A DAY IS A LONG TIME
Opening Prayer
Lord, give us righteous political leaders.
Read 1 KINGS 1:28–53
David Makes Solomon King
28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”
31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
32 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37 As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!”
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?”
42 Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.”
43 “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, 45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. 46 Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. 47 Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed 48 and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’”
49 At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”
52 Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Solomon, the very king under consideration, penned down Ecclesiastes 10:16, suggestive of maturity rather than age itself. He may have had Adonijah in mind.
Think Further
It is often said that a week is a long time in politics. Here we see a swift change in the politics of Israel. David now acts decisively. He not only announces Solomon to be king but also ensures that he is anointed and publicly proclaimed as such. Adonijah has exalted himself, but Solomon is made king in God’s name with the prayer that God would make him even greater than his father. His brother has celebrated his anticipated ascension with a victory party, but all the people proclaim Solomon with such a great rejoicing that the earth quakes. Clear decisions and public approbation ultimately settle the issue of kingship. God’s will has been done, as those who know him act rightly.
News of the new king reaches Adonijah with details that show that his gamble for power has failed. The narrator demonstrates that Solomon has God on his side, not merely popular appeal. He adds the thanksgiving prayer of David: rejoicing in the fact that before his death he knows that the kingdom is secure under the leadership of his son. All is well for the future of Israel and David’s own family.
Adonijah is now in a precarious situation. The failed coup sends his political pals running for cover, so he must now cling to the altar of God for sanctuary. At least he finally recognizes that his security lies in God. Here for the first time we see the wisdom of Solomon that will feature prominently in the ensuing chapters. Vengeance is not taken, but Adonijah is put on probation. He safely returns home to prove whether he is worthy of being allowed to live. Politics can be a messy business and back then a deadly one, but here we see a ruler who knows that ultimate power resides in the hands of God as he acts with mercy and prudence towards his political opponents.
Apply
Pray for right leadership in your country.
Closing prayer
Lord, thank You for political leadership which puts the good of the nation before political advantage.
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