Then
Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” (v.5)
The
opening chapter of 1 Kings presents us with a kingdom in transitional crisis.
King David was old and feeble, yet as he neared death he was remarkably
unconcerned about the future of his kingdom. Seizing the moment, David's son
Adonijah took matters into his own hands and declared himself the new king.
While the
kingdom teetered on the edge of disaster, Nathan informed Bathsheba of the
situation and devised a plan to rouse David from his indifference. Informing
David of the breaking news and reminding him of his promise to Solomon, Nathan
and Bathsheba called David to action. The weak and silent David depicted in the
first half of the chapter now issued multiple commands (vv. 28-37). As a
result, Solomon was anointed king. The city rejoiced, and Adonijah and his
cohort submitted to Solomon's reign and disaster was averted.
From one
perspective, the fate of the kingdom hinged on Nathan and God seemed out of
sight. But as we often find in Scripture, when God is not out in the open, He
is often working behind the scenes. God had promised that He would establish
David's kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). In 1 Kings 1, Nathan acted, but the
broader context of Scripture tells us that God was at work fulfilling His
promises.
We need
to remember that God rules over the kingdoms of earth. He raises up leaders and
brings them down, whether in politics or in the church. Sometimes it's
necessary to replace an ineffective leader, but we must pursue that option only
after careful thought and earnest prayer for God's direction. We should never
become part of a move that serves the ambition of some power-hungry person
instead of honoring the Lord who rules over all. –D C Egner
The Truth
“The Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and
appoints
over it whomever He chooses.” (Daniel 5:21)
