And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, "And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him also the kingdom -- for he is my elder brother -- even for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!" (verse 22)
Message: Adonijah's Treachery
Time: The author of 1&2 Kings (originally 1 book) is not known. First Kings follows the history of this divided kingdom from the death of David around 971 BC through the year 853 BC. First Kings reveals Solomon’s relationship with Yahweh and introduces the prophet Elijah who pronounces judgment on the evil northern king Ahab. Like other books, it helps us to understand the history of Israel and Judah.
What the Lord is Saying: I have seen in this past lessons David giving a charge to Solomon to lead the nation Israel and he has been anointed king. David has provided Solomon all he needs to build the temple and gave a great prayer to God - praising God's name and speaking that all we have is actually from God.
In verse 13 Adonijah, the fourth son of David, who's mother is Haggith. Adonijah was mentioned in I Kings 1:5 when he believed he should be the king. But Bathsheba disagreed and rallied with Nathan to come against this. Now Adonijah shows up again and Bathsheba wonders if he comes peacefully. He remarks that he was supposed to be king but instead Solomon became king because "it was his from the Lord." So he remarks that while the people he said wanted him to be king, Solomon was chosen because he is from the Lord and the decision is God's. Now Adonijah asks Bathsheba to request from Solomon that his wife be Abishag. Abishag was said to be a beautiful young woman and was the caretaker of David in the last moments of his life.
Bathsheba then goes to speak to Solomon about this and Solomon wonders why and says, "Ask for him also the kingdom." This seems to be somewhat or a sarcastic response like he is saying, you might as well be asking him to have the kingdom in his charge as well. Solomon is seeing more from this than a simple request of Adonijah and instead sees it as he is doing something to usurp his throne. From this Solomon sentences Adonijah to death and he dies.
In this outcry Solomon also mentions Abiathar the priest for he also supported Adonijah to be king. But because he carried the ark of the Lord Solomon will spare his life. But he did dismiss him from being priest.
The request to take Abishag was a serious one. She was basically another concubine of David's though it was said he did not fulfill any sexual action toward her. But still, for a son to take his father's concubine was a serious offense. Absalom had done this previously when he wanted to be king to show everyone in the kingdom that him doing this would be making a claim on the throne. Also removing Abiathar, a descendant of Eli, was also fulfilling a prophecy to remove the descendants of Eli from the priesthood (I Samuel 2:27-36).
Solomon recognized the significance of anyone challenging his throne. We need to be a people that respect the leaders of thrones and not do things to remove them from their post or assert an idea that they do not belong there. We are to respect the post and the position. There may be things we disagree about and that is all well and good but we need to respect the position and that he is only to removed by means of the government.
Summary: Adonijah once again comes before Solomon to usurp his authority in hopes of laying claim to the throne. Solomon has him killed but spares the life of Abiathar the priest.
Promise: Those who sin against God will not escape.
Prayer: O God, my father. You are king. Your throne is forever and ever. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Lord, the kingdoms of this earth have been set up by You and we are to respect those kingdom leaders. Help me to do that. Help me to not question leaders but to pray for Your wisdom to be done. Thank you for our country, the United States and setting us up as a kingdom under God. Redirect our leaders to surrender to You always, in everything as they lead us.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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