1 Kings 3:1-5 – Compromise will affect our commitment

The first two chapters of First Kings detailed for us how Solomon was coronated and firmly established as Israel’s king succeeding his father, David. First Kings 3 then continues in an unusual way to introduce Israel’s prominence through Solomon’s marriage to the daughter of Pharoah of Egypt. While this marriage would strengthen his power, it was also opening the door for the penetration of foreign religion and a different way the nation would be governed. This eventually eroded the nation’s relationship with God.

Through the marriage of Solomon to the princess of Egypt, his three-building projects were introduced. He brought his Egyptian wife to the city of David until the three building projects, namely the palace, the temple, and the wall of Jerusalem were completed. Verse 2 revealed that the people were sacrificing at high places because no temple was built for the Lord in the early days of his reign.  High places were shrines positioned on the slightly elevated ground throughout the land. They were denounced in the books of Kings once the temple at Jerusalem was built.

Verse 3 made clear that Solomon at this point loved the Lord and was walking according to the statutes of David, his father. The practice of worshipping and making sacrifices at high places was excusable for the start. However, the later part of verse 3 that says, “except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places” gave us the hint that it was not totally acceptable. This would be the landmine that would trip up the nation’s commitment to God and the given Law.  

We are told that Solomon would travel to the great high place at Gibeon to sacrifice there. Why Gibeon? Not much detail was given. Suffice to say that 2 Chronicles 1:1-5 revealed that the Tabernacle and the furnishings were still there. And Solomon’s willingness to travel to Gibeon was an indication that he was committed to God to the extent that he was prepared to make the effort to honor Him. There he made a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord. Solomon’s commitment and what he had done pleased the Lord, who then appeared to him in a dream. He asked Solomon what he would want God to do for him.

Solomon was firmly established in his position. Marrying the Egyptian princess would certainly enhance his power but it was a step in the wrong direction. It had opened an avenue that would cause him to compromise his commitment to God. In our commitment to God, we must be careful of the little foxes that can destroy the vine. They are the little things that seem harmless but unwittingly open doors to compromise. This is Paul’s advice in Ephesians 5:15 and 17, “…be careful how we walk not as unwise but as wise ….Do not be foolish but understanding what the will of God is.”   

 

1 Kings 2:36-46 – Dealing with hindrances in life

After Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab were dealt with, Solomon had one more person on his list to tackle. He was none other than Shimei. In 1 Kings 2:8, David had specifically mentioned Shimei. He did not specify how Solomon should deal with him for he knew his son would have the wisdom to know what to do. So 1 Kings 2:36-46 narrated how shrewdly Solomon dealt with Shimei.

Solomon had his movement restricted. He ordered him to build a house and live in Jerusalem and warned him not to leave the city via the Kidron Valley. His purpose was to monitor his moment closely. He warned Shimei that if he broke the restriction, he would leave him no option but to execute him. Of course, Shimei agreed wholeheartedly.

Unfortunate for Shimei, two of his servants fled to Gath and he mindlessly left his home to pursue them. The warning of Solomon technically meant that he was not to go out of Jerusalem. So verses 41-46 show us that even though he did not go via the Kidron Valley, Solomon took him to task. Solomon summoned for him and before he had him executed, he revealed the real reason for his displeasure.  He reminded him of how he had verbally abused his father before ordering Benaiah to have Shimei executed.  With him gone, the last line of verse 46 said, “Thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.”

Solomon did not mince words. He meant what he said and said what he meant. In verse 37 he left Shimei with no doubt saying, “For on the day you go out and cross over the brook Kidron, you will know for certain that you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own head.” And he immediately acted firmly and swiftly with him when he heard of his leaving town. This is also how we must deal with areas in our lives that can hinder our progress. Our hindrances may come from different sources, whatever it is, be it a relationship, a friend, a hobby, a habit, etc, we must deal with them swiftly. Don’t allow them to hinder our progress with God. Be diligent to press on toward the mark of the high calling of God!

 

 

 

 

  

 

1 Kings 2:28-34 – Authority is derived through submission

When Joab heard of the news of Adonijah’s death and Abiathar’s banishment, he knew that he was next on the line of the people Solomon wanted to destroy. Expecting the worst, 1 Kings 2:28-30 tell us that Joab beelined for the tent of the Lord and laid his hand on the horns at the brazen altar of burnt offering. Like Adonijah earlier, he was seeking refuge at the altar.

When Solomon was told what Joab had done, he sent Benaiah to go and strike him down where he was. The latter set out immediately. But when he came to where Joab was, instead of going for the jugular, he told him to come out of the tent. But Joab refused. He insisted that he would rather die at the altar. Not wanting to be responsible for violating the policy of sparing someone seeking refuge at the horns of the altar, Benaiah was forced to return to Solomon with Joab’s plead. But the king was in no mood to spare Joab. So he insisted that he be killed regardless. And that was exactly what Benaiah did.

First kings 2:31-33 then gave the justification for the destruction of Joab. Solomon ordered his death to rid the bloodguilt from the Davidic line. For he had unjustifiably killed Abner and deceptively murdered Amasa. In so doing, Solomon was also fulfilling David’s dying wish. With the removal of Joab, Solomon had removed people who were against him who had the potential of starting a coup. From verse 35, we are told that Solomon wisely rewarded those who had helped him to the throne. Zadok was made the high priest replacing Abiathar, and Benaiah became the commander of his army replacing Joab.

For all his talent and commitment, Joab was a misguided man who was overly shrewd and prideful for his own good. He had the snag of taking matters into his own hand. In 2 Samuel 3, we saw how he murdered Abner without David’s consent, He did it under the pretext of doing it for the nation’s good. However, his real motive was to avenge the death of his brother Asahel whom Abner had killed. Joab was a man who had relied too much on his own judgment, hence he had a problem with absolute loyalty. There were moments in his life when he was convinced that his ways were better than the king’s. As a result, he failed to see that he was a man under authority. The Bible makes it clear that all our authority is derived from proper submission to the authority set over us. If we do not submit to God’s ordained authority over our lives, we can never be right in exercising the authority delegated to us. This principle applies whether we are a father, a mother, a leader, or a boss. There is a need for us to be like the centurion whom Jesus met in Matthew 8.  We are people under authority, we can only rightly exercise our authority aptly when we submit to those whom God has assigned over us.  Exercise authority, but be sure to submit to the authority set over us! 

 

1 Kings 2:26-27 – The hazard of a wrong move

Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech, the priest at Nob where David stopped while fleeing from Saul. The name Abiathar means the father of excellence. He was the sole survivor of the massacre Saul carried out at Nob that destroyed his father and siblings. He escaped to David and was promised protection by him. When David became the king, he was made high priest alongside Zadok. Abiathar was faithful to David during Absalom’s rebellion and was one of those who had accompanied the king in his life as a fugitive. No reason was given as to why he supported Adonijah in the latter’s attempt at seizing the throne. For that, he had incurred the suspicion of Solomon.

Instead of killing him, 1 Kings 2:26-27 reveal that Solomon spared him in consideration of his past service to his father David. He was banished to Anathoth till his death there. Verse 27 was careful to reveal that this was in fulfillment of the word of the Lord prophesized concerning the house of the family of Eli, the high priest, given in 1 Samuel 2:27-33.     

Here was a case of associating with the wrong man. Abiathar would have saved himself untold sorrow had he stayed focused on the ministry and not involved himself with politics. Unfortunately, he was sucked into the power struggle of Adonijah. Two things to remember in life. Firstly, be mindful that a wrong move can lead to many troubles.  A miscalculated step can lead one to needless misery. Secondly, these two verses teach us to be careful who we support and run with in life. We inherit our reputation from who we mix with. We either share their glory or suffer their banes. There is a need to acknowledge that our reputation is an important asset in life, for a good name is better than the best perfume. So stir clear of troublesome people, for when we run into a skunk, we will stink like a skunk. “Don’t trouble troubles, till trouble troubles you.”  

 

 

 

1 Kings 2:19-25 – Seek to be discerning

First Kings 2:19-25 reveal how readily Bathsheba brought Adonijah’s request to Solomon and how immediately the new king reacted. Unsuspectingly Bathsheba brought Adonijah’s request to Solomon. Being a tag too naïve, she became an unwitting accomplice of Adonijah. Ignorant of his ruse, she appeared before Solomon and relayed the request as if it was hers. In verse 21, she presented the request to Solomon saying, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife.” Being the perceptive person Solomon was, he quickly realized who was behind his mother’s request. So the respectful son, who so courteously received his mother exploded into a tirade. He could smell the treasonous move of his half-brother and see his plot. 

In verse 22, Solomon sarcastically asked his mother a question, “Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah?” This is a rhetorical question. He was virtually asking the mother if she knew the larger implication of that request. He then followed up sarcastically by saying that she might as well ask for the kingdom to be given to him since he was the older brother. To Solomon, Adonijah’s design on the throne at this point was still strong and subtle. This was not an inconsequential matter, not something that he could mindlessly dismiss because assisting the renegade prince were Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the son of Zeruiah.

He saw through the ploy of Adonijah and swore to the LORD that he would stop at nothing to squelch the plot. He swore vehemently that Adonijah should be put to death. So he sent Benaiah to carry out the execution that very day. In one sense, Adonijah’s end was his own making. His own foolishness led him to it. His action tells us to be careful of our ambition. When a person harbors a wrong ambition, he will stop at nothing to scheme for it. No wonder Galatians 6:4 urged believers to examine themselves.

The way Bathsheba responded to Adonijah shows us how needful it is to have discernment in life. We need discernment in everything that we hear, see, or believe. However, we need to know that discernment is not fault-finding or nit-picking. Discernment is the ability to judge well. And we are constantly urged by the Word of God to be discerning. God does not want us to be gullible. He wants us to ascertain every move we take in life. It is true that an unexamined faith is not worth believing, so also is an unexamined life is not worth living. Don’t be hoodwinked, be discerning!         

1 Kings 2:13-18 – Don’t seek what’s not intended for us

Adonijah was an ambitious man. His design was to be the next king of Israel and would have succeeded if not for the alertness of Nathan the prophet. Yet despite David having Solomon enthroned as his successor, Adonijah’s selfish aspiration did not diminish. If he were sensible, he should have understood the message that he was never destined for the throne. Apparently, he was not. So in 1 Kings 2:13-18, we see him subtly scheming for the throne.

The first indication was the insinuation he made to Bathsheba. Coming peacefully to her he sought for a request in carefully crafted words. He first asked if Bathsheba could do him a favor. When she asked what he wanted, he began by insinuating that he should be the one on the throne instead of Solomon. He self-deludedly told the Queen mother that the kingdom was his and that all Israel fully expected him to reign. Had he forgotten the people’s proclamation of “long live King Solomon” following the latter’s coronation? However, he did concede that the Lord had given the throne to Solomon. He conceded only to give Bathsheba the impression that he had also accepted the new king. But, he had not.  

So the second indication betrayed his secret ambition. He requested for Bathsheba to ask Solomon to let him have Abishag as his wife. This was the Shunammite maid who had kept David warm in the ailing king’s old age. This was a calculated move for Adonijah knew that Abishag was a part of David’s harem. The culture then was that a new king would also inherit the harem of the previous king. Requesting for her to be his wife was as good as seeking the title to the throne. If he had succeeded it would have undermined Solomon’s reign and markedly strengthened his claim to the throne. Without any suspicion, Bathsheba acceded to his request to ask Solomon on his behalf.   

Obviously, Adonijah was not God’s choice for the throne. If He had designed for him to succeed David, nothing nor anyone could have prevented it. So his continuing attempts to the throne was an exercise in futility. We are here reminded that it is pointless to seek what is not in God’s will for us. There is a need to die to self and truly seek God’s will. We will only end in frustration if we seek a position that God has not planned for us. If God so desires, it is better for us to serve Him diligently in a humble position than to try and sit on the throne of our own making. 

1 Kings 2:10-12 – Be a person after God’s heart

The reign of David was part of the golden years of Israel as a nation. His death signals the end of the most celebrated and significant reign in Israel’s history. When he died, his body was buried in the capital of the nation, the city of David, the city that he himself had built. First Kings 2 verse 11 indicates that he ruled Israel for a total of 40 years. Seven of those years he ruled from Hebron and thirty-three from Jerusalem. Explicitly, verse 12 made it clear that Solomon succeeded him on the throne and his kingdom was firmly established.

After Moses, David would be the next most significant instrument of God in the establishment of His Kingdom. By and large, he was faithful in his walk with God.  Hence, his reign was the standard by which God would measure the reign of the rest of the kings of Israel and Judah. But we know that David was very human after all.  His most notorious blip was the tryst he had with Bathsheba and the ensuing murder of her husband, Uriah. Of course, like everyone else, David had other flaws but God did not highlight them and so we must not do so.  

From these three verses in 1 Kings 2:10-12, God had so affably highlighted the high point of David’s life and not his flaws. They underscore for us the graciousness of God. We are thankful that God did not mark David’s transgression. It gives us hope to know that God will not mark ours too. For if He chooses to mark our transgressions, none of us will be qualified to stand before Him. However, this is not a concession to excuse our flaws but to let us know that God is gracious. There is no need for us to dwell on them but to deal with them.

Looking back at David’s life, we learn that despite his flaws God used him. Why? the answer is given to us in God’s testimony of him in Acts 13:22. God said, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.” He was known for the fact that he was “a man after God’s own heart.” This is a critical element that all of us must nurture if we want to live a God-pleasing life. When we have a heart after God, not only will we please Him, but we will also be effective in our Kingdom assignments expected of us. We must nurture a heart that will seek after God!  

1 Kings 2:5-9 – Treating others appropriately

1 Kings 2:5-9 – Treating others as appropriate  

The second part of David’s final words to Solomon was a political move. He advised him to get rid of Joab and Shimei and to show kindness to Barzillai. Why did David want to get rid of Joab and Shimei? They were probably those likely to rebel against Solomon. Joab, as we know, was David’s nephew, the son of his sister Zeruiah. Though he had been a help to David, he was a ruthless man. The book of 2 Samuel recorded several things he did that David was troubled about. In 2 Samuel 3:26-30, he had Abner killed when the latter was seeking to help David reconcile with Saul’s supporters. In 2 Samuel 18, he killed Absalom, David’s son, despite being told not to harm him. Then in 2 Samuel 20, he also killed Amasa, whom David had appointed to replace him as commander of his army. On top of these missteps, Joab was also a supporter of Adonijah who sought to grab the throne and could be a threat to Solomon.

Shimei was from the clan of Saul, the son of Gera. David was running from Absalom, his rebelling son, and came to Bahurim with his entourage. In 2 Samuel 16:5-6, we are told that there  Shimei pelted them with stones and insulted David. But when the revolt of Absalom was squelched, 2 Samuel 19:18-19 tell us that Shimei came to David and threw himself at his feet, confessed his sin, and sought forgiveness. Though Abishai wanted to execute him, David forgave him. But now he was signaling to Solomon to deal with him.  

Why did David want to show kindness to Barzillai? Second Samuel 17:27-29 tell us that he had shown kindness to David and his men when they were running from Absalom. Barzillai together with some men provided food and beddings to David and his men. He now told Solomon to allow him and his family to come to the king’s table to eat with him.  

There are two categories of people whom we will find hard to forget in our life. One would be those who had treated us badly, and the other would be those who had treated us kindly. Now as people who have received the grace of God in our life, what should we do with regards to these two groups of people? To those who had treated us badly, take the advice of Romans 12:19 and 21 and adhere to them. They say, ^“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” And to those who had treated us kindly, practice the law of reciprocity. Repay kindness with kindness. Live and act appropriately in life seeking to please Jesus, our Lord and Master always!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

1 Kings 2:1-4 – Be true to God

The farewell counsel of an older character to a younger one is common in the Bible. In Genesis 49, Jacob gave his farewell words to his twelve sons. In Deuteron9omy 33-34, we see Moses’ farewell words to the children of Israel. Then in Joshua 2, we see the leader’s farewell words to the second generation of the children of Israel whom he had led into the promised land. All the accounts were given to provide continuity by taking focus from one character to the new who had been introduced. So in 1 Kings 2:1-9, we see recorded for us the final counsel David gave to Solomon. The time for the old king was up so he gave his final words to Solomon whom he had just installed to take his place to rule Israel.  

David’s final counsel to Solomon has two parts. In this reflection, we will look at the part of his counsel recorded in verses 1-4, leaving the part of his counsel in verses 5-9 for our next reflection. Most of us find it easy to accept the first part, where he wisely counseled Solomon to keep God’s law and instructions given through Moses. However, we find it harder to reckon with the second part of the counsel where he gave Solomon some harsh and cruel political maneuvers. However, the first part was important as it deals with David’s call to Solomon to stay committed to God. This was to be the basis for how the new king was to carry the kingdom forward. The call to stay committed to God was not only important to Solomon but is also important to us today if we are to please God in our lives and ministries.

Solomon was to be strong and prove himself to be a man by “keeping the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses….”. David assured Solomon of two positive outcomes if he followed the instructions here. The first had to do with Solomon’s reign. He would surely prosper and experience success in his rule. The second had more to do with God’s promise to David. The LORD had promised that their faithfulness would ensure that someone in the Davidic line would always occupy the throne. This is more consequential because it has to do with the reign of  Jesus, the eternal King.

The call of these verses is for us to be true to God. These few verses provide for us key actions we must take if we are to experience success. We must keep the charge of God, walk in His ways, obey His Words, guard our ways, remain faithful to God, and follow Him wholeheartedly. The promise: when we do these disciplinarily, we ensure our progress with God in life and ministry.

1 Kings 1:49-53 – The challenge pursue truth and God’s will

Petrified when they heard that Solomon had been coronated and had succeeded David as the reigning king, every guest at Adonijah’s installation dispersed. Each one went their own way. Adonijah himself greatly feared Solomon. Feeling desperate and threatened, he fled to the altar and held on to the horns. At the four corners of the bronze altar of burnt offerings were four horn-like projections. We learned from Exodus 27:2 that God had instructed them to be included in the construction of that altar. They were means for people to seek asylum when their lives were being threatened. So Adonijah felt that that was the only recourse for what he had done. He held on to the horns pleading for his life. In I Kings 1:51 he said, “Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.” 

When Solomon was told of what Adonijah had done, he responded saying, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” He assured him that he would be spared, provided he would prove himself to be a worthy man. This was a restrictive caveat Solomon had added to ensure that Adonijah was not up to any mischief again. The newly installed king then had his brother brought down from the horns of the altar. Humiliated, Adonijah appeared before Solomon, paid homage to him, and was sent home.

The installation of a new king for Israel has lessons for us believers. Adonijah’s attempt at seizing the throne represents self-will, and the coronation of Solomon represents God’s will. Adonijah’s attempt also speaks of falsehood whereas Solomon’s coronation speaks of the truth and the genuine. A believer can choose either to live life pursuing God’s will or self-will. He can seek to go after the truth and the genuine or the false and spurious. Which would we choose? The answer is obvious. We must always go for the will of God for our life and not pander to the carnal desire of the self. We must always pursue truth and not falsehood.

In his letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul admonished them not to pander to their carnal nature but to go for the mind of God. In 1 Corinthians  2:14-15, the apostle said, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.” We must keep on progressing with God in the truth so that our carnal nature will not dominate our walk with Him. Pursue the truth and avoid the spurious, because it’s the truth that will set us free! 

1 Kings 1:41-48 – Live in certainty, not on the probability

First Kings 1:40 made it known that all the people celebrated with Solomon, the moment he was installed by David as his successor. We are told, “…all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise.” The great commotion was heard by Adonijah and his guests as they finished their feast. Joab was said to have heard the blast of the trumpet coming from the coronation of Solomon and was wondering aloud what could it all mean. Even before he could finish his question when Jonathan the son of Abiathar appeared. Recognizing him, Joab invited him with the hope that he would have good news to share with them. Instead of good news, he was greeted with what he probably did not want to hear most at this juncture.

“No,” said Jonathan, as he narrated to the commander exactly what had taken place. He made known that David had installed Solomon as king to succeed him. He also revealed to Joab the entourage David had sent with Solomon to Gihon for his coronation. The whole company included Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and the Pelethites. Jonathan even made known that Solomon was led there on David’s own personal mule. There at Gihon, Zadok and Nathan anointed Solomon. And now the whole city was in a great commoti0n celebrating the installation of Solomon, the new king.  

In 1 Kings 1:47-48, Jonathan reported that the people, including his royal officials, approved and congratulated David for his choice in making Solomon his successor. He made known that they blessed the new king and even verbalized their desire. Their wish was for God to make the name of Solomon more famous than David’s and even his reign would be greater than the old king’s. In verse 48, Jonathan even made known that David himself bowed in his bed and worshipped God. He praised God for granting him a successor and allowing him to see that moment.  

Did Adonijah act in faith or on presumption? It looks like he acted on presumption. He assumed that being next in line after Amnon and Absalom, his two older brothers who had died, he was destined for the throne. So in his mistaken notion, he was led to act unwisely to seize the throne. The Bible makes it clear in Proverbs 19:21 that “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” As Christians, we must not live presumptuously, we must live by the Word of God. When we do so we will be found in the center of God’s will. Live in the certainty of God’s Word and not on the probability of presumption that leads to tragedy! 

 

1 Kings 1:38-40 – God’s plan for us can never be thwarted

David’s plan was executed exactly as he had told his team of loyalists to do. The three key players of Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, together with the Cherethites and the Pelethites took Solomon on David’s personal mule to Gihon. The Cherethites and the Pelethites were David’s loyal bodyguards under the command of Benaiah. They had been with David since the day when he was running from Absalom his son. Here, David had them formed the entourage that would accompany Solomon his son for his anointing as king at Gihon.  

When they came to Gihon, Zadok anointed Solomon from a horn of oil near the Tabernacle. As they were instructed by David, the trumpet was blown after the anointing followed by the people’s proclamation of  “Long live King Solomon!” As anticipated, the people acknowledged and accepted David’s successor. So 1 Kings 1:41 said, "And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise.”

The installation of King Solomon marked the beginning of the Davidic dynasty that culminated in Jesus, the King of kings, sitting on the throne of David forever. Both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke were careful to link the Lord Jesus to the ancestry of David, to show that God never reneged on his promise. He had promised David that he would have an heir to the throne forever. And He had done so.

Solomon as David’s successor was God’s plan. Hence nothing could prevent him from ascending to the throne. Whereas Adonijah was never God’s plan, hence his attempt to seize the throne was thwarted. This teaches us that there is no point in fighting for power and seek a position that God has not designed for us. Even if we should gain that position, it will not last and instead will ultimately cause us to end up in total frustration. Whatever position in God’s plan for us will be ours without us pushing for it. But it does require that we place all that we are in His hands and totally trust Him to bring what He has installed for our lives to pass. God knows His plan for us, and He is well able to take us there. Remember Jeremiah 19:11? God said, ^“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” No plan that God has for us can be thwarted. Just trust Him to take us there!

   

 

 

1 Kings 1:28-37 – Don’t leave it to chance

Having heard from Nathan, David understood the gravity of the situation and knew he had to act immediately. Wanting to assure Bathsheba, he summoned for her. She appeared to have left the chamber when Nathan came in to avoid the impression that the arrangement was a plot. So when Bathsheba came and stood before David again, the latter affirmed the promise he had made to her. He again swore to her saying, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.” So David acted firmly that day.

David then called into action. He summoned for the three key players, Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, one of his mighty men and son of the chief priest Jehoiada. These three were assigned to implement the king’s plan to install his chosen successor.  Solomon would be made to ride on David’s personal mule to Gihon. This was near to where Adonijah was having his coronation ceremony. Solomon’s journey there was led by David’s servants. Both Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet would anoint him as king there. The anointing by the priest and the prophet was by way of demonstrating that Solomon not only had royal but divine approval. He would then ascend to the throne with the trumpet sounding and shouting of “long live the king!”  Solomon would be installed not only as king over Israel but also Judah. On hearing the instruction of David, Benaiah responded to the king with a loud “amen” and a blessing in verses 36-37. 

The plan to install Solomon as his successor showed how lucid David’s mind still was at this point. His plan left no doubt that Solomon was his choice. Five clear steps were outlined. Firstly, Solomon was to ride on David’s personal mule accompanied by his servants to Gihon near where Adonijah’s coronation was taking place.  Secondly, he wanted to ensure that he was properly anointed by Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet. Thirdly, he wanted the declaration to be made with the sounding of the trumpet. Fourthly, following the sounding of the trumpet would be the shout of “long live the king!” Fifthly, Solomon would ascend to the throne to rule over Israel and Judah.    

From this episode, we learn the importance of seeing to details in executing an important plan. If we are to succeed in any undertaking in life and ministry, planning is needful. If we fail to plan, we are planning to fail.  Apart from faithful and loyal friends, David’s plan had people appropriately assigned and steps precisely detailed. Do we have a plan to progress in God’s design for our life? What are the steps we must take if we are to succeed in life and ministry? Make plans to progress in God by adopting a plan to advance with Him. Don’t leave it to chance!

1 Kings 1:15-27 – Choose our friends wisely

Bathsheba sprang into action, following the instruction of Nathan. When she arrived at the king’s chamber, the aged David was with Abishag, the young Shunammite beauty. Immediately, she bowed and showed David much respect and courtesy. David responded by asking why she was there. Wasting no time, she went straight to explain the purpose of her presence there.  

Bathsheba began by reminding David that he had sworn before the LORD God to make Solomon his successor before revealing that Adonijah had coronated himself as king behind his back. Next, she went on to disclose Adonijah’s collaborators, and then told him that all Israel was waiting to see who he really had in mind to succeed him. She rounded up by expressing her fear that when David had died, she and Solomon would be treated as criminals by Adonijah.  

At the crucial moment of David’s conversation with Bathsheba, Nathan appeared before the king. He prostrated himself before the king and corroborated Bathsheba’s account. He cleverly left no opportunity for the king to question what he had just heard from Bathsheba. Nathan insinuated that perhaps David had appointed Adonijah as his successor without letting his plan known. If not why himself, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and even Solomon, were left out of the ceremony. 

Nathan was attuned to the situation. He had shown himself to be a faithful servant and friend of David. Wisely, he had ensured that David would appoint the right heir to the throne. This passage shows us how needful it is to surround ourselves with genuine and faithful friends. When we are choosing friends, be sure to choose true, genuine, and godly friends. Proverbs 27:6 is a timely reminder. It says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” Choose our friends wisely! 

1 Kings 1:11-14 – A friend in need is a friend indeed

Nathan the prophet was well remembered for his dramatic confrontation of King David’s tryst with Bathsheba. A wise counselor and seasoned prophet in both King David’s and Solomon’s reign, God had used him to minister to them more than just this one tragic incident in David’s life. Nathan was loyal to King David, and Adonijah had obviously underestimated him. Here we see how he led a group of loyalists to counter the plot of Adonijah to make himself king.

Being a perceptive prophet, Nathan saw in Adonijah’s plot in 1 Kings 1:11-12 three crucial issues. Firstly, the crown and throne were at risk of falling into the wrong hands. Secondly, the lives of Bathsheba and Solomon were in danger should Adonijah lay hold of the throne. Thirdly, the wish of the dying king would be denied. So urgently, he moved into action. He approached Bathsheba not only to inform her of Adonijah’s plot but also to give her a plan to have Solomon, her son, rightly coronated.    

His plan was for Bathsheba to approach David to remind the ailing king of the promise that he had made to have Solomon succeed him. In a rhetorical question, Bathsheba was also to break the news to David that Adonijah had made himself king. Then at the crucial moment, Nathan would then appear to confirm what she was counseled to say to David. In his plan, Nathan had put his own life at risk should his counsel be rejected and Adonijah became the king. So with wits and wisdom, without bypassing proper protocol, he out-maneuvered the conniving Adonijah.  Nathan had shown himself to be not only wise but also very astute. Verse 14 shows that Nathan was not only ready to give counsel but was also prepared to be totally involved in righting the situation. He was not a person who would give counsel but not be prepared to involve himself.

Firstly, we learn from these verses that a true friend will always act in our best interest. He will be willing to be personally involved in seeing through the counsel he has given. Such a friend is also willing to put his or her own life at risk to ensure that God’s plan for us will come to fruition. Do we have such a friend? Better still are we such a friend? Secondly, the best counsel we can give to help others will be those that are in line with God’s will and purpose. Thirdly, in all that we do, seek to do it perceptively and wisely. God will be honored when we are such a friend!

1 Kings 1:5-10 – The need to live with integrity

King David’s family history had lots of fascinating and intriguing antics. They can be found in the books of 2 Samuel and Chronicles. David had a total of 19 sons by his many different wives. While he was in Hebron six of them were born. The rest of his 13 sons and some daughters including Tamar were born to him in Jerusalem. Amnon was the eldest, whose mother was Ahinoam. Sadly, Amnon was a lustful man. He eyed his half-sister Tamar and hatched a plot and raped her. Because David did nothing to punish him, her brother Absalom took matters into his own hand and murdered Amnon. Both Absalom and Tamar had the same mother. They were born to David by Maacah, one of his other wives. In the order of birth, Absalom was third in line. He was also the one who attempted to usurp the father’s throne through a revolt. But his revolt was short-lived. And he was killed by Joab, David’s army commander.

Second Samuel 3:3 reveals that David had another son by the name of Chileab. He was born to the king by Abigail, the widow of Nabal whom David took as a wife after her husband’s death. In the Bible, nothing much was mentioned about Chileab, who was also known as Daniel. Adonijah was David’s fourth son by Haggith his fifth wife. He was a very handsome man who was born after Absalom. He is the subject of our discussion today. First Kings 1:6 suggests that David was not a very disciplined father. He had been lenient with this son and had at no time shown his displeasure with whatever he had done. That gave us the hint why Adonijah was so audacious to attempt at seizing the throne. Bear in mind that David did not name a successor and was too weak to rule. With the death of Amnon and Absalom, Adonijah presumed that he would be next in line for the throne. So he declared to himself saying, “I will be king.” 

According to verse 7, Joab the commander of David’s army, and Abiathar the priest, agreed to help him after he had conferred with them. However, verse 8 tells us that Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David's mighty men were not with Adonijah. This indicates to us that these were not supportive of Adonijah to succeed David as king of Israel. So when he held a sacrificial feast, probably to make himself the next king, he invited all his brothers and the royal officials of  Judah to the event. But he left Nathan the prophet, Benaiah and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother out. The reason he left Solomon out as he knew that David had the intention to make the latter his successor. From 1 Kings 1:17, we confirm this fact.

Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne was largely David’s making. He was too chill as a father. Being lenient and indulgent he had unwittingly contributed to Adonijah’s self-conceit. If he had been more assertive this could have been avoided. This is one thing we fathers must be more careful about. We must manage our God-granted role better as heads of our families.  Secondly, we learn that if we are in positions of influence, we must be objective. Joab and Abiathar could have counseled Adonijah more wisely, but they didn’t. By supporting him in his attempt to seize the throne, they were abetting him in his revolt. We must seek to be better mentors and influence people who turn to us for advice and support. Thirdly, Adonijah's decision to leave out some key characters to the sacrificial feast he held at En-rogel leaves us suspicious. The sacrificial feast he held was an attempt to bribe his way to the position. He knew that he would never have the approval of Nathan, Benaiah, David’s mighty men, and Solomon, so he left them out. When the people who should be included in our plans are deliberately left out, then we have an issue with integrity. To leave no room for people to question us, we must exercise integrity in all that we do. So, Adonijah sought a position that was not meant for him.  We must not emulate him by seeking a position deceitfully.  

1 Kings 1:1-4 – Offer the best years of our life to God

The book of 1 Kings opens with David advanced in years and not at the peak of health. The once-great fighter was no longer the person that he was. To keep him warm they put additional clothes on him. His royal servants even suggested that a nurse be sought to keep him warm. And they found a Shunamite beauty, Abishag by name, to nurse him. Her role included lying with him to keep him warm. Verse 4 specifically said that David did not have intimate relations with her. If such a beautiful girl, lying in his bosom could not stir his desire for intimacy, it showed that David’s time was almost up. So the scene was reset to have someone replace him on the throne.    

In terms of health at old age, David was a marked contrast from Moses. In our reflection in the book of Deuteronomy, we learned that Moses at age 120 was still strong and robust and his eyesight was still keen and sharp. But here we are given of a much-weakened David. He could not withstand the cold despite having added clothes, and Abishag had to be sought to nurse and keep him warm.

What could be the reason for the difference? We know that they both had led very different lifestyles. In 2 Samuel, we saw how distracted David was with the tryst he had with Bathsheba. We saw how he needed to connive and scheme to cover up his sin after that. Though God had forgiven him, he still had to suffer the consequences of his sin. Moses on the other hand was more focused on serving God. He was not as distracted as David. In his life, we can only trace one occasion that he disobeyed God, by striking the rock twice at the water of Meribah. 

Whether we like it or not, like David, our bodies will decline with age. This has been men’s experience since the fall of Adam. The fact that our body will decline as we age is a clear call for us to heed the counsel of  Ecclesiastes 12:1. We are to “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them….’”  As we pray, let us borrow some words from a hymn by Thomas Hill.

Lord, in the fullness of my might, I would for Thee be strong;
While runneth o’er each dear delight, to Thee should soar my song.
 
I would not  give the world my heart, and then  profess Thy love;
I would not feel my strength depart, and then Thy service prove.
 
I would not with swift-winged zeal, on the world’s errand run;
And labor up the heavenly him, with weary feet and slow.
 
O, not for Thee my weak desires, my poorer basal part!
O, not for Thee my fading fire, the ashes of my heart!
 
Accept me in my golden years, in my dear joy have part!
For Thee the glory of my prime, the fullness of my heart!

Introduction to the books of Kings

So far in our reflections on the books of the Old Testament, we have already covered the Pentateuch (the first five books written by Moses), Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Isaiah, and all the poetical books. Today we start our journey into the books of 1 & 2 Kings.

The title of these books “Kings” was derived from the first line of 1 Kings 1:1. Both 1 & 2 Kings were originally one book. It was divided into two by the translators of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. The reason for the division is a logical one. The texts of the two books combined would be too long to copy into one. So to facilitate the convenience of copying them into a scroll, the translators of the Septuagint divided the one book into two. So we see in all versions of the English Bible, we have the book divided into 1 & 2 Kings.  The Prophet Jeremiah was speculated to be the author of these books. But no one can say for sure. Since an emphasis in these books had been the ministry of the prophets, it is believed that an unidentified prophet had written these books.

As this is a devotional journey, we will focus on what  God wants to say to us through the text. Suffice to say, the content of 1 & 2 Kings covers events that took place from the closing days of David, through the reign of Solomon and the period when Israel was divided into two kingdoms. In the book of 1 Kings, the author briefly talked about David’s closing days before launching into discussing the reign of Solomon. From chapter 12 of 1 Kings to the end of 2 Kings, the content covers the period when Israel was divided into two kingdoms. The north was called Israel and the south, Judah. From 2 Kings 12 onwards, we will learn of the rise and fall of the different kings both from the north and the south, and the ministry of the prophets, especially the non-writing ones, such as Nathan, Elijah, and Elisha. Second Kings would also cover the period of the surviving kingdom, Judah, and their exile in Babylon.

Knowing the drift of these books will help us to understand the messages of the prophetical writings. Because the ministry of the different prophets was raised to provide godly insight to the different kings to guide them. The genre of the books is in narrative form. Reading them would be like reading the newspaper report of that period. Our devotion in these books will be an enriching journey as we learn from the lives of the different kings on how we must shape our own walk with God. We will learn what to avoid and what we should emulate to live a God-pleasing life. In addition, we hope to discover what we need to do or avoid, to cultivate an effective life and ministry.           

Deuteronomy 34:10-12 – Living to gloriously serve God

Deuteronomy 34:10-12, the last three verses of the book, we see one final tribute paid to Moses. He was the greatest servant of God. Until Christ Jesus came, there had not been another person like him, who had the kind of intimacy with God. He spoke to God “face to face.” The wonderful truth is that today we have the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. He will enable us in building our relationship with God. We must learn to tap on Him for empowerment to build our intimacy with God.

The last three verses also tell us that  Moses was more than a leader, he was the greatest prophet. One whom God authenticated by the great and awesome signs and wonders that he did before Pharaoh and all his servants in Egypt, and before all the people of Israel.  From these verses,  we learn that signs and wonders did accompany prophetic ministry. This had been demonstrated in the prophetic ministry of Elijah and Elisha. God worked wonders through His prophets.

And our Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest prophet of all time. He is not only the greatest prophet, but also the greatest priest, and a king. What a privilege it is for us that He should be so closely linked to each one of us. John Newton has this to say in one of his hymns.

O Jesus, Shepherd, Saviour, Friend,

My Prophet, Priest, and King.

My Lord, my Life, my Ways, my End,

Accept the praise I bring.

 

What would we want God to say of us when our lives on earth are done? How would we like the people we love and serve to remember us? The faithfulness and commitment Moses had for God are worth our emulation. When it has all been said and done, what really matters would be a life that has been well-lived, a life so constantly and vitally connected with God. A life of faithful service spent in God’s eternal Kingdom that glorifies the Lord!

Deuteronomy 34:9 – Wisdom, a needful asset for effectiveness

Joshua, the son of Nun, succeeded Moses as the leader of the children of Israel. He had been Moses’ aide and was mentored by him. He was now entrusted with the task of leading the children of Israel into the promised land. The task he was commissioned to do was a serious one, one that needed much wisdom. Deuteronomy 34:9 said that Moses had laid his hands upon him to impart the spirit of wisdom to him. The truth was that the wisdom that Joshua received came from God, through the laying of Moses’ hands. So being filled with the spirit of wisdom, Joshua was now equal to the task. And everyone accepted Joshua’s leadership, listened to him, and obeyed the LORD as Moses had ordered.

Wisdom is more than just intelligence. It is the ability to appropriately apply the knowledge one has in any given situation at the right time to achieve the best outcome. A person with knowledge but lacks wisdom will not be able to accomplish much. But with wisdom, a person who has the knowledge knows how and when to apply them. And when he does, much will be achieved.

This verse also shows us how we can have wisdom and how that wisdom can impact our God-given assignments. To have wisdom, we need to connect with God and ask Him for it. While it was Moses who laid his hands on Joshua, the spirit of wisdom originated from God. The source of all true wisdom is God. James 1:5 urged us saying, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” We can also learn wisdom by associating with wise and godly men. Joshua had the advantage of the influence of the wise and godly Moses early in life. If we want to be able to live wisely, seek out wise and godly men and allow them to influence us.

When a person has wisdom, he will be successful in his God-assigned work. Joshua was successful in his assignment. Just like the followers of Joshua, when people can see a leader acting with wisdom, they will acknowledge him and listen to him. We need such kind of wise leaders in our church today. We need to ask God to endow them with this much-needed asset. Hence, let us pray to God that all our leaders will be adorned with godly wisdom to enable them to help navigate the church through the challenging times of our day. Let us also ask God for wisdom to live our daily life for Him fruitfully! 

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 34:1-8 – Staying true to God

Everyone, godly or otherwise, great or small, has to face death one day. This is the outcome God said would happen the day that Adam chose to disobey Him. Death is a sad reminder that man had failed God. The consolation for us believers, however, is that God is still on the throne. Yet realistically we must accept that physical death is the inevitable outcome, even for Moses. And the moment for him to die had come. We are told in Deuteronomy 34:7 that he died at 120 years of age. We are also told that even up to that age, he was unusually healthy. His eyesight in a sense was 20/20 and physically he was still strong and robust.

As promised by God he would see the promised land, but he would not enter. So before he died, he went up to Mount Nebo in the plains of Moab. At the top of Pisgah opposite Jericho, God showed him all of Canaan. Deuteronomy 34:2-4 said that Moses saw “Gilead as far as Dan, and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, and the Negev and the plain in the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.” This was the stretch of land that God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give to their descendants.

So Moses died in the land of Moab and was buried in a valley opposite Beth-Peor. The place where God buried him was not made known to anyone. Perhaps the reason God did not want his burial site to be known was that He knew the propensity of man. If they knew where Moses was buried, they would probably turn his tomb into a shrine to venerate him. So the place where he was buried was a secret known only to God. With the death of Moses, the people must have felt a great loss. So Deuteronomy 34:8 tells us that the people mourned and wept for him 30 days in Moab.     

One hundred and twenty years, yet his strength never abated. He was as vigorous as when he was when God called him. Even his eyesight did not dim. What a testimony of the grace of God! It is a fact that none of us will ever be like Moses in the closing years of our life. But all of us can emulate his love for God, his love for God’s people, and his faithfulness in service. We can give ourselves to God in total surrender for the work of expanding His Kingdom till Christ comes again. Let us do so willingly!

Deuteronomy 33 – Safe in the hands of God

There could be no better and fitting way for Moses to conclude his blessing of the different tribes than to talk about their majestic God. So in Deuteronomy 33:26-29, Moses rounded up with telling about the majestic God who had saved them and would be their refuge forever. In four verses Moses so appropriately described the magnitude of God to encourage the children of Israel as they march forward to take the promised land.

Moses first talks about the incomparable magnificent God. There has never been one like Him and there will never be one like Him. Though He possesses both heaven and earth, He majestically rules and rides the heavens. According to verse 27, He will be the eternal dwelling place of His people.  

He would not only sustain them but would also protect them. And they would be safe and secure in the strong embrace of His everlasting arms. He would drive out the enemy of His people, and for His people, He would destroy the enemies. He would enable His people to dwell securely and confidently in the land. Verse 28 promised that they would be wonderfully provided with necessary material on earth and refreshing dew from heaven.   

The last verse described how blessed Israel would be with this majestic God. No other people had been as privileged as the people of Israel. They were saved by the Lord and now would be protected by Him. Every enemy would flinch and cower but not Israel His people. Because with God on their side, they would tread on high places.   

This conclusion is a timely reminder for us. As God’s new covenant people, we will also experience His blessings. He will also be our strength and portion forever. He will both protect and provide for us in our pilgrimage. As we journey with Him be sure to make Him our dwelling place forever. That’s the safest place for us to be. There’s nowhere else! 

Deuteronomy 33:24-25 – Stay in God and be blessed

The blessings of Moses over the tribes end with the tribe of Asher in Deuteronomy 33:24-25. The meaning of Asher is "blessing." Thus these two verses look as if Moses was essentially doing an interpretation of that name. Four areas of blessings were declared over the tribe of Asher. 

Firstly,  in terms of being blessed, they would be highly favored, not only by God but also by the other tribes. Secondly, they would be blessed with rich resources. The “foot deep in oil” suggests that they would be fruitful. It was said that olive trees were found in abundance in the land they were allotted.

The phrase “Your locks will be iron and bronze” is a poetic expression that they would have great security. Hence the third blessing of Asher would be security. And the last line, “…according to your days, so will your leisurely walk be” suggests that they would find strength in proportion to their needs. This would be the fourth area they would be blessed i.e. they would find the strength to meet their needs in life.

In summary, the four areas of blessings on Asher would be favor, prosperity, security, and strength. All these blessings sound like having an abundant life. Didn’t Jesus our Lord promise us in John 10:10 that He has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly? To walk securely and enjoy the abundance of God, we need Jesus in our life. When we make Him the center of our focus, we shall find His favor and strength to meet the demands of the day. When we walk with the Lord, these blessings become a reality in our life. Let us walk with Him and be truly blessed!

 

Deuteronomy 33:23 – Living in divine satisfaction

In Moses’ benediction over the tribe of Naphtali in Deuteronomy 33:23, he pronounced them fully satisfied in the blessing and favor that God had bestowed on them.  They would be so satisfied when they took “possession of the sea and the south.”  What did Moses mean by “the sea and the south?” He was probably referring to the Sea or Lake of Galilee. The portion of the land the tribe of Naphtali was allotted covered the lake in the south and expanding westward and northward toward the border of the tribe of Asher.  

The people of Naphtali would demonstrate satisfaction in two areas. Firstly,  they would delight over the territory they were given. Secondly, they would show delight in the favor that God had shown to them. Why was Naphtali so blessed in their possession? This possession for Naphtali included the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth, the area where the Lord Jesus and His early disciples (except for Judas Iscariot) hailed from. This tribe was blessed because a large portion of the ministry of the Lord Jesus and His disciples was carried out around these regions. The phrase “…full of the blessing of the Lord” suggests that they had no lack. How can they lack anything when they were the recipient of the Lord’s blessing?  

What better blessing could anyone have than to be so closely associated with the Lord and His ministry?  How could one be full of the blessing of the Lord, and yet be lacking in anything? Certainly not! These questions sound like describing the believers of Christ too. In Christ Jesus, we are greatly blessed. In Ephesians 1:3, Paul tells us that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in high places. If we have truly inherited our possession in Christ Jesus, we will have no lack. This is Romans 8:32’s assertion. For “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” In Christ God has given us our inheritance. So be and stay contented! 

Deuteronomy 33:22 – Plan for spiritual growth

In Deuteronomy 33:22 Moses saw the tribe of Dan as a young, agile, and resourceful lion. But in Genesis 49:7 Jacob said of them as “… a serpent in the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward.” In calling them “a lion’s whelp,” Moses was talking about their agility and resourcefulness, much like that of a young lion. And with agility, they could pounce upon their enemies and confound them much like a young lion which would leap upon its prey and stun it.

Jacob’s reference of the tribe of Dan was “a serpent and a viper.” We often don’t have a very good impression of a serpent and viper because a bite from either of them can be lethal. So why did Jacob refer to them as serpent and viper in his blessing of Dan? He was likely referring to their wisdom in strategy. The best part of the horse to attack and topple its rider would be the heel. The wisdom of the serpent and viper was in knowing to attack the right part of the horse to bring down its rider. In that sense the serpent or the viper is wise. They were resourceful in strategy. Jesus was probably referring to the resourcefulness in strategy in Matthew 10:16, when He told his disciples saying, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Both Moses and Jacob were referring to the resourcefulness, swiftness, and agility of the tribe of Dan. So what lessons can we learn from what had been said of the Danites? Here is a call for us believers to be spiritually agile and resourceful. To be resourceful one needs to stay connected to God and let His words dwell richly in one’s heart. So that we will be able to ensure proper spiritual growth. We need to have a disciplined and well-strategized plan to ensure our progress in our walk with Christ. Our growth will not be as progressive if we don’t have a well-strategized plan for it. If we fail to plan, we are planning to fail. So let’s be wise and have a good growth plan for our spiritual life!