We began by seeing King David is old and unable to rule as he once did. He has trouble just keeping warm. During this time and without his knowledge Adonijah decides to crown himself as king. This is not only a bold move but it really signals how weak David had become. Adonijah had successfully pulled Joab and Abiathar into his plans. He also invited all the kings sons and the officials of Judah. He gathers everyone outside of Jerusalem by the serpents stone and makes sacrifices and has a great feast with everyone he had assembled. Meanwhile Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba go to the king with the news. They also ask David if he intends to do as he has promised and make Solomon king. David’s response is to take action and make the crowning of Solomon a priority which happens the same day. It is a crowning which pleases the people and the earth is described as splitting with the noise of the celebration. These things of course should cause us to consider the greater reality which is being foreshadowed. We see Adonijah very much like the first Adam independently making decisions and going against the order God had ordained. He also is doing his crowning by the serpent stone. This is interesting because Adam made his move for independence from God by the influence of the serpent. Adonijah makes his move for the kingdom by the serpent stone. David upon learning of this sends Solomon that same day to be crowned. This should cause us to think of the second coming of Jesus. His coming will be in a moment. He will suddenly take the throne. The mount of olives is prophesied to split in two.

we started to explore this great record of the history of the kingdom of Israel. It starts from the end of David’s reign. We come onto the scene with David as an old frail man. He is unable to keep warm. The servants of David sought a young woman to serve the king and try to keep him warm. Abishag the Shunammite was found and she attended to king David. Because of things which happen later in this book we believe she was given to him as a concubine or second level wife. While all of this was transpiring Adonijah David’s oldest living son or at least the oldest living in the area was making plans to establish himself as the next king. He exalted himself and prepared an entourage of chariots and horsemen and 50 men to run before him. He was a handsome fellow and the passage frames him as a young man who had never been disciplined. He had successfully allied himself with Joab the leader of armed forces of Israel and Abiathar one of the key priests of Israel. While these were key political alliances Adonijah was not connected with the Zadok the high priest, or Benaiah the head of the special forces of Israel’s military or Nathan the prophet or Shimei or Rei who had some significant position with David. David’s mighty men remained loyal to David as well. This appears to be an revolt which is happening in a sly semipublic way. Adonijah sets up the self crowning outside of Jerusalem by the serpent’s stone. He invites all his brothers, the kings sons, and all the royal officials of Judah. The people he did not invite are important to note because if Adonijah’s revolt is successful these notable absentees are probably going to be killed. He did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, or Solomon. What this opening section sets up is how the kingdom of Adonijah is allied with the kingdom of Satan the original serpent who revolted against God’s kingdom. Adonijah is a prideful young man who seeks his own exultation to a counter kingdom and he does it by means of the serpent stone. This is a stark contrast to Jesus who came in humility, became the great cornerstone which crushed the serpent and He was exalted by God to rule the true and everlasting kingdom.

The books of 1st and 2nd Kings were historically tied together in one book called in the Hebrew text, “Kings”. This combined book of Kings was maintained in the Hebrew Bible down until 1518 when Bomberg’s Hebrew Bible was last printed. The division of the book into 1st and 2nd Kings was done by the writers of the Septuagint (the greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) sometime around 400 B.C.. This split of the book was maintained by Jerome when he put together the Latin Vulgate. These two divisions in Kings by the Septuagint and the Vulgate set the pattern which has been followed by all the following translation work. The point is these two books of first and second Kings are really 1 book of Kings and we will treat it as such in our exposition of the text.

In this message Adam Gray and Argyl Dickson explore the topic of giving and the core issues that hamper our giving. We explore the different reasons that people give. We also attempt to lay a groundwork for Biblical reasons to give.

Nephelim, fallen angels, the corruption of man and the preserving of the seed that would come. Lots of different ideas are explored as we try to work out a Jesus centered biblically rooted view. Join us as we explore this passage and seek to know God better.

Here we explore the godly line the God preserves to keep the promise alive that He would send a Son to crush the head of the serpent. You see this whole line points to God preserving a Godly seed. God continues to preserve that seed in us today as He prepares a bride for His Son.

This time we see a picture of God's work preserving for Himself a remnant. There is a stark contrast in this section of scripture. Abel comes to God on God's terms. Cain comes to God on his own terms. Lamech does not even come to God yet feels completely justified in his own eyes. But God does not allow society to drift into complete oblivion. He preserves a remnant. Join us as we explore God's work here together.

Here we explore what I believe with all my heart is one of the most important yet missed issues facing the church and the world today. It is my prayer that God would draw you to Himself and into a more deep and intimate pursuit of Him for having looked into these things in His word. May God be praised by what is here.

Here we explore the amazing display of God's grace in Cain's life. Cain is treated more than fairly by God. In his pride he turns from God and pursues his own way. Cain and Abel are a real study in contrast. They display for us the dramatic difference between true religion and false religion. Join us as we gain clarity on this important issue through the lives of Cain and Abel.

Cain and Abel are contrasted here. We explore the contrast that exist between their hearts. How did they come to God? What did they want? How do their hearts reveal the focus in our own approach to God? Join us and find out. (Due to a technical difficulty the audio is not the best on this one.)