David was old, feeble, and near death. In today’s YouTube video, Bruce Kirby applied his medical knowledge and remarked that when we are unable to stay warm, it is a sign our body is shutting down.
The cure for David was to bring a young woman to keep him warm. Her name was Abishag. They didn’t have sexual relations, but she was probably considered one of his concubines just the same.
Meanwhile
If the events of David’s life were a movie, the scene would shift to the scheme of Adonijah to become the king. Adonijah was younger than Absalom, but older than David’s other sons.
There is a note about David’s permissiveness tucked in the account. His father had never at any time reprimanded him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” (1 Kings 1:6).
David’s son, Solomon, who was destined to be king, reflected on the need for discipline.
They die for lack of discipline,
and because of their great folly they are lost. (Proverbs 5:23)
All of David’s family would have been helped if he and they exercised discipline.
Adonijah gathered key leaders and attempted to seize power, but he didn’t secure the loyalty of all of David’s servants.
But the priest Zadok, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the prophet Nathan, and Shammah and his companions, David’s own warriors, did not side with Adonijah (1 Kings 1:8).
Another Scene
While Adonijah and his followers were attempting to seize power, Nathan and Bathsheba had other plans.
Nathan was a wise and honest prophet, who had served David faithfully for years. He encouraged Bathsheba to immediately go to David and ask him to fulfill his promise to make Solomon king.
After Nathan and Bathsheba spoke with David, he took action..
King David said, “Summon to me the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 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.
There let the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
You shall go up following him. Let him enter and sit on my throne; he shall be king in my place, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah” (1 Kings 1:32-35).
Compared to the coronation of a king in modern times, Solomon’s was quite different.
- He rode the king’s mule.
- He was anointed with oil.
- He sat on the king’s throne.
Even though Solomon lacked some of the lavish honors of modern kings, he was king just the same.
He was king, so much, that Adonijah, fearing Solomon, got up and went to grasp the horns of the altar.
Solomon was informed, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; see, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword'” (1 Kings 1:50-51).
Times Haven’t Changed
If you change the names, places, and dates, the story of coups and attempted coups have taken place for centuries. The human lust for power seems to be insatiable.
What is Putin going to do with Ukraine that is worth the death or serious injury of one million Russians? Suppose Russia were to conquer Ukraine, how long will it take to rebuild a country that has suffered four years of war.
Let’s ask of our American administration. What are we going to do with Greenland that is worth the political capital that will be expended with European allies? How long will it take to rebuild trust with western allies, after we act with aggression similar to that of Putin?
Whether you agree with the above questions I have posed, you certainly agree that as Christians, we should pray for what is taking place in the world.
I have plenty of opinions, but I would be in the wrong to bring them to God. I can pray the Lord’s Prayer for the world. I think it covers God’s agenda perfectly. In that way, you and I can join God with what He is doing in the world.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 