First Kings

Chapter One: The Beginning of Solomon’s Reign (part 2)

by

Jim Bordwine, ThD

Introduction

Last week, we began a new sermon series in the book of 1 Kings. The book opens with an account of David’s last days during which he must appoint the next king. We are told that David was old, somewhat frail, and ready to do depart this world. Although David had indicated his choice of Solomon to ascend the throne after him, another of David’s sons, Adonijah, publicly announced that he would be the next man to reign as king over the nation. The text told us that this man exalted himself, meaning that he thought very highly of himself, believed that he was the best choice for this job, and had no hesitation putting himself forward.

The information we are given about Adonijah leads us to the conclusion that he had little regard for tradition or protocol. He does not show due respect for his father, whose life has been spent in service to Jehovah. Clearly, Adonijah had an inflated opinion of himself. Such a conclusion is borne out by the record supplied by the writer, especially when we consider v. 6 to which I called your attention last time. In this verse, we read that David failed to correct his son as he was growing up because he did not wish to make Adonijah unhappy. The fruit of that neglect is now being seen in the form of Adonijah’s arrogance.

Regrettably, at this point in his life, there is no correction for this man’s sense of self-importance. Having the support of some of the most prominent men in the kingdom, Adonijah boldly lays claim to his father’s throne. Assuming his father was too weak or perhaps disinterested, Adonijah moved forward with his plan. I noted that it appears Adonijah saw David’s physical distress as an opportunity to gain the position he coveted.

I also noted how much practical insight can be gained from these opening verses. We see, for example, the folly of making assumptions, the disgrace produced when a man who should be honored is not honored, and the chaos caused by disregard for tradition and protocol. Moreover, in both David and Adonijah we are reminded that every life results in a legacy that will either inspire those who remain after us or be a source of shame.

As I have indicated on your outline, this chapter is easy to divide into three sections. First, we examined Adonijah’s scheme. The next section has to do with counsel given by Nathan the prophet in response to Adonijah’s attempt to gain the throne. Nathan, as we know, appears frequently in the record of David’s life and reign. There are three main incidents in the life of David where Nathan played a prominent part. The first is David’s desire to build a temple for Jehovah. As you may recall, Nathan at first blessed this idea, but after a divine revelation, returned to David and declared to him that, rather than David building a house for Jehovah, Jehovah would build a house for David, a reference, of course, to a spiritual dynasty.

The second event in which Nathan demonstrates his faithfulness to the Lord while serving David is the matter of David’s sin with Bathsheba. We remember how direct Nathan was when it came time to confront the king. This could not have been an easy task for the prophet. But, as indicated, Nathan was nothing if not committed first and foremost to Jehovah’s glory.

The third circumstance in which Nathan figures prominently is the story we are now considering, the ascension of Solomon to the throne of his father. In each case, the involvement of Nathan is pivotal. We are now ready to look in detail at how he was instrumental in accomplishing David’s wish regarding the next king in spite of a powerful conspiracy to negate what David desired.

02. Nathan’s Counsel (vv. 11-27)

¹¹ Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? ¹² So now come, please let me give you counsel and save your life and the life of your son Solomon. ¹³ Go at 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, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ ¹⁴ Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

Bathsheba Warned

By now, Nathan is fully aware of Adonijah’s scheme; in keeping with his overly inflated ego and astonishing arrogance, Adonijah has made no attempts to keep his actions hidden. In fact, he is engaging in celebrating his self-appointment to the throne. Nathan knows that this man has made a public spectacle of his intention to rise to the throne of his father. He realizes what is at stake. Earlier, I made reference to the time when Nathan was told by God that David, through his descendants, would be established on the throne—that was the house God promised to establish for David. The manner in which Adonijah made his move indicated clearly that he was not the Lord’s choice. It is not God’s way to violate His own laws or word. Adonijah was not the fulfillment of God’s promise to David. God does not honor arrogant, self-centered, disrespectful, and disobedient men.

Nathan’s plan is simple: Bathsheba is to go to the king and respectfully remind him of his promise to put Solomon on the throne. At some point in the past, David had vowed that Solomon would follow him as ruler over the people of God. David’s wish, however, was not being followed and was in danger of being negated altogether. Bathsheba’s reminder will also include the disturbing report about the activities of Adonijah. Additionally, Nathan promises to appear before the king and confirm her words.

The question here is why Nathan decides upon this particular method of alerting David to the activities of his son, Adonijah. Nathan knew David had to be notified, but given the king’s frail state, he also knew this had to be handled delicately. His plan, therefore, was to enlist the help of David’s wife, Bathsheba. My guess is that he assumed David would quickly accept the word of his own wife; and the fact that he had made a special promise to her regarding Solomon would only make it more likely that David would accept the report quickly and take action. It may also have been the case that, due to David’s infirmity, he was receiving very few visitors because even the stress of conversation might have been too much for him; it may simply have been unwise for Nathan to notify David of the behavior of Adonijah. Hearing first from his wife softened the blow just a bit.

Compare Nathan’s approach to that of Adonijah. Nathan is wise, concerned for all involved—for the safety of Bathsheba and Solomon, and for the well-being of king David; and he is respectful. This is not what we see in Adonijah’s behavior. He shows no concern for anyone but himself. He doesn’t care if Bathsheba feels threatened by his advancement to the throne and he obviously has no regard for what his act of usurpation might do to his father who is in such fragile health. Adonijah is exactly what we concluded he was based on our initial study—he is a self-centered man who considers the contentment of others unimportant and, if necessary, the lives of others expendable so that he can get what he desires.

Whereas Adonijah arrogantly pronounced himself king, caring nothing about protocol or his father’s wishes, as I emphasized previously, Nathan seeks to influence the situation by working behind the scenes, so to speak. The prophet is aware that David promised the throne to Solomon, Bathsheba’s son. Who better than the wife and mother to break some bad news to David and then make an appeal based on his earlier promise? Nathan could have rushed to see the king and blurted out news of Adonijah’s activity, but that would have had an ill effect on the weak king. Nathan did not panic. He had a definite plan and he worked to implement it as quickly as he could, but he took into account various factors. He did not allow himself to be overwhelmed with anxiety in spite of the importance of this situation.

Nathan’s concern for Bathsheba and Solomon is well-founded, by the way. He knows that if Adonijah’s plan succeeds and he becomes king, he will be motivated to protect his throne. That might result in the elimination of anyone likely to pose a challenge; in fact, it was common practice in the east for a new ruler to remove any he saw as a threat to his power. This description certainly fits Solomon. Bathsheba, therefore, as Solomon’s mother, could best convey the urgency of the matter since the life of her son might be in jeopardy. If Adonijah was willing to act as he did to gain the throne, what might he be willing to do to retain the throne? Once again, Nathan is exercising his foresight as he considers the implications of Adonijah’s scheme.

Bathsheba Implores King David

¹⁵ So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king. ¹⁶ Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. And the king said, “What do you wish?” ¹⁷ She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God, saying, ‘Surely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’ ¹⁸ Now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it. ¹⁹ He has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. ²⁰ As for you now, 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 him. ²¹ Otherwise it will come about, as soon as my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered offenders.”

Following Nathan’s advice, Bathsheba went to see the king. When given permission to speak, she reminded David that “you swore to your maidservant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘Surely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’” (v. 17) Let us understand that this was not a passing comment made by David in order to please his wife at some point; this was a binding oath. David invoked the name of God and, therefore, obligated himself in the matter.

After that reminder, Bathsheba delivered the shocking report that “Adonijah is king” and, on top of that, this has been done without David’s knowledge. The text implies that David was not aware of this event before now. And we must realize that Adonijah’s action was nothing less than treasonous. He has disregarded the wishes of the king, he has not even asked for David’s input, much less his blessing; Adonijah has behaved as if David were already dead and gone.

When great men approach death, that is the time for mourning. It is also the time for giving thanks to God for the life about to end. It is not the time for self-advancement and celebration of one’s craftiness. I imagine there were few things Adonijah did during his lifetime that were more offensive in the eyes of God than his attempt to take advantage of the sickness and pending death of David. If that is how you gain much in this world, then you haven’t gained anything at all. If that is how you establish your own greatness, then all your greatness is vile and empty.

Two years ago, when we realized that my father-in-law would soon be leaving this world, I began to mourn. I wanted him to go and enter the blessedness of heaven and I wanted his struggles in this fallen world to end, but I was greatly saddened by the thought of his passing because it meant that we would not see him again this side of glory. On the day of his death, I was praying as I had been for several days and suddenly I realized that my father-in-law was gone. A few minutes later, Rebecca called and said: “Daddy’s gone.” I said: “I know.” And we shared a time of mourning our loss, but giving thanks for his gain. That is how great men are honored when the time comes for their departure.

Longing for the death of a godly man, taking advantage of the soon departure of one of God’s servants, is a shameful way to act. But that is the legacy of Adonijah and it is a disgraceful way to be remembered.

Bathsheba continues and reports on the grand celebration sponsored by Adonijah. She notes how the sons of David, with the exception of Solomon, had been invited. Adonijah has proclaimed himself king and is now acting like a king. He has provided a great feast, as was customary when a new king came to power, and he has enlisted the help of some of the members of David’s own court. David must absorb the rebellion of his son and the defection of some of his closest advisors and servants. This was, indeed, a sad and shameful way for David, the man after God’s own heart, to end his days. But this is what God ordained and David must handle it.

If you were to step back and survey this circumstance, you might very well conclude that the deed has been done. How can Adonijah’s efforts be reversed? He seems to have ample support and it looks as if there is little opportunity to prevent Adonijah from gaining full control. The only hope of stopping Adonijah is David’s intervention and that is what Nathan is counting on. As Bathsheba continues, she notes that “the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.” David may be weak and near death, but he is still the lawful king and his word, therefore, remains authoritative. Adonijah may have the support of many, but David’s command still carries weight and Bathsheba knows the right word from David might stop this subversion.

Although the writer says nothing about this, Bathsheba implies that more than a few of David’s subjects are waiting for a definitive word from him. Many may have been aware of David’s intention to have Solomon follow him as king; others may have taken note of the unorthodox way in which Adonijah promoted himself to the kingship. Whatever the case, there is still much riding on David’s wishes, including the future safety of Bathsheba and Solomon as David’s wife reminds him.

Nathan’s Inquiry

²² Behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. ²³ They told the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. ²⁴ Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne ‘? ²⁵ For he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons and the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking before him; and they say, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ ²⁶ But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and your servant Solomon, he has not invited. 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?”

As he said he would, Nathan comes to visit the king. Showing the customary respect for David, Nathan makes essentially the same announcement as Bathsheba. He asks a question for which he already knows the answer: “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne?’” He knows David made no such proclamation, but this is the way one addressed a king; you did not tell him anything, but you respectfully used questions like this. This preserves the king’s right to say what is what and propose action.

Nathan also relates the celebration sponsored by Adonijah, one that gave every impression that he had been appointed as the next king. Some, Nathan reports, are shouting, “Long life King Adonijah!” He accurately paints a troubling picture for David, but this was not the time for hiding any of the facts. The king is not simply learning of a plan to advance Adonijah to the throne, he is being informed that Adonijah has already declared himself the king of Israel. Another statement in the guise of a question ends Nathan’s brief report. In essence, he asks if David has hidden from his servants his appointment of Adonijah as the next king. Again, this is a respectful rhetorical inquiry only. The prophet knows full well that no such order has been given by David.

It remains for us to examine David’s response to his son’s conduct. Lord willing, we will take up that matter next Sunday morning. For now, I want to again offer several points of application that arise from the text we’ve studied today.

Application

First, please note how having someone in a pivotal position when a crisis unfolds can make all the difference. This lesson comes from Nathan’s involvement in this story. I reminded us of those three important episodes in David’s life where Nathan was present. In each case, he offered invaluable advice or brought needed information to the situation. We see how true that is in this present text. Nathan is the only one who mounts a challenge to Adonijah and he does it patiently and wisely; he opposes Adonijah, not with arms, but with wisdom and lawful authority.

While there were a few others, especially among the experienced men of David’s court, who realized that Adonijah’s actions were illegal and ill-advised, Nathan is the one who determines to inform David and bring the king into the matter. In terms of the side of truth and righteousness being represented, Nathan was a key figure in this story just as he had been in the past. Is it not reasonable to assume that had Nathan not been present, there might have been a much greater opportunity for Adonijah to take his father’s throne?

What is of importance to us, I believe, is the reason Nathan was able to play such a necessary and helpful role. It is important to us because I want to encourage all of you to consider Nathan’s example and remember him the next time you become aware of a serious problem—it might be in your family or in this church or somewhere else, but Nathan’s conduct is worthy of our attention.

Obviously, I could not encourage you in this manner if the element that made Nathan a key figure at such a crucial time were the fact that he served as a prophet of God. If the fact that Nathan was a prophet is what prepared him to offer his help during this crisis, then I’d have to stop right here because you are not prophets. There would be no application to be made along the lines I’m pursuing. But it was not Nathan’s service as the prophet of Jehovah that quipped him to be of such central importance at such a crucial hour.

Was it Nathan’s friendship with the king that enabled him to be of such service? Again, if that is the case, there’s no application to be made. I do not think, however, that his friendship with David explains Nathan’s conduct. What about Nathan’s concern for his own well-being? Could concern for his own preservation be the motivation behind Nathan’s involvement? No, that is not the answer.

The answer is much simpler than you might think. The answer is that Nathan was a man of principle, and he was a man of principle because he was first a man of faith. Nathan lived by a code of conduct supplied by God and that code governed everything in his life—his thinking, his speech, his aspirations, his judgments, his counsel, and his conduct. When a man of faith, a man who truly lives by the Word of God, witnesses injustice, particularly on such a massive scale, he must stand up, he must speak out, and he must contend for righteousness. A man of faith, one who lives his life before God, cannot simply ignore those things that are contrary to the standard by which he lives.

You do not have to be a prophet or the friend of a king to be one of those people who knows what to do when sin seems ready to triumph over that which is good, you only have to be a person who is able to discern between right and wrong, between truth and error, between the way of God and the way of the devil. The one who lives in obedience to the law of God and who, as the Scriptures tell us, seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, is the one who will have the necessary discernment when trouble arises.

Rather than give way to worry, this person remains stable, not because they are immune to difficulty, but because they are grounded in that which is unshakeable. Their sense of security rests not in those circumstances that change day by day, but in that perspective revealed in the unchanging Word of God. Such a person is able to distinguish between wicked motivation and delight in the truth, and between self-interest and the desire to serve others.

All this means that you can be the right person at the right time in a major crisis or in the routine conflicts we all experience in this fallen environment. Dedication to God’s holy standard enables you to judge according to His judgment and advise according to His counsel. In any crisis, no matter the intensity, what is always needed is reliable guidance; and reliable guidance, the kind on which you can stake your happiness and hope, comes from God alone.

The challenge to you, of course, is to make that commitment. We’re all followers of some standard—there are no exceptions. The only question is which standard.

A second application is to be seen in the wisdom, discretion, and care demonstrated by Nathan as he sought to prevent Adonijah from coming to power against the wishes of king David. This application is related somewhat to the first, but deserves to be mentioned separately. Simply put, Nathan did not panic even though the matter at hand had enormous implications depending on which way it unfolded.

In terms of extreme opposites, there are two ways to respond to a crisis. You can get excited and fearful and anxious or you can respond like Nathan with thoughtfulness, calmness, and patience.

I’m offering this application apart from the first because you do not necessarily have to be well versed in the Scriptures to react calmly and constructively in a crisis. You just have to have enough sense to find someone like Nathan who is capable of providing the needed guidance. This application, therefore, is intended primarily for those young in the faith. As you walk with the Lord, you will encounter situations where sin is at work, but you may not have the discernment at this stage in your sanctification demanded by the circumstance.

Rather than ignore what you suspect to be wrong or in need of inspection, you have another option; that option is to remain calm and find a brother or sister in the Lord, or a mother or father in the Lord, who can deal with the situation honorably. This means that as you mature in the faith, you should take note of those around you who appear to have made that commitment seen in Nathan the prophet, a commitment to the standard of God in all things.

A third lesson has to do with assessing character in the present so that you are able to act affectively later. Nathan’s concern for the lives of Bathsheba and Solomon in the future was based on his assessment of Adonijah’s character in the present. As I noted in the sermon, if Adonijah was willing to do what he did to secure the throne, what should be expected of him if his throne were ever threatened? This lesson has to do with assessing character. Nathan would have been foolish to think that while Adonijah was willing to go to any lengths to become king, he would be a merciful and wise ruler afterwards!

On the contrary, the one thing that Nathan could be assured of was that Adonijah would become even more dedicated to his personal advancement once he took the throne. Adonijah had not issued any threats against Bathsheba or Solomon, and there had been no obvious violence associated with his plan to become king, yet one of the primary thoughts in the mind of Nathan was the danger Bathsheba and Solomon faced if Adonijah succeeded.

In light of the fact that Adonijah had given no indication of an intention to harm members of David’s family, was Nathan exaggerating when he warned Bathsheba and had her repeat the potential danger to David? You already know the answer to this question. Nathan was not exaggerating, nor was he imagining something where there was nothing. Nathan’s warning was a manifestation of that discernment I spoke of a moment ago. He surveyed the situation, took note of Adonijah’s character, and rightly concluded that this man would stop at nothing to preserve his position once he occupied the throne. Short of God’s intervention, the fundamental character traits demonstrated by Adonijah would remain and exert a greater influence in the days to come.

Adonijah’s rule, if it came to pass, would be marked by the same tendencies Nathan was now observing. And the number one tendency, as the writer indicates so plainly, was self-promotion. It would’ve been foolish of Nathan to assume that once he reached the throne, Adonijah would become a merciful and humble man. Once again, unless his character was supernaturally altered, this man would remain what he was.

There is a proverb that says: “A prudent man sees evil and hides himself . . .” (Pro. 27:12) The idea is that a man with discernment analyzes a circumstance, concludes that evil is at work, and takes steps to protect himself so that he is not harmed or caught up in the evil himself. Nathan is a prime example of what this verse commends. The lesson for you, therefore, has to do with exercising the same kind of discernment seen in Nathan.

When you observe an evil man, assume he is going to remain evil and act in an evil fashion. Do not assume that the man simply slipped, but is otherwise humble and dependable and honorable. I’m not referring, of course, to the occasional misstep all of us make; I’m referring to a character trait that reveals itself in the behavior of an individual as a pattern. You are wise if you expect that person to continue functioning in the same manner in the future as he functions in the present. This is basic wisdom and there are many exhortations in Scripture along these lines.

The problem that so many of us have is that we are woefully naïve. We downplay sin and we fail to take it as seriously as we should. That sets us up for another deception or episode of mistreatment in the future. The second half of that proverb I mentioned says this: “but the naïve proceed and pay the penalty.” When you encounter a person who does not obey the Scriptures in some fundamental matter, take note of that person and protect yourself.

Let me state again that I’m not telling you to discount the working of the gospel in a person’s life; nor am I telling you to ignore the person’s need if they seem open to correction and counsel. I’m saying that God has provided us with a simple way to know something about our future relationships with people—He has given us the wisdom of knowing that what we see today is very likely what we will see tomorrow, in terms of a person’s basic character. Our response should include prayer for that person, certainly, but also protection for anyone liable to be harmed by that person’s sinful conduct.

Fourth, and finally, we may take an application from the way Nathan, Bathsheba, and David reacted to the conduct of Adonijah. How do we react when something interrupts what we believe should be a time of peace and enjoyment? Consider the example of David. We will see more detail about his reaction in the next section, but already the writer reveals that David, who should have been allowed to pass in peace, instead learned of his son’s blatant attempt to grab the throne; David also learns of his trusted advisors’ defection and participation in this unlawful event. David could have just closed his eyes and departed, letting others take care of things here on earth. I doubt that anyone would have pointed a finger of blame at him if he had decided to ignore this trouble and pass away as peacefully as he could.

David was not that kind of man, however. Nathan was not that kind of man. Even in his last hours, David showed concern for righteousness and regard for the lives of his family. Nathan could have blended into the background since David was so close to death; he could have joined those supporting Adonijah. Both men were driven by principle, which is a point I made at length earlier regarding Nathan. When trouble arose, David responded with the little strength he had; he did not look the other way and leave the problem for someone else to solve. There was a need and the solution would mean a significant trial for David, but he acted for the cause of good, nevertheless.

Please take courage from this example when God gives you an opportunity to stand for what is good and honorable. Don’t allow other concerns to so occupy your attention that you conclude you don’t have time to get involved or you don’t want the hassle of stepping into a situation. If God puts you there, that is where you are supposed to be! Assume, therefore, that He intends to use you to accomplish His will.

How many difficulties do you suppose we could avoid in the church and in our lives if we followed David’s pattern and used whatever resources we have and whatever time we have to stand against what God opposes and stand for that which He blesses? Too often, however, we leave it to someone else to shoulder the burden. We want to see good done, but we don’t necessarily want to be the instrument of good. That just won’t do.

I wonder if there might be a situation such as I’ve describe in your life right now. If so, how are you handling it? Has God made known to you a need for counsel or a situation where the Word needs to be brought to bear? Is there some issue in your life that might be resolved if you took that step of involvement?

If you have any trouble understanding your responsibility or grasping this concept, think of your Savior. There was no greater need than the one we had—which was deliverance from condemnation. God could have let us go our own way and would have been just to do so. Jesus could have decided not to submit to what was necessary to free us. Instead, God set forth a plan for our redemption and the Son carried it out in spite of the incredible cost to Himself. We cannot calculate the significance of Him setting aside His glory as God and Him allowing His own creatures to abuse Him and hang Him on that cross.

What we are able to discern fairly accurately is what that meant for us. We are free before God, free of condemnation, free of fear, free to live in a way that pleases God. And all because Jesus Christ stepped in, so to speak, to do what only He could do. Let that be your motivation to oppose wickedness and prevent spiritual harm to others. Let Christ be the example you follow in using all of your resources for the sake of righteousness.

Let’s pray

Baptism

Conclusion

We need encouragement frequently because we are made weary by sin frequently. This sacrament is provided for that very purpose. Jesus gave Himself for you and that is encouraging beyond anything else we might experience. He confirms His love for you each time we meet around this Table. This is another declaration that the Son of God set aside His glory so that He might come to a place marred by sin and rescue us. In this truth there is strength and courage.

Matt. 26 ²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” ²⁷ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; ²⁸ for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.”