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!