304. SOLOMON SUCCEEDS DAVID
"Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him"
The time drew nigh when David should die. Certain important matters had to be attended to beforehand; the kingdom had to be secured in the hands of Solomon and the plans for the Temple, which had been revealed to David by the Spirit, had to be made known. It seems that David's last thoughts were preoccupied with the House of Yahweh which he had been forbidden to build. He had nevertheless gathered together a vast store of wealth to ensure that it would be "exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands" (1 Chron. 22:5 R.S. V.).
The aim of this lesson is to see how Solomon began his reign with a wise sense of justice as well as mercy, just as Jesus Christ will begin his reign.
1 Kings 1-3; 1 Chronicles 28 & 29
THE REVOLT OF ADONIJAH (1 Kings 1:1-31).
It was obvious to all that David's life was coming to an end: "he was advanced in years and could not get warm". It was known that Solomon was the crown prince, but the position had not been made sufficiently clear. With David physically impaired, the political opportunist, his son Adonijah, seized the occasion to revolt. He prepared chariots and horsemen and 50 men to be his personal vanguard. He conferred with important figures in the kingdom whom he felt he could trust, such as Joab the captain of the host and Abiathar the priest, and invited them to a feast. There were some significant omissions, however, among them being Nathan the prophet, Benaiah and his mighty men, and Solomon. Sheep and oxen were slain and Adonijah's inaugural feast got underway.
But Nathan the prophet learned of Adonijah's plans and was quick to perceive the implications. Not only was God's promise to Solomon being violated, but those who were not invited would be counted as offenders if Adonijah was made king. He acquainted Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, with the news and proposed a plan to arouse the ailing king to publicly anoint Solomon. He suggested that Bathsheba go into King David and seek confirmation that her son Solomon had been promised the throne. Then she was to ask a second question, "Why then does Adonijah reign?" While she was speaking Nathan would himself come in and support her words. So Bathsheba did as planned and expressed her fears for herself and Solomon after David's death. Then Nathan made his dramatic timely entrance. He set out the urgency of the situation and even implied that if Adonijah had David's consent then he and Zadok and Benaiah had been slighted and uninformed (vv.22-27). David was deeply concerned. First of all he called Bathsheba back and repeated his earlier oath to her that Solomon would reign after him. He then told her that he would anoint him that day king over Israel.
SOLOMON ANOINTED KING (1 Kings 1:32-40).
David acted on his word immediately. He called Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah together and told them what to do. "Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come up and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah" (vv.33-35). David's will was duly executed and there was great jubilation in Jerusalem. Solomon clearly met with the people's approval for they all came and "rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them" (v.40).
ADONIJAH'S FESTIVITY BECOMES FEAR (1 Kings 1:41-53).
The cries of joy echoed down the Kidron Valley and arrested the attention of Adonijah's guests. Joab was alerted by the trumpet's peals and enquired why the city was in an uproar. At that moment, in came Jonathan, Abiathar's son, with the explanation. Adonijah may have thought that the city had heard about his moves and were celebrating him, for he welcomed Jonathan, "Come in, for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings". But, alas, his exuberance was changed into consternation. Jonathan gave a full report, "Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king . . ." (vv.43-48). Adonijah and his guests were gripped with fear. Their presence there amounted to treachery and rebellion against David and Yahweh. They wasted no time in abandoning Adonijah and "went every man to his way". Adonijah trembled and he realised his life was in jeopardy. He went to the Tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar in hope of obtaining mercy. He sought an oath from Solomon that he would not be slain. In wisdom, Solomon granted him reprieve provided wickedness be not found with him in the future.
SOLOMON FORMALLY MADE KING (1 Chronicles 28-29).
The first anointing of Solomon had been done in haste to meet the needs that had arisen. Later all Israel was gathered and David formally inducted Solomon as king and gave him a charge. The details of this gathering are contained in 1 Chron. 28 and 29. We read that "David the king stood upon his feet" to address his people. He was old and ailing and he summoned all his strength. From the faithful and courageous words he spoke, we can see how much he desired to leave a God-fearing heritage. He rehearsed Yahweh's choice of himself as king and then recounted how he had specifically nominated Solomon of all his sons to succeed him and "sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel". Adonijah may have been in the audience. The will of God and David was clear now for all time. He encouraged Solomon to serve Yahweh with a "perfect heart" and "willing mind", but made it abundantly clear that cursing would replace blessing if he should forsake Yahweh. In retrospect such words are tragic and prophetic. David entrusted Solomon with the sacred duty of building the house of God. He gave to him the plans which had been made known to him by the Spirit. They had been given him directly (28:12). They had not come via Nathan or Abiathar. In this the mercy of God is seen, for although David had not been allowed to build the house as he had greatly desired, he was the recipient of the plans. David realised how great an undertaking the temple was and he entreated the princes to give generously. He set before them his own example, "I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God", he said. He had not only devoted the spoils of conquest and public revenues but had made personal sacrifices (29:3). He had set his delight upon that house; would they, the princes?
The people were inspired by David's ready spirit and responded to his appeal. The effect is worthy of our notice and meditation: "the people rejoiced, for they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy" (v.9). This in turn led to a prayer of thanksgiving which was made by David and which in part is the basis of the Lord's prayer (cf. vv.10, 11). His heart overflowed with thanks to Yahweh and he acknowledged that He was the source of ALL riches and that man is a mere sojourner on the earth. David then conducted the worship of Yahweh. The people blessed him and sacrificed and rejoiced as Solomon was anointed the "second time" as king "on the throne of the Lord instead of David his father" (vv.20-23).
PARTING ADVICE FOR SOLOMON (1 Kings 2:1-9).
When David realised that his death was nigh he gave Solomon some sound parting advice. He charged him to keep the commandments of God. By so doing he would prosper in his ways and the words of the promise, guaranteeing an unbroken line of Davidic kings until the coming of Messiah, would be fulfilled (vv.1-4).
Then David advised Solomon how to deal with certain ones in his kingdom who were potential rebels and dangerous. Because of his sin, his age, and circumstances, David could not punish these evil doers. He directed Solomon to cut off Joab for his flagrant breach of the king's commands, when in cold-blood he slaughtered two "captains of the hosts", Abner and Amasa (vv.5-6; 2 Sam. 3:27-39; 20:10). Shimei was to be treated likewise for the grievous curse spoken against David when he retreated before Absalom (vv.8-9; 2 Sam. 16:6-14). On the other hand Barzillai's sons were to be treated with kindness, for he had succoured David in a time of need (v.7).
SOLOMON'S JUDGMENT AGAINST EVIL-DOERS (1 Kings 2:10-46).
David died after 40 years as king and a lifetime filled with activity and drama, joy and sorrow. Solomon immediately set about securing his throne and power. "Then Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly" (v.12). Evil-doers were moved from office or executed: €
1. Adonijah (vv. 13-25). He had been granted pardon after his attempted revolt on condition that he "show himself a worthy man". But through Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, he requested Abishag to be his wife. Adonijah made the request on the grounds of grievance. He said to Bathsheba, "Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine . . . howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's." Now Abishag had been given to David, the king, in his old age. This request on the basis of grievance was presumption and was tantamount to rebellion. Solomon saw the issue and executed judgment speedily.
2. Abiathar (vv.26-27). He was relieved of his office as priest and banished to Anathoth because he had supported Adonijah, and betrayed the Word of Yahweh which had plainly indicated God's choice of Solomon. Thus the last vestiges of judgment were poured
out on the house of Eli (v.27; 1 Sam. 2:31-35). Zadok, the faithful priest, was appointed in his stead to walk before Yahweh's anointed
(v.35).
3. Joab (vv.28-34). He heard of Solomon's purge and knew that he would be next for he too had followed Adonijah. Like Adonijah earlier, he fled to the Tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar in the hope that he would obtain mercy. He was executed by the sword of Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. Benaiah was appointed over the host in Joab's stead.
4. Shimei (vv.36-46). He was permitted to live without interference upon the condition of abiding in Jerusalem and not going beyond the brook Kidron. For three years the terms were upheld, but then two of his servants fled to Gath and Shimei set out to recover them.
Word reached Solomon of the breach of the conditions which were sworn as an oath before Yahweh. Therefore he was put to death. In these ways Solomon's firmness and justice were seen. There would be no toleration of rebels and so his kingdom would be undisturbed by usurpers (see v.46). We might heed two lessons at this time:
1. The delay in punishment seen in the world today is an encouragement to evil-doers to work abomination. Solomon knew this and
later said, "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to
do evil" (Eccl. 8:11).
2. When the Lord comes he, like Solomon, will root out the workers of iniquity, execute speedy and righteous judgment, and so bring peace to the world (cf. Mai. 4:1-3; Isa. 11:4-5; 32:1-6).
YAHWEH APPEARS TO SOLOMON AT GIBEON (1 Kings 3:2-15).
Solomon made an excellent start: he "loved the Lord walking in the statutes of David his father" (v.3). While in Gibeon sacrificing, Yahweh appeared to him and said, "Ask what I shall give thee." Solomon reviewed how his family had become bound up in the divine plan of the ages; Yahweh had kept His word to David and set his son upon his throne; he was young and inexperienced; and his subjects were God's and very numerous. In view of these things he humbly replied:
"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may be able to discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great people" (v.9).
This request is a model answer to such an offer. All young people who would be prospective kings and priests in the Age to Come do well to make the same request. Such wisdom is freely available from the Bible and especially in the full revelation of the Father when He spoke in His Son and the holy apostles.
Yahweh was delighted with Solomon's answer and not only did He grant him the greatest wisdom of any man, but added the things which he might have requested, namely, riches and honour, and long life if he walked in the commandments.
SOLOMON'S WISDOM: THE TWO HARLOTS (1 Kings 3:16-28).
The great wisdom of Solomon is illustrated by the judgment passed when two harlots came to him. They lived alone in the same house and each had given birth to a son three days apart. During the night one died because it was laid on by its mother. Realising what had happened she exchanged babies, but the next day the other mother perceived what had happened for the dead child was not hers at all. The case was brought before Solomon. It was difficult to judge for there were no witnesses; it was an emotional issue, and both pleaded innocence. What was to be done?
Solomon called for a sword and proposed that the living child be divided and that both should have half. The demand produced an immediate reaction. The true mother's bowels yearned for her child and she was prepared to surrender the child that at least it might live. The other callously accepted the decision to divide it.
Judgment was now clear and the true mother abundantly apparent. King Solomon clearly reigned with justice and judgment. His reputation spread abroad. "All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had judged: and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment" (v.28).
LESSONS FOR US:
€ Presumption and love of power involving trespass does not pay. Fear, shame and death followed Adonijah.
€ David's love of Yahweh and His House dominated his closing thoughts. His generosity inspired his companions. All we have belongs to the Father and should be used in His service. He loves a cheerful giver. We invest wisely when we spend time and money in the Truth.
€ Firm judgment brought respect. The Kingdom will see workers of iniquity destroyed. We must deal firmly with ourselves, subjecting and cutting off the evil of pride and lust now if we would reign then (2 Cor. 10:4-5).
€ Solomon had great wisdom and power to discern. Christ has even more and we should remember this at all times.
€ Solomon's request for an "understanding heart" is a guide to all young Christadelphians in their prayers.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Story of the Bible" (H.P. Mansfield) € Vol. 4, No. 7
"The Man David" (H. Tennant) € Pg. 207-215
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
1) How did Adonijah seek to succeed his father David as king?
2) What did Solomon do to Joab and why?
3) For what did Solomon make request when God said to him, "Ask what I shall give thee"?
4) What could he have asked for, but did not?
5) Briefy state two events which showed that Solomon reigned with justice and righteousness.
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1) Relate what David did to establish Solomon on his throne.
2) Write a character study of the man Adonijah.
3) How did Solomon firmly establish his throne when he succeeded his father?
4) Write an essay on the wisdom of Solomon,