1 Kings 2:36-46 ESV

36 Then the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever. 37 For on the day you go out and cross the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall die. Your blood shall be on your own head.” 38 And Shimei said to the king, “What you say is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.

39 But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei's servants ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And when it was told Shimei, “Behold, your servants are in Gath,” 40 Shimei arose and saddled a donkey and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath. 41 And when Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned, 42 the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and solemnly warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any place whatever, you shall die’? And you said to me, ‘What you say is good; I will obey.’ 43 Why then have you not kept your oath to the Lord and the commandment with which I commanded you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the Lord will bring back your harm on your own head. 45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.” 46 Then the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and he died.

PALABRA DE HONOR

King Solomon had followed the words of his father David concerning Shimei, a relative of Saul who onced cursed him. As an act of grace, David allowed him to build his house in Jerusalem. But, he had warned him sternly to stay foot always in Jerusalem. Otherwise, he will take his life if found guilty. Simei, in return, had commended the king’s word and promised to keep it. One mistake will be enough. There will be no second chances.

But, after three years when Shimei’s two servants fled to king Achish at Gath, he pursued them there to seek them. He broke his vow. He violated the king’s word willfully. What were he thinking? that it was outdated? that the king had changed? that his case was an exception to the rule?

The king’s edict is authoritative, final and irrevocable. His law must be respected at all times. How many times we play down the character of God as just and righteous. Thus, we say glibly, “God is love so He won’t inflict pain unto me because of my sin.” Yes, God is love. But, he isn’t equivocal too. He is holy and righteous. He has pure eyes to see evil. [Hab 1:3]

Shimei had taken lightly the words of the king. But, King Solomon did not. Thus, he commanded his general Benaiah to execute Shemei as proven guilty. Like Solomon, had not Jesus warned us to take seriously his words? He said, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”[John 12:48] It is impossible for God to lie. [Heb 6:18]. Let us therefore respect His words. God is true to His words.[Matt 24:35]

Let’s take note that Solomon had concluded in the book of Ecclesiastes, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”[Ecc 12:31]. What God says really matters at the end.

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1 Kings 2:28-35  ESV

28 When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah although he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and caught hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And when it was told King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold, he is beside the altar,” Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” 30 So Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord and said to him, “The king commands, ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” 31 The king replied to him, “Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause. 32 The Lord will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33 So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But for David and for his descendants and for his house and for his throne there shall be peace from the Lord forevermore.” 34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

VAIN RELIGIOSITY.

Joab in desperation had ran out of options to save his life but to went inside the sanctuary and lay hold upon the horns of the altar, a place of refuge. Suddenly, this rascal and murderer had appeared religious. Was he expecting that the same freedom granted to Adonijah be given to him also?

As he was summoned by the king to come out, he said, “No I will die here.” He got what he wanted. Our King of kings has summoned us to come out from our religious obstinacy humbly. But sadly, many do stick their heads and say, “I will die in my religion that I was born.” No religion can save us from our sins. Only the blood of Christ can atone us from our sins. [see 1 John 1:7]

Joab’s holding upon the altar did not help. Spurgeon had said, “Your hands, which are superstitiously laid upon the altar’s horns, might as well be placed upon your weapons of rebellion. Outward emblems can do you no good whatever if you remain unspiritual. Without faith in Christ, even the ordinances of God become things to condemn you”

Similarly, any form of religiosity won’t help anybody before God. Our righteousness, though how good it appears outside, is as filthy rags before God. [see Isa 64:6] Like Paul, let us be “be found in him, not having a righteousness of our own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”[Phil 3:9]

Unlike Joab, let’s be poor in spirit, mourn and meek to recognize our utter unworthiness. This is the only way we can receive the rich mercy of God’s forgiveness and salvation.

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1 Kings 2:13-18,22-25 ESV

13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, “Do you come peacefully?” He said, “Peacefully.” 14 Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” 15 He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord. 16 And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said to him, “Speak.” 17 And he said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” 18 Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak for you to the king.”

22 King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! 24 Now therefore as the Lord lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.” 25 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.

AN IMPENITENT HEART.

Despite the insurrection that Adonijah did, Solomon had granted him clemency. “And Solomon said, “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.”[1 Kings 1:52] He came and paid homage to King Solomon but there was no evidence that he was repentant.

Adonijah did not keep silent. He approached Bathsheba to talk and persuade Solomon that Abishag, the Shunnamite woman, be given to her as his wife. Why didn’t he approach Solomon himself? His scheming had infuriated Solomon. He said to his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.” This silly move had cost Adonijah’s life.

He abused the favor that Solomon had shown upon him. Clearly, he did not change. His subtlety showed it. Similarly, the same predicament we could observe nowadays. “God makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” [Matt 5:45] And this outpouring of God’s goodness is perceived by many as an entitlement, is it not? “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” [Rom 1:21].

God’s goodness is as the sun that either soften the wax or harden the clay. As Paul articulated, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.”[Rom 2:4,5]

Hence, it’s only a penitent heart that could say humbly in his heart in worship each day,

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness”[Lam 3:22-23]

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1 Kings 2:5-12 ESV

5 “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”

10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.

PAYBACK

At his deathbed, David had recollected the deeds of Joab, Barzillai and Shemei towards him. His silence in the past did not mean that he had forgotten what they did. He instructed Solomon to let Joab pay for his cold blooded murder of Abner and Amasa, respectively. And to Shimei, who once cursed David, Solomon should not put him to death with the sword but in a house arrest in Jerusalem until his death. On the other hand, he must he must show favor to the sons of Barzillai, the Gileadite who helped him while he fled from Absalom. In the same manner, God’s justice may run slowly but surely. Sooner or later, let’s be warned as Num 32:23 says, “be sure your sin will find you out.”

David’s requests were not vindictive in nature, were they? They were just and righteous. They should reap commensurate to what they had sown. As Paul had expressed, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”[Gal 6:7,8]

Similarly, each of us will give account to our king someday. There is no escape. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”[2 Cor 5:10]

Unlike Joab and Shimei, let’s serve the King of kings loyally like Barzillai. Why? “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”[Heb 6:10]

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1 Kings 2:1-4 ESV

When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep 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, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

SHOW YOURSELF A MAN

These "last words" of King David were especially significant. He charged Solomon, “Be strong, and show yourself a man.” Unlike David, Solomon grew up in the palace. David had fought ferocious animals as a shepherd, even killed a giant as a young lad. But, Solomon did not.

What does it take for Solomon to become the man of God? He must be a man of courage.. And, this is qualified by tests and trials. A typhoon does not make a building strong, does it? It is proven strong if it stands after the storm. Thus “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” [Prov 24:10] As James articulated, “ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” [Jas 1:2-4]

What should he be courageous about? Solomon has to ‘keep the charge of the Lord his 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's reference to "The Law of Moses," is in the very terminology of Deuteronomy 18:17-20. The conviction to uphold the truth at all cost is a demonstration of manliness in God.

Lastly, there was a corresponding promise. Should David’s sons ‘walk before God in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, David shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ To preserve His kingship, Solomon has to uphold the truth in his heart faithfully.

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1 Kings 1:49-53 ESV

49 Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way. 50 And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then it was told Solomon, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52 And Solomon said, “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.” 53 So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

FEAR BRINGS TORMENT.

When Adonijah knew that Solomon was anointed king, he trembled in fear. Was not his fear re-enforced upon knowing that ‘all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way.’[v.49] The loyalty of his people was proven lacking in times of the crucible. Alone and deserted, he ‘laid hold of the horns of the altar’ for safety.

“The horns of the altar in Jerusalem had provided a refuge for fugitives. Those who caught hold of the horns of the altar were granted asylum (1 Kings 1:50-53). This use of the horns sheds additional light on God’s statement in Amos 3:14.” [https://www.gotquestions.org/horns-of-the-altar.html]

A similar reaction King Saul did earlier. “When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.”[1 Sam 13:6] In panic , Saul offered the burnt sacrifice forbidden for him to do.

Fear is felt when we’re vulnerable and threatened by a coming danger we can’t handle, specially death. While Adonijah took refuge at the horn of the altar, we doubt whether he was sincerely repentant and broken. Many people are fearful to the consequence of their sins more than their respect[reverential fear] to the Living and Righteous God.

God should be feared. However, He forgives and loves the truly repentant sinner. [2 Cor 7:10] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [Rom 8:1] Hence, to every true believer, ‘there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.’ [1 John 4:18]

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1 Kings 1:32-37 ESV

32 King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. 33 And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.” 36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so. 37 As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”

SOLOMON, THE NEW KING.

Adonijah’s manipulation did not materialize. In the nick of time, King David proclaimed Solomon as the the next king. He was the son of David and Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah the Hittite whom David had killed to hide his adultery with Bathsheba while her husband was on the battle front. He was the one chosen by God.

Out of David’s sin of adultery with Bathsebah and murder of her husband Uriah, Solomon was born. With this backdrop, it’s incredible that he became the third king of Israel. A display of the grace of God obviously. Who would think that he would be chosen as the king among the sons of David?

Thus, we should not look at our stupidity and sinfulness today as carving our fate on a rock. Like David, we could confess and repent so that God will forgive and give us a new lease of life. [see Psa 32 and 51] The past is gone and a new future is dawning. As C. S Lewis said, “You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Grace is ‘God’s Renewal At Christ’s Expense.” There is a new life in Christ. As Paul said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” [2 Cor 5:17]

Just like David and Bathsebah’s lives with Solomon, our lives could have a new turn. God is all the reason behind all of our blessings in life. We are nobodies because of our sins. We lost it all but in Christ, we gain it all.

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1 Kings 1:5-10 ESV

5 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. 7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David's mighty men were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent's Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother.

THE DESIRE FOR POWER.

“I will be king” was the mantra of Adonijah. He was the fourth son of King David with Haggith, one of David’s wives. And, he was handsome and flamboyant.[v.5,6] On top of all, he was spoiled. His misbehavior was that King David had neglected his discipline: “His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” (v.6). His desire was unabated believing he can get what he always wanted. When David was old, he gathered an army and proclaimed himself as the new king , regardless for the fact that David had chosen Solomon as his successor. Some influential men supported Adonijah’s move, including Joab, the captain of the army; and Abiathar the priest. But others opposed his plans, including Nathan the prophet, Zadok the priest, and David’s wife Bathsheba. As a result, they were not invited by Adonijah, when he threw a big party for all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah.

Adonijah did not succeed. Jesus says, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”[Luke 14:11] The taste of power could be so pleasant, if not addictive. Is this the reason why many politicians stay in power? It’s as the wolf licking blood being coated at a hunter’s knife. After awhile, the wolf is oblivious to the fact that he is licking his own blood to his death. Thus the saying, absolute power corrupts absolutely. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”[Prov 16:18]

In contrast, Jesus is king who humbled himself. As a result, He is exalted. Paul wrote, “who, though he[Jesus] was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”[Phil 2:6-11]

Thus today, may we be careful not to have the haughtiness like Adonijah but the humility like Christ.

“Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

He had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

He had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

He had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

So, Who is He? He is the Jesus of Nazareth! - anonymous

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1 Kings 1:1-4 ESV

Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. 2 Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm.” 3 So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not.

ENCOURAGE THE WEAK.

Age and weariness had caught up David [ age 70+ perhaps] so that ‘he could not get warm’ by himself. His condition of hypothermia is common to old people. The once tough shepherd- warrior who had endured many cold Judean nights in the open now is seen trembling in cold inside his beautiful palace.

Even with extra blankets couldn’t keep the elderly king warm and alleviate his condition. Thus, his servants had hired Abishag, a beautiful Shunammite young woman, to serve the king by lying with the king to make him warm.

“It was proper because it was a recognized medical treatment in the ancient world, mentioned by the ancient Greek doctor Galen. When Josephus described this in his Antiquities of the Jews, he said that this was a medical treatment and he called the servants of 1 Kings 1:2 “physicians.” [ by David Guzik]

“Abishag was neither a wife nor a concubine, but her position in the king’s household gave her such high prestige that David’s son Adonijah asked to marry her after the king’s death, but Solomon recognized this as an attempt by Adonijah to make himself king, and he had his brother executed (1 Kings 2:21–25).”[by gotquestions.org]

Hence, it was more of helping the worsening physical condition to an aging David. There was no sexual relationship whatsoever.[see v.4] Unlike before, our old folks today may avail to thermal blankets to keep them warm. But, what about their spiritual wamth? How could we support them to be spiritually warm?

Paul wrote, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” [1 Thess 5:11]

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