In this chapter, David’s son, Adonijah, tried to make himself king, but Nathan the prophet had other plans to spoil this attempt. The chapter begins, “Now king David was very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm. So his advisers told him, “We will find a young virgin who will wait on you and be your nurse. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm.” (1 Kings:1-2) The king's men found a beautiful girl to fulfill the role, but the king had no sexual relations with her. (He must have been really sick. LOL!)
“About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, decided to make himself king in place of his aged father. So he provided himself with chariots and horses and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. (That’s bold! He just made himself king.) Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “What are you doing?” (Ok, now it all makes sense...he was used to doing what he wanted to do.) Adonijah was a very handsome man and had been born next after Absalom. (Remember, Absalom had been killed in battle, so Adonijah was the next born.) Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. But among those who remained loyal to David and refused to support Adonijah were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimie, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard.” (1 Kings:5-8)
While Adonijah was throwing himself a party, Nathan the prophet was meeting with Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and asked her, “Did you realize that Haggith’s son, Adonijah, has made himself king and that our lord David doesn’t even know about it? If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my counsel. Go at once to King David and say to him, ‘My lord, didn’t you promise me that my son Solomon would be the next king and would sit upon your throne? Then why has Adonijah become king?’ And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said.” (1 Kings:11-14)
Bathsheba did as Nathan said, and Nathan later entered the room and confirmed everything to David. Nathan then said, “Has my lord really done this without letting any of his servants know who should be the next king?”
“Call Bathsheba,” David said. So she came back in and stood before the king. And the king vowed, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has rescued me from every danger, today I decree that your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne, just as I swore to you before the Lord, the God of Israel.” Then Bathsheba bowed low before him again and exclaimed, “May my lord King David live forever!”
Then King David ordered, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came into the king’s presence, the king said to them, ‘Take Solomon and my officers down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my personal mule. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpets and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ When you bring him back here, he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” (1 Kings:27-35)
All of those things happened, and a celebration broke out so joyously that the earth shook. “Adonijah and his guests heard the celebrating and shouting just as they were finishing their banquet. When Joab heard the sound of trumpets, he asked, “What’s going on? Why is the city in such an uproar?” (1 Kings:41)
Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest came in and said, “Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king! The king sent him down to Gihon Spring with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, protected by the king’s bodyguard. They had him ride on the king’s own mule, and Zadok and Nathan have anointed him as the new king. They have just returned, and the whole city is celebrating and rejoicing. That’s what all the noise is about. Moreover, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne as king. All the royal officials went to King David and congratulated him, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s fame even greater than your own, and may Solomon’s kingdom be even greater than yours!’ Then the king bowed his head in worship as he lay in his bed, and he spoke these words: ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has chosen someone to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it’”
Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly went their separate ways. Adonijah himself was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and caught hold of the horns of the altar. Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar and that he was pleading, “Let Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!”
Solomon replied, “If he proves himself to be loyal, he will not be harmed. But if he does not, he will die.” (1 Kings:43-57)
The chapter ends with the people bringing Adonijah to Solomon, and Solomon dismissing him and telling him to go home. Solomon is starting his reign full of grace.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us, in all of our interactions, perform, interact, and communicate with grace. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
コメント