’t be Adonijah.

So you come back to First Kings Chapter 1, Adonijah decides this is a good time to act. In verse 6, gives three reasons. First the end of verse 5, for the context he prepared for himself chariots horsemen with 50 men to run before him. He is going to take an act to declare himself king, do certain things associated being recognized as kings. Three reasons are given why Adonijah did this; number one in verse 6, his father had never crossed him at any time by asking why have you done so.

Adonijah was not a child who had ever experienced discipline from his father David. And the fact that David never asked him why did you do that would indicate, he had gotten away with things and knew his father would never rebuke him for, correct him. So here is his father on his deathbed over taken by old age in the frailties and physical breakdown that it comes from his hard life as well as his age.

I am going to just assume the throne and I am his oldest son, he probably won’t do anything about it, I will just get away with it; David will say, well that’s the way it is I guess, that’s what he did. So that’s his first reason. Secondly, he was a very handsome man. This would make him an attractive candidate to people. People like, you know we think it's new in our television age; they want their candidates to look a certain way. But that goes back they wanted their king to look like a king.

Remember Absalom he was very handsome, remember Saul, the first king he stood head and shoulders, and he was what a king how to look like. Absalom was very handsome man, long flowing hair, that’s what you know boy make a beautiful king, handsome king. Now Adonijah, he saw himself as in the role of a king, and he was born after Absalom. As I mentioned he is the oldest surviving son. He saw it as his right; I am in the next in line.

Absalom is not here, indicates why he say the Cheleab was evidently dead at this point, because he sees the line of succession, he is the fourth. The three previous sons are dead, who’s in line to be king, the first born or the oldest surviving. So those are the lines of thinking.

Verse 7 he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah with Abiathar the priest and following Adonijah they helped him. Now you have to have people who will support you in this action. And he goes to keep people in David's court if you will. Joab would have been a key person here. Remember he has been David's a long time military commander. He has great influence with the army, because he has been their commander through David's reign.

He had always been intensely loyal to David; although he at sometimes disobey David's specific instructions, but even during Absalom’s rebellion he stood loyal with David and then he took it upon himself to execute Absalom David son for that rebellion. He evidently does not agree and support Solomon as David successor. Joab may have known in his heart that, he needed a king who would need him, because he had some things that he was accountable for in his disobedience to David.

Abiathar was the only surviving priest when Saul massacred the priest at Nob Abiathar was the only survivor. He had served his priest during David's entire reign, and he has been loyal supporter. So here you have two men who have really stood with David during his entire reign and here at the end they rebel in effect, and chose not to be the supporter that David has indicated will be his successor, but to support Adonijah.

David has key men who stand with him in verse 8, Zadok the priest, Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belong to David were not with Adonijah. Zadok the priest had been a supporter of David along with Abiathar. Now there is a split Abiathar goes with Adonijah, but Zadok the priest stands and stays faithful to David. He had charge at the Ark, he remained with the Ark when David had to flee from Absalom.

Benaiah was one of David's great warriors, and he is descendant to become Solomon’s commander and chief if you will. He is one of David's 30 mighty men, as was set out in the end of Second Samuel. Nathan the prophet, he is the key prophet during David's reign. He was the one that God gave the Davidic Covenant to communicate to David.

Back in Second Samuel Chapter 7, that to establish the throne of David and his line; it was Nathan who had to come and confront David about his sin with Bathsheba. So he has played key role. He stays faithful to David will become key figure here. David's mighty men that remunerated in Second Samuel 23, they remain faithful; those 30 men the palace guard if you will, they stand firmly with David, which is if you will a commitment, because David is no longer able to lead them.

I mean he is a sick man in bed, can't even stay warm let alone do anything militarily. There is going to be a transfer of the kingdom, but these individuals maintain their loyalty to David and recognized him as God’s appointed king, and recognized his authority to delegate and appoint his successor.

Verses 9 and 10 Adonijah sacrifice sheep, oxen, fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside on En Rogel; he invited all his brothers, the king, sons, all the men of Judah, the king servants, he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah and the mighty men and Solomon his brother. So he gives a feast for his supporters and really what he is doing is creating this fence that it's a done deal if you will. But he doesn’t invite anyone that would disagree. He can deal with them after he solidified his hold on the throne.

So it's not a good sign here that he excludes these individuals. He knows they will be loyal to David. So they are excluded from the coronation events if you will, where he hopes to be established and recognized as king. That would indicate that, he is aware and has been made known that the intention is Solomon, that’s why he can't wait. Even though, he is next after Absalom, the throne won’t come to him, it will be to Solomon. He has been designated as David successor.

Verses 11 to 31 have an interesting unfolding of how things go. Nathan become aware, not a secret here of what is taking place and Adonijah’s moved to take the throne. You will think the Nathan the prophet was his prestige and history with David would just come to David and say, here is what happen and here is what you must do. But David is king, and Nathan knows even as a prophet, David might not respond to his words. And besides he is dealing with a son that evidently David has # but he doesn’t correct him.

So if Nathan just comes it will be Nathan against Adonijah. And David is an old man, frail at this point; if he is going to come out against Adonijah he’s never rebuked him before. So Nathan comes up with the point, he goes to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon says that, you have heard verse 11, Adonijah has become king; Adonijah the son of Haggith, son of a different wife.

David our Lord does not know it. Now come please let me give you counsel save your life, the life of your son Solomon. Obviously what will happen here if Adonijah is successful in assuming the throne, he will execute his rival, as Solomon will do shortly after he assumes the throne, he will execute Adonijah. The details will get to so Bathsheba there is no future for you and your son Solomon, if you don’t act now. Go once to king David and say to him, have you not my Lord O king, sworn to your maidservant, saying, surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, he shall sit on my throne.

Now you see here David had revealed his will, God had told him I will give you a son Solomon by name, he will succeed you he will build my temple. We are not told when David made this oath to Bathsheba, because this is obviously a concern. You have got a harem, multiple wives add to that multiple, multiple concubines, on the death of David who will succeed. David at a point in time gave an oath to Bathsheba; your son will succeed me.

So you go to David Nathan tell Bathsheba and says, didn’t you swear to me taken oath saying that would be Solomon that would be king when you die, why then is Adonijah become king. I don’t understand. Now did you change your mind, now when you in there with David I will come for an appointment, while you are there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words, because you know what this just to be Bathsheba, David maybe in a state there he will just say, look you are making it up, because again remember he is never rebuked Adonijah, and this could be he just say this is just jealousy on the part of Bathsheba, I don’t think this is really happening. Nathan’s concern by the time that David becomes aware of it and the seriousness of it, it may be too late to do anything.

So Bathsheba went into the king verse 15 in the bedroom. Now the king was very old and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king, just a totally different world than we live in. Can you imagine men, you now being cared for by a very young women, and your wife making an appointment to have the privilege to come and raise an issue with you, and you come in while the young women is there taking care of your old husband, you probably be there to choke him, right.

But in this day it is the way the world was and it's not mentioned, because there is something strange here unusual. It's just the way it was. These people are Abishag’s key relationship to David is important for subsequent events. So here is Bathsheba addressing David; then and you know it was great respect. She is the wife of David. She sworn to David the one that he knows will be his heir by divine appointment, but she comes and bowed and prostrated herself before the king.

You know she comes with total respect, he is the king, and he can tell her, he won’t see her, it is his choice; whether he will receive her and her request or not. Even remember the harem just can't come and see the king whenever she wants. She said, Lord you sworn to your maidservant by the Lord your God’s. So here David would respect this. You are surely your son Solomon shall be king shall sit on my throne; Adonijah is king that mean he has already taken the role. And my Lord the king you don’t it, he scarifies, he has gone through all of this, he has invited all these important people, but he didn’t invite Solomon.

Now as for you my Lord the king the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my Lord the king after wise, after where otherwise it will come about as soon as my Lord the king sleeps with his father’s that I and my son Solomon will be considered offenders, in other words Adonijah will view us as guilty halve opposing him, as a threat to his throne we will be executed.

David is the only one in a position to set things right here; behold while she was still speaking with the king Nathan the prophet came in. Now things aren’t filled in here, but Bathsheba is assured out, when it is told to David that Nathan the prophet is here. Then Bathsheba is assured out to a side room if you will, while David receives Nathan, and Nathan comes in to the king and said verse 23, after he presents he comes before the king he bows with his face to the ground. He is the prophet of God, but there is a recognition of the authority of David and his position he bows before David.

In verse 24, Nathan said my Lord the king, if you said Adonijah shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne, there is something that we don’t know about that you appointed. So Bathsheba said that David you don’t know what’s happened, Nathan comes in and says, maybe I am out of the loop, did you change your mind and decide to appoint Adonijah.

Verse 25, he goes through with all in Adonijah has done. So here is confirming evidence to David, so that he doesn’t put Bathsheba of like you are making something out of nothing, Adonijah maybe just having a party with friends and important people. Joab’s there, he has been loyal, Abiathar is there he has been, there is no problem here you are making it out like he is king, but now you have a conforming testimony if you will, from Nathan the prophet and they are saying, long live king Adonijah.

But verse 26 even need your servants Zadok the priest, Benaiah, Solomon none of us where invited. David there has been around long enough and been involved in enough issues to know this goes beyond anything he could explain the way. And it's the same thing that Bathsheba told him. Now David doesn’t know that Bathsheba and Nathan have communicated on this issue.

Verse 27, has this thing been done by my Lord the king and you have not shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my Lord the king, after him. So Nathan still continues, did you do this king David said, call Bathsheba to me. So you see Bathsheba had been assured out to wait; like I said in a side room if you will. The attendants that are with David they have removed her when Nathan is announced, Nathan comes in. Now David keeps Nathan there and he calls Bathsheba back, as her brought back in.

Verse 29, the king vowed and said, as the Lord lives who has redeemed my life from all distress surely as I vowed you by the Lord the God of Israel saying your son shall be king after me, he shall sit on the throne in my place, I will indeed do this day, do so this day, I will take care of it and I will see that things are set right.

So he says here is what to do, you call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada they came into the king. So now he calls these key men who were not invited to Adonijah’s coronation, and he says here is what you do, take with you the servants of your Lord, have my son Solomon right on my own mule bring him down to Gihon. Let Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, blow the trumpet and say long live king Solomon, then you shall come up after him, he shall come and sit on my throne and be king in my place, you put him on my royal donkey.

Now we recognize, this is David's just like the President’s limousine, you know it has a recognition. So when he rides on my donkey, then he comes and sits on my throne after having been officially anointed, there will be no doubt anywhere in Israel. That I King David have spoken and appointed the successor. So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answer the king and said, hey man thus made the Lord the God of my Lord the king say, as the Lord has been with my Lord the king.

So maybe it was Solomon to make it strong greater than the throne of my Lord king David; important that Benaiah steps up here because, Benaiah is the man who can make this all happen, because he is the military leader. He has the influence with the 30 mighty men; they will follow his leadership here. They have remained loyal to David, they will be able to influence the soldiers, and so his role here, because if you don’t have the army with you, you can't win.

So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, all these people they do what they have said, they anoint Solomon, the people all joined together, because this is done republic way, this is not done privately. I mean when Solomon goes out riding on David's mule and these key people come and Benaiah is there, the mighty men will be there, there will be celebration, the formal anointing, and then they bring him to formally sit on the throne of David. Everybody is joining in this celebration and the noise, and the excitement is so great that they hear at Adonijah celebration, about a half mile between the two from the geographical things that are noted here.

Verse 41 Adonijah and all the guest who were with him, as they finished eating they heard the sound of the trumpet and what why is the city making such an uproar while he speaking Abiathar son Jonathan comes in. And the news is not good Jonathan replied to Adonijah, no the news is not good, our Lord the king our Lord king David has made Solomon king. The king has also send with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, they made him ride on the kings mule. They have anointed him king. The city is uproar.

Solomon verse 46, has even taken his sit on the throne of the kingdom. I mean they have got him up with all this celebration and all have observed he has taken his seat officially, all recognized David has spoken, the successor, has been anointed, the crown has been passed from David to Solomon. And Adonijah party quickly dissipates, because you don’t want to be caught here.

Now you have a king, if you are supporting arrival king you know where you are going. So everybody heads for home. And verse 49, all the guest of Adonijah were terrified they arose and each one on his way. Adonijah was afraid to Solomon he arose went took hold of the horns of the altar.

Exodus, the Book of Exodus Chapter 21 verse 13 and 14, you could go into the Tabernacle, at the altar there and the horns, the altar you could hold on to those, you were claiming protection from God until your case was formally decided. And so it was a time that a person will not be killed until he was formally found guilty or his guilt was established.

So Adonijah goes there seeking mercy. Solomon on this occasion says he won’t put him to death with a qualification verse 52, if he is a worthy man not one of his hairs will fall to the ground, but if wickedness is found on him he will die. So King Solomon send they brought him down from the altar, he came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, Solomon said to him go to your house.

As you are aware of # this issue is not over, Adonijah will make another play for the throne using Abishag, will culminate in his death. But Solomon is formally established. He is the king and David has spoken, we are ready for the death of David. The several things let me mention them to you, I will cite them quickly from this, you know a remainder to a life, and our strength passed quickly.

It's a good remainder, serve the Lord while you have the strength, there is blessings in old age. God has not done even with David right up to the end on his deathbed, using him to appoint the successor and do that, but you don’t have the strength to do that you once did. Look at Psalm 90 it s Psalm of Moses or I will read you a couple of verses whether that if you can't get there quickly, because we don’t have time.

Psalm 90 verse 10, as for the days of our life they contain 70 years or if do strength 80 years, yet there pride but labyrinth sorrow for soon it is gone and we fly away. So teach us the number our days verse 12 that we may present to you heart of wisdom, count it life is short 70 years, maybe 80 years, but they go quickly and with that our strength.

We will quickly Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 has some good advice, Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 and verse 1, let me read it for you; remember also you are creator in the days of your youth before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say I have no delight in them, the sun and the light and moon the star darken on it goes, your eyes don’t see, your ears don’t hear so well, your teeth are there anymore.

They didn’t have dentist they help us with, help in those days you don’t hear the singing anymore just the ageing. So devote yourself to serving the Lord with all the strength you have as long as you have strength, the days will come when you don’t have that same strength. I said to Merlyn the other day, I said I never knew 64 could be so tiring, you know you seems like you are working harder to get let’s done then you once did.

David's life is a remainder he was men who used his energy and strength while he had to serve the Lord, his wife is a blessing in that, consequences of sin can last a long time right up to David's death bed and go beyond the sword will not leave his family and here sad as it is, you will have one of his son executing the other son and the turmoil goes on, you know and remind you’re sinful men stupid is it is, foolish it is; they will attempt the frustrate God’s plan.

Once God has spoken, it's done. Solomon will be king, but Adonijah thinks he consort that plan, Joab thinks he consort that plan. You think Joab didn’t know closes he was to David, who the appointing successor was, you don’t think Abiathar the priest know who the appointing successor was, they think that Adonijah has a possibility, but sinful men fights against God’s plan.

Another point I thought of we shouldn’t be surprised or disheartened at the unfaithfulness of former friends. Abiathar had the priest had been faithful on loyal friend of David. I am sure he is lost at this time; really here is David and his veining time on this earth and Abiathar long trusted friend, turns against him. Joab who stood with him through so many things, turns against him, others. You can't let that turn you from what you have to do.

So David's responsibility don’t change, he still has to do what is right. He has to finish well, he has to complete what God has given him to do and that involves fulfilling God’s word by appointing Solomon to be his successor. In all of this what do you see, God is sovereign over all, his purposes and plans for Israel will be accomplished. There will be turmoil, there is sin, there is rebellion; God’s purposes and plans will be accomplished. Solomon reigns by the grace of God and all is said and done.

Let’s pray together. Thank you Lord, for this account 3,000 years of history have gone by. But as we read it, we are reminded that you are the sovereign God working your purposes that your word will not fail. Your will is always done. Even the sin of man is used by you to accomplish your purposes. Thank you for your unfailing love for Israel. For grace upon grace that has been bestowed upon them; even in these days when they are under your judgment; Lord we know that your sovereign plan is being accomplished. Your word will be fulfilled at some day they will experience the fullness of your blessings. They are study of this history be an encouragement and a remainder to our hearts. What a privilege it is to walk in faithful obedience to your God may we devote all of our strength and energy in the days you give us to being faithful in doing your will. Bless us to that end in the days, with the week before as we pray in Christ’s name, amen.