Read 1 Kings 1:1-10 – we have now a frail and aged King. The author paints us this picture.
Again we see that the Kingdom is threatened. Not by external forces but by people from within the household.
• There is no end to this, apparently. Earlier we have Absalom, and now his brother Adonijah, and who knows what comes next.
• Everything looks so uncertain. Once generation goes and another comes. Who is in control? WHO’S GOT THE KINGDOM?
• God. He is still watching over His Kingdom. God will watch over David’s Kingdom in all its uncertain times and difficult moments.
All these hiccups cannot derail God’s plan or His purpose for David’s Kingdom.
• Look at this threat from Adonijah. It is very real.
• We have a very frail King, almost too weak to lead, and an up-and-rising young man in Adonijah, his son.
From the perspective of the world, Adonijah is everything that David is not.
• He has the drive and ambition – “I will be king.” (1:5a)
• He has the charm and style – “He got chariots and horses, with 50 men to run ahead of him.” (1:5b)
• He has the looks and good image – he was very handsome (1:6b)
• And he has the position and support – he was next in line after Absalom, and the support of Joab (military strength) and the priest Abiathar (religious estab). (1:7).
That’s what the world likes – someone who has the drive and ambition, charm and the style, good looks and image, people in high positions and with great support.
• God’s choice for King is completely different. So far we’ve seen that from 1 and 2 Samuels.
• God is looking for godliness and not giftedness, character rather than skills, and for the one who rules over men, righteousness and the fear of God (2 Sam 23 psalm).
Adonijah will not win, because God has not chosen him.
• Although we do not have a direct word from God regarding the successor, but David mentioned it.
• When he wanted to build God a house, God stopped him and said David’s son will do it. David revealed his conversation with God.
• 1 Chron 28:2-7 King David rose to his feet and said: "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. 3 But God said to me, `You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'
4 "Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my family, and from my father's sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 5 Of all my sons-and the LORD has given me many-he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6 He said to me: `Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.'
Bathsheba knows about this. Nathan the prophet knows it, this prophesy comes through Nathan (2 Sam 7).
• Adonijah seems to know about it too, because when he organises a feast for his supporters and would-be supporters, 1:10 “But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.”
Nathan did what he possibly can – instruct Bathsheba to inform the King of this coup-in-progress. Read 1 Kings 1:11-14.
• Next Bathsheba talks to the King – 1:17-21, and Nathan stepped in - 1:22-27.
• Finally we have King David pronouncing Solomon as his successor – read 1:28-31.
Nathan did what was most crucial and important, as a faithful prophet of God.
God speaks to David THROUGH NATHAN many times, and in a few very crucial moments in David’s life, recorded for us.
• (1) 2 Sam 7 - God asked Nathan to tell David He does not want him to build him a house. God would establish his Kingdom forever and that his son would be the one to build God’s house (2 Sam 7:4–17).
• (2) 2 Sam 12 - He rebuked David over his adultery and pronounced God’s punishment.
• (3) 1 Kings 1 - He warned David of Adonijah’s impending coup.
Nathan’s words stirred David out of his complacency. He brings God’s Word and set David back on the right track. Isn’t it great to have a Nathan in your life?
• This is the kind of servant we want to be. We warn and stir others back to what God has said, back onto the right track and do the will of God.
• A large part of this turn-around in 1 Kings 1 hinges on Nathan.
What happens next? We see a rejuvenated David! See the next part – 1:32-37.
God uses Nathan to awaken David from his slumber (the picture we get of 1:1-4).
• Now David is giving detailed orders for the anointing and installing of Solomon.
What do you think motivated him? God’s will. To get God’s will done.
• Solomon will be the next King. God said it and David is the ONLY PERSON who can make this happen.
• If he did nothing and dies, the nation will be in crisis; Bathsheba and Solomon would be captured, and there is no authority to say the Solomon is the King.
Nathan got him to do what God wants David to do. BE A NATHAN.
When I read the Bible, I don’t find many great moments achieved by groups of people. Most game-changers happen through individuals.
• God works through Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Esther, Daniel… We see God finding individual men and women who are willing to obey Him and do His work.
• The Lord tells Ezekiel - Ezek 22:30 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it… (but I found none.)”
We see God’s hand upon the lives of these individuals who trust God, obey Him, and is willing to do what is right – regardless of the difficulties – and then we see the will of God is fulfilled and history is made!
So who’s got the Kingdom? Everything may looks uncertain but God is in control.
• His unseen hand is at work… THROUGH His faithful servants.
• God is still in control, no doubt about it. And He uses those who KNOW Him, UNDERSTAND His will and who are WILLING to make sacrifices and do His will.
Are you one? Are you a Nathan? Do you know God’s will? Do you what God has said?
• Can you reminds people of the Word of God and inspire them to do the will of God.
• Jesus says (Matt 5:13), “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
Would you be willing to obey God, do what you can, where you are, with the influence that God has given you, and do His work and fulfil His will?
