First Kings
Chapter One: The Beginning of Solomon’s Reign (part 3)
Introduction
There are many stories about men who distinguished themselves in life but acted contrary to their character at the time of their deaths. I’ve heard reports of godly men, eminent men, men who were recognized authors and theologians and conference speakers, who seemingly lost their way at the time of death, saying and doing that which was out of character.
Obviously we understand that illness is often responsible for such drastic changes in personality just before the end. On the other hand, there are stories of great men who served God with distinction during their lifetimes, who passed from this world just as they had lived in it, that is, with dignity and self-control.
We know, as we have been studying 1 Kings chapter one, that one of the greatest servants of God of all time reached the end of his days only to be confronted by a most disturbing circumstance. David’s last days become the occasion for one last test.
One of David sons, contrary to the wishes of his father and lawful procedure, declared himself king even as his father lay on his death bed. It was his intention to take the throne of David and he made his move to secure that seat of power even before his father was dead.
In this story, David is frail; he is advanced in years and was, I would imagine, looking forward to a peaceful exit from this life. But when news of Adonijah’s rebellion reached David, he had a stark choice: he could ignore this development and let others worry about it, or he could use the last bit of his strength to stop this effort to take his throne. As we now know, David acted in character and rose to the challenge in spite of his infirmity.
Although he would not have to live with the consequences of Adonijah’s action, David was not willing to let the rebellion go unchecked. Clearly David had concern for those who would remain after his departure; he had concern for the nature of the kingdom he was about to leave behind. This is the mark of a truly great man. Even at the time of his death, David considered the welfare of others and determined to do whatever he could to ensure an honorable transition of power.
Thus far in our examination, we have looked at the scheme of Adonijah. As his father neared death, this man publicly announced that he would be the new king. He boldly celebrated his supposed rise to power; and he enjoyed the support of some of David’s former advisers. At the same time, Adonijah ignored men like Nathan who had served David admirably. He was not asked to join in this plot because he was a man of integrity and could not have been persuaded to act in such an unlawful manner, a manner in which the wishes of king David and even Jehovah Himself were being disregarded.
As we have seen, it is, in fact, Nathan who took steps to stop Adonijah. This prophet knew that David swore to put Bathsheba’s son Solomon on the throne. Therefore, Nathan spoke to Bathsheba and advised her to go to the king and respectfully remind him of his vow, while making him aware of Adonijah’s treachery. It was Nathan’s hope that in spite of his weakened condition, David would rally to oppose Adonijah and his supporters.
Nathan’s hope is being fulfilled as David reacts to the threat against his throne. Having studied Adonijah’s scheme and the counsel Nathan gave to Bathsheba, we come to the last portion of this opening chapter where David’s response is recorded. It is a response of a great man, as I implied, and it is a response grounded in a dedication to righteousness. It is not the response Adonijah expected.
Verses 28-53 record David’s reaction after hearing from Bathsheba and Nathan. I will begin by reading vv. 28-31.
03. David’s Response (28-53)
1 Kings 1 28 Then King David said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29 The king vowed and said, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 30 surely as I vowed to you by the LORD the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this day.” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever.”
David’s Vow
Somewhere nearby, Adonijah is a happy man. He is celebrating his kingship and he is enjoying the accolades that come with that position. For a man like Adonijah, this is pure joy. He is self centered and has an incredibly exaggerated opinion of his abilities and importance. In Adonijah’s mind, this is exactly the kind of experience he should have.
I would imagine that Adonijah is under the impression that he has succeeded. He probably doesn’t know that Nathan has alerted David and that David intends to stop this attempt to steal the throne. In the history of nations, it is true that trickery and treachery do sometimes triumph with the result that unscrupulous men rise to power. It is also true that when a wicked man intends to advance himself in an unlawful manner, there are righteous men who stand in his way. We are witnessing such a situation as David reacts to the news that his son and some trusted advisers have conspired together to take power.
As soon as David receives the information from Bathsheba and has it confirmed by Nathan, he calls for Bathsheba to re-enter his presence. As she stands before the king, in a most serious manner, David utters a vow in which he reaffirms his intention to install Solomon as king. This is what David swore he would do previously, and now he promises to Bathsheba: “your son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place.”
We must admire David for being a man of his word in spite of his present circumstances. As I pointed out before, it would’ve been easy for David to ignore this challenge. Would anyone have blamed him if he had decided to remain in his chambers resting as peacefully as possible until the end? It is David’s a promise, however, that is on the line. Godly men do not take lightly the promises they make; they do not excuse themselves from keeping their word simply because circumstances are not what they anticipated.
Scripture warns us to count the cost before giving our word or making a promise. But once we do, we are to do what we say as long as it is possible. Although those around David probably would have excused him had he determined not to oppose Adonijah, the godly man does not look to people, ultimately speaking, when it comes to the issue of rendering judgment on his life. The righteous man looks to God alone. David invoked the name of the Lord when he made his promise to Bathsheba concerning Solomon; and he invokes the same sacred name now as he prepares to keep his promise. By the Lord’s favor and with His strength, David will prevail.
There is more at stake here than David’s promise. There is also the basic matter of what is lawful. Adonijah’s actions were unlawful and, therefore, a shameful display by one who would be king. If deceit and disregard for what is proper mark the commencement of Adonijah’s rule, what kind of king, what kind of kingdom, should the people expect? Wicked behavior does not bring forth the blessings of God. Therefore, Adonijah is putting the entire kingdom of Israel in danger. With an evil beginning and, most likely, a reign marked by evil, the people of God will suffer.
Bathsheba is, of course, greatly relieved to hear David restate his intention regarding Solomon. With her face to the ground, she says, “May my lord King David live forever.”
I will now continue reading at verse 32:
32 Then King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” And they came into the king’s presence. 33 The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34 “Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 “Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne and be king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! Thus may the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say. 37 “As the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!” 38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest then took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 All the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook at their noise.
Solomon’s Anointing
David’s order is uncomplicated. He commands Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah to put Solomon upon the king’s mule and take him to Gihon, which was one of the this fresh springs just outside Jerusalem. There Solomon was to be anointed as king over Israel; and the trumpet was to be blown as it was declared: “long live King Solomon!” After that, David says, Solomon is to sit upon the throne and “be king in my place.” He will have been appointed ruler over Israel and Judah, David declares.
Take note of David’s tactic. He does not waste time trying to persuade Adonijah that he is in error and should, therefore, discontinue his pursuit of the throne. David gives absolutely no credibility to Adonijah’s claim to be the new king. In fact, David acts as if there is no king but himself, which is true. All of Adonijah’s scheming and support matter little now that David is involved. David does not want a truce, he does not intend to negotiate, he aims to put the right man on the throne. That is the most important matter at the moment. Therefore, David focuses on that priority to assure its completion without delay.
Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, responded enthusiastically to David’s order: “Amen!,” he exclaims and then invokes the Lord’s blessing upon Solomon; he calls upon the Lord to make the throne of Solomon even greater than the throne of David. It is obvious by this reaction that David’s response is inspiring and makes the men hopeful that righteousness shall prevail. Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah are men who love know the folly of Adonijah will bring about only destruction.
These men, along with a number of others, immediately carry out David’s command. When they reached Gihon, Solomon was anointed by the priest and the trumpet was blown and the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” The steps taken earlier by Adonijah and his supporters are repeated here; the difference being that Solomon has a legitimate claim to the throne of his father, but Adonijah did not. Going through the steps of anointing a king, therefore, did not make Adonijah king. That which is to be done must be done in an orderly and lawful fashion; otherwise it accomplishes nothing. Solomon is king, Adonijah is not king. The hand of God will rest on Solomon, it will not rest upon Adonijah.
There appears to be a massive response to the anointing of Solomon. As I indicated before, the subjects of the kingdom might have known about Adonijah’s efforts to make himself king. They would have known that this was an unlawful attempt. Now that Solomon is before them, properly anointed and lawfully installed, they can express their relief, their thanksgiving, and their gladness. The writer says the people were playing on flutes and “rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook at their noise.” That must have been a spectacular sight. Righteous rejoicing does the heart good and honors God; but the rejoicing of the wicked hardens the heart, encourages darkness, and offends the Lord.
Adonijah’s Fear
Circumstances have changed dramatically, thanks to Nathan’s faithfulness. His desire to see what is right established has resulted in triumph for the house of David, but defeat for the pretender. Now let us pick up the story in vv. 41 ff.:
41 Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is the city making such an uproar?” 42 While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Then Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a valiant man and bring good news.” 43 But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king.”
The celebration accompanying the anointing of Solomon was so loud that those dining with Adonijah heard it. Joab describes the commotion as the city being in an uproar. Just as they are trying to discern what they’re hearing, the son of the priest arrives and Adonijah assumes the young man has good news to report. To the contrary, the young man says: “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king.” At that moment, I imagine that the mention of David’s name captures everyone’s attention. He is not dead, he is not too weak to rule, he has not chosen to remain in his chamber awaiting his demise. This was the worst piece of news Adonijah could have received.
Facing off against members of David’s family and some of his remaining supporters was one thing, facing off against the king himself was another. The level of noise generated by those celebrating Solomon’s anointing indicated the tremendous support yet remaining for David.
This young man has only discouraging news! He tells Adonijah and his guests that Solomon has been anointed and has taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom. David’s servants, the messenger declares, have called upon God to bless the name and the throne of Solomon beyond that of king David. And David himself, the young man concludes, has offered glory to the Lord for what has taken place this day. (vv. 44-48)
49 Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way. 50 And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Now it was told Solomon, saying, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52 Solomon said, “If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.” 53 So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”
The writer says that when the guests heard this report, they were terrified. He uses a Hebrew word that means to quake, as when a mountain is shaken to its foundation by seismic activity deep in the earth. This word is not referring to simple anxiety, but to the kind of dread that comes upon you when, without warning, you unexpectedly face death. Those present with Adonijah experienced a sudden, overwhelming sense of fear and they fled.
Adonijah is no longer boasting about being the king; he no longer wishes to present himself as the next great leader of the nation. Adonijah wants to disappear.
Just inside the courtyard of the tabernacle was the brazen altar on which sacrifices were made. This box-shaped altar had what resembled horns sticking up on each of the four corners. If a fugitive were seeking mercy, he could come and grab hold of the horns of the altar and find momentary refuge. This is what Adonijah did. Solomon was told that Adonijah had taken hold of the horns of the altar and was asking that Solomon swear not to put him to death. Solomon’s response was pointed: “If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.” After that, Solomon told Adonijah to go home.
Let’s give our attention now to several points of application.
Application
First, I want to remind us that, without opposition, it is easy for wicked designs to succeed. Edmund Burke is credited with the saying that “All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Biblically speaking, all that is needed for sinful plans and purposes to succeed is for the people of God to remain silent. The Bible and all of history are filled with examples of this truth. When wicked men seek to do their will, the only thing to prevent that is opposition in one form or another. That opposition may be God Himself, as some who rebelled against Moses could testify after they were swallowed alive by the earth; or opposition may come in the form of a righteous man, such as Elijah’s defiance of the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The confrontation may be of epic proportions, such as Israel’s battles against the inhabitants of the promised land; or it may be very personal, such as when you face temptation. At every level and in every case, evil will triumph unless it is opposed.
In our story, we have this truth illustrated in those who chose not to stand aside as Adonijah’s plot unfolded. Nathan refused to go along, even though it probably would have resulted in a comfortable life for him; and David refused to ignore this one last challenge in spite of his condition. Because these men counted the establishment of righteousness of greater importance then their personal comfort and safety, a powerful movement, backed by some of the most influential men in the kingdom, was shut down. Adonijah’s plans came to a dismal end, as far as he and his supporters were concerned.
I mention all this simply to encourage you to be the kind of person who opposes evil. You don’t have to lead an army, you don’t have to topple a kingdom—most of our lives are going to be ordinary. Therefore, most of our opportunities to oppose that which displeases God are going to come right in our own home or during some part of our regular routines.
If you’re going to be effective in opposing the advancement of evil, on whatever level you happen to encounter it, there are three things you need to know. First, and this is simplistic, you have to be able to recognize a threat when you see one. Yes, this sounds simplistic, but there are a lot of Christians whose lives are severely compromised by entanglement with worldly ideas and practices because they have not recognized the threat when it first appeared. And please understand that this world is full of potentially harmful ideas and trends. And if you are not able to see the true nature of such potentially destructive matters, then you are putting yourself, and perhaps your family, at risk.
How, then, do you train yourself to be able to recognize a threat? Since we would define a threat according to what God tells us, then I would assume that the best way to prepare myself to discern evil from good, and that which is beneficial from that which is detrimental, is to know well what God has revealed and make absolutely sure that my relationship with Him is solid. By knowing His Word and attending to my relationship with Him—through worship, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines—I am acquainting myself with goodness, which means I will be all the more sensitive to evil when it appears.
A second key to being able to oppose evil designs is the understanding that most threats you are likely to face are going to be subtle. At present, you won’t have anyone showing up at your door and demanding that you surrender your Bibles and other Christian literature. That kind of threat would be easy to identify. Right now, the threats we face are far less obvious, but every bit as destructive long term. I’m referring to those habits and attitudes and preferences we allow to sneak into our lives or into the lives of family members. These subtle influences can range from clothing to entertainment, from recreational choices to educational choices. In many ways, it is the subtle threat that should trouble us most.
The third key to being able to oppose that which is contrary to God’s will is developing the determination to act when action is needed. This, too, is simplistic. Training yourself to recognize threats to your Christian convictions and understanding that subtle threats may be the most damaging will do little good and your family little good if you don’t act. How many times have you heard someone say, “Well, I know I shouldn’t do that,” but then they continue doing the very thing they have just spoken against? Or, how many times have you talked to someone about some problem they have in their family and the two of you have agreed regarding the issue at the heart of the problem, but a month later, that issue remains unaddressed in that family?
What would have happened if, after being informed of Adonijah’s plot by Bathsheba and Nathan, David had expressed his disapproval, but had then taken no steps to oppose his son? In that case, the unlawful designs of Adonijah would have come to fruition. Be certain, therefore, that if you recognize some threat to your or your family’s spiritual well-being, but you choose to ignore it or postpone a response to it, that threat will bear its fruit.
If you came home one day, walked into your house and noticed that the stove had been left on and a bundle of napkins was smoldering nearby, what would you do? Would you look at those smoldering napkins and conclude that no real damage is being done, so you will take care of the problem later? Unless you are a complete moron, you will immediately recognize the substantial threat to your home represented by that situation; and, of course, you would act.
Why is it, therefore, that so many of our lives and our homes have potentially destructive elements in them while little or nothing is being done in opposition? If it is because you don’t recognize the threat, then equip yourself with better discernment by studying the Word and seeking the help of others. We all have the responsibility of living honorable lives before God who saved us and keeps us, and many of us have responsibility for others, as well. And the only thing that will allow sin to triumph in our lives is if we choose to do nothing.
Second, we had a superb illustration in this story of how a godly man keeps his word even when circumstances were not what he anticipated. I’m referring, of course, to David who determined to keep the promise he made to Bathsheba in spite of his physical distress. When David made that vow, he did not imagine another son rising up against him to take his throne in an unlawful manner. David was entirely sincere we promised to put Solomon on the throne. But when the time came for the title to be passed to Solomon, David was facing a completely unexpected situation. He was physically weak, so of his advisers were with his adversary, and it looked like David was the only obstacle between his throne and the unlawful rise of Adonijah.
As I mentioned before, who would have blamed David if he had chosen not to oppose Adonijah? Most people would probably conclude that, under those circumstances, David would have an acceptable excuse for breaking his promise to Bathsheba. The king, however, was a man of integrity and you realized, I’m sure, that it was possible for him to attempt to keep his vow. He could not claim that it was impossible to oppose this rebellion and, therefore, it was useless to try.
There was a way for David to keep his promise, but it require a tremendous effort on his part. He had to rise up, one more time, and face a significant challenge if he were going to be a man of his word. And we know the outcome of the story.
The obvious question, then, is this: Are you a man of your word? When you make a promise, do you attempt to count the cost before speaking? Do you realize at the moment of your promise that unanticipated circumstances in the future will not necessarily negate what you have vowed? Are you a man who will keep his word if at all possible? I could pose these same questions to the women of the congregation. In fact, the question of keeping our word is relevant to everyone here—men, women, young people, and children.
Given the unique role God has assigned to men, I do want to pursue this matter a bit further with them. For example, although you are not a king, you may be married and if you are married, you made promises to your wife on the day of your wedding. Can you say that you have kept those vowels to the best of your ability regardless of the circumstances you have faced?
And from that marriage, children may have come. If so, that means most of you have stood before a congregation and made promises to God and your child regarding your responsibility as a father. Again, I would ask you: Can you say that you have kept those vials to the best of your ability regardless of the circumstances you have faced?
The simple, yet profoundly important lesson we must learn is that the promises we make, regardless of the context, are binding. Even when circumstances change or are not what we anticipated, we remain accountable for what we say. This lesson applies across the board. It applies when we make promises to one another in marriage, it applies when we take vowels before God regarding our children, it applies when we agree to the stipulations of our employment, it applies when we sign our name to a contract, it applies when we join a church, it applies to every situation where we make a promise, where we give our word, no matter the context. You may be standing before a minister of the gospel when you take a vow, or you may be talking to a friend when you give your word. Your duty before God is to keep that vow, fulfill the promise, and honor that word.
Third, we all would do well to remember whose judgment we should regard the most. I noted in the story that David was motivated by the desire to keep his promise, but also by the awareness that he served Jehovah in his position as king of Israel. Concern for that kingdom, if it were to fall into the hands of Adonijah, also motivated David, I believe. The people of God and the name of God were at stake. David reacted not to please men, but to honor God and preserve what God had built. David knew that it was before God, in God alone, that he would stand.
We can be driven to the point of misery when we worry about what others think of us or when we dwell on someone’s opinion of us. It’s not that we should have no concern whatsoever for the opinions of others—we certainly are to care and do what we can to maintain a good name—but in the ultimate sense, we do not answer to man, we answer only to God. And I believe that we can spend so much time living for the approval of others, that we neglect to live our lives as they truly are, which is before the face of God.
The problem of living to please other people is that there is no stable standard. Opinions by definition fluctuate. In the eyes of one you may be doing a wonderful job in living out your days before the Lord. But in the eyes of another you may appear neglectful and spiritually lazy. You don’t mind being told that you are doing a wonderful job, but criticism is something else. Depending on how it is expressed and how we receive it, the opinion of another can exercise a great deal of influence on us.
Obviously, therefore, we are far better off if we can find an unchanging standard, one that is not bias one way or the other. We find such a standard for living in the Scriptures. The added benefit of the standard is that it comes from God and is absolutely authoritative and overrides all other standards, no matter the source. That means, you see, that all those opinions offered to you are subject to the rules for living provided by God. In your lifetime, you will receive advice that will vary in its fidelity to God’s standard. As long as you know well what God requires, you can ignore those opinions that do not line up with the Word and you can either receive those opinions that do reflect God’s truth.
Fourth, we should not get overly agitated by the boasting of those who spurn God’s Word. In our story, Adonijah thought he had pulled it off, he thought he had managed to take the throne of his father. Those around him made the same assumption. Therefore, they celebrated; they feasted with food and drink and merriment. Adonijah could not have hoped for an easier transition from a subject of the realm to the king of the realm. But then they all heard a great commotion. That commotion signaled a sudden and frightening change for the administration of Adonijah!
Up until the moment Joab heard that trumpet being blown in connection with the anointing of Solomon, Adonijah continued to gloat and bask in the glory of his triumph. That noise, however, not only signaled the anointing of Solomon, it also signaled the judgment of Adonijah. He was not God’s choice to take the seat of David. Therefore, no matter how clever he was, no matter what support the head, no matter how sick David was, and no matter how fearful others may have been to oppose him, Adonijah had no chance whatsoever of success.
Particularly in the Psalms, God assures us that the wicked man may appear to gain what he desires now and he may appear to be happy and carefree; but at some point, either in this life or the next, judgment comes. Judgment must come because God is alive and God is just and, therefore, His standard will be enforced according to His good pleasure. We are not to envy the wicked, nor are we to be intimidated by them. We know the end that must come. In the case of Adonijah, the justice of God was approaching swiftly.
There is no shortage of examples in our own day where ungodliness seems to be flourishing and men seen ever more willing to disregard Scripture and even mock the righteous standard of God. But has anything changed? Although Adonijah failed roughly 3000 years ago, could he succeed today and do whatever he wished without concern for the will of God? The answer is “no.” God has not grown weary, nor has His standard been weakened by the passage of time. The same perfect law of God governs this creation today as it has since it was spoken into existence.
Would it not be a great comfort to us if we would remember that in spite of the boasting of men, and in spite of the cleverness of their schemes, and in spite of the amount of support they sometimes seem to have, unless they are acting according to God’s will, they cannot succeed? Whatever harm they do is temporary and whatever plans they lay are known by God and subject to His pleasure. Again, it doesn’t matter how strong they are or how wise they are or how much money they have or how much fear they create. What does matter is God’s decree. All who oppose His Word will fail and be destroyed, and all who keep it and love it will be blessed.
I must say that I think there’s a connection between this application and the gospel. My as a man rests only on what God has determined. It does not rest on my strength or weakness, nor does it rest on any other factor found in this world. I know who I am and I know where I am going not because some person or organization has informed me, but because God has revealed to me His will in His holy Scriptures. It is there that I learned the truth of my condemnation as a sinner before a God of purity. It was in that Word that I learned of my sin and the consequences I faced. It was the Bible that told me I had no ability to change my disposition or alter my course.
But it is in that same Bible, given by that same offended God, that I read of what He has decreed for me. I read that in spite of by condemnation and my preference for sin, and in spite of the horrendous offense my existence represents to God, it is His will that I not perish but inherit eternal life. The central Character of the Bible is God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. He is the One who bore the punishment for my condemnation; and He is the One who lived a righteous life that has been credited to me. The wisdom of God has transformed me from condemned sinner to redeemed saint—all in Christ Jesus and all because God decreed it to be so.
I am so glad to live with the knowledge that God’s will is supreme in all matters, especially in regard to my destiny. While some mock the Word God has spoken, I confess that I believe it—I believe what the Word of God says about me and my condition. I believe what the Word of God promises about my salvation in Christ, and I believe what the Word of God says about my future. God’s will cannot be the successfully opposed and His will has been revealed to us in Scripture.
What God has promised to me, He has promised to all. Those who repent of their sins will find Him full of mercy and willing to forgive.
Let’s pray.
Hymn for communion.
Conclusion
In the application, I mentioned the fact that we should remind ourselves that it is God’s opinion that matters before all others. His judgments are final, His promises are sure. What God does cannot be undone; what God orders cannot be countermanded. These truths should be of considerable comfort and assurance, therefore, as you receive this sacrament.
I say that because this sacrament memorializes an act in the past—that act happens to be the work of our Savior on the cross, and it testifies to our present standing as God’s people, and it assures us of a particular future with God in peace. Unless God’s judgments are final and unless what He wills is unstoppable, then the things brought to mind by the sacrament could be reduced to mere wishful thinking.
That is, we can hope God’s promise to accept the work of Christ on our behalf holds true; and we can hope that what the Word says about our present standing as God’s people is a reality; and we can hope that what this sacrament points to is certain. But if, as the Bible teaches, the judgments of God are beyond revocation or alteration, then we all may rejoice as we are reminded of the body given for us and the blood shed on our behalf.
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.”
~