Kingship

Servants of the King (1:11-27)

In response to Adonijah’s power play, the first of many prophets in Kings appears: Nathan. He isn’t on the Adonijah bandwagon. In the following verses Nathan speaks to Bathsheba (vv. 11-14), Bathsheba speaks to David (vv. 15-21), and then Nathan speaks to David (vv. 22-27).

Nathan is very important in this story. He stirs David to action. He stands in the gap. His first appeal is to Bathsheba. He has spoken to David face-to-face, but now he takes an indirect approach. Some argue that he has bad motives here, and we certainly want to read Kings without rose-colored glasses, but it seems to me that he wants what’s best for the kingdom.

Bathsheba honors the king (v. 16) and reports the situation. We are reminded of what brought her to the court in the first place. David may have been Israel’s greatest king, but he was not perfect. Yet God used him despite his failures, just as he continues to use individuals today.

Bathsheba is concerned for the kingdom, and she understands that if David doesn’t appoint Solomon, then she and her son will be rivals to the throne. According to Chronicles, God promised that Solomon would sit on the throne (1 Chr 22:9-10; cf. 2 Sam 7:12-13). David himself had appointed him (1 Chr 23:1; 29:22) and charged him to build the temple (1 Chr 22:6). Thus Adonijah is attempting to overthrow Solomon, not fill a power vacuum (Leithart, 1 and Kings, 31).

Since Bathsheba is concerned for the kingdom, she ends by saying, “The eyes of all of Israel are on you” (v. 20). They were looking for an answer. It’s David’s responsibility to appoint a king.

While she speaks to David, Nathan directly addresses the king respectfully (vv. 22-27). Previously, Nathan had told David a parable to get a response, but now he asks a question.

Small acts have big consequences. Don’t ever underestimate one thing that you do for the kingdom of God. It might be simple conversations with a student or coworker about the gospel, spending time with a person going through a trial, inviting someone to a worship service or small group, caring for a single mom, opening up your home for others, forgiving a brother or sister, or supporting missionaries. Nothing is insignificant when it’s done for the glory of King Jesus. Whatever influence you have, you should use it for the advancement of the kingdom.

A Sovereignly Appointed King (1:28-53)

Following this conversation with Bathsheba and Nathan, David responds by making Solomon king (vv. 28-37). Though Adonijah may have looked more like a king than Solomon, Solomon comes to the throne by promise. He comes to the throne the way we come into the kingdom: by grace, not by performance or merit.

Olley says regarding Bathsheba, “She who initially had become the object of David’s lust, and whose husband had been a pawn to sacrifice, is now the recipient of the words that guaranteed her safety and the safety of her son” (Message of Kings, 45). We see grace here also. David is leading in his weakness. David acknowledges that while he is the Lord’s anointed, he himself isn’t the Lord. He invokes the name of the Lord, showing that he is submissive to the Lord. He also acknowledges that the Lord delivers from “difficulty” (v. 29), implying that God has intervened in this crisis.

Next we see the crowning of Solomon (vv. 32-40). David tells the trio, Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah, to put Solomon on the king’s mule and bring him to Gihon. This was a symbol of kingship that marked Solomon as the favored son (cf. Zech 9:9, Matt 21:1-11). He also tells them to anoint Solomon as king and blow the trumpet. In verses 38-40 they fulfill the king’s commands, and a boisterous party results. The writer says, “The earth split open from the sound” (v. 40).

Once Solomon is declared king, Adonijah gets the news (vv. 41-45). Jonathan the priest quickly pledges allegiance to David, calling him “our lord.” He reports, “Solomon has even taken his seat on the royal throne” (vv. 46-48). As a result of the news, “all of Adonijah’s guests got up trembling and went their separate ways” (v. 49). Adonijah goes to the altar, as a holy place, believing it will protect him from Solomon (invoking Exod 21:12-14?). Solomon says that if he will show himself worthy, then he will not put him to death. Verse 53 says that Adonijah submits to Solomon, though one wonders if this is just outer expression. Is he truly paying homage to the king?

This account makes us think of David’s greater Son, Jesus. It calls to our attention Palm Sunday. Jesus would ride into the city on a donkey. The people would shout “Hosanna.” He was the rightful king who dispensed mercy, not to those who are worthy but to every unworthy person who bows the knee to His lordship. One day, Paul says, “every knee will bow—of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:10-11). What a merciful King we have in Jesus! His throne is greater than the throne of David or Solomon. His name is more famous than that of David or Solomon. “Something greater than Solomon is here” (Matt 12:42; Luke 11:31).

Submit to Christ’s kingship with gladness. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom (1 Tim 1:17). Submit to His kingship sincerely. Don’t just mouth pious words. Jesus said that on the last day, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt 7:21). He will say to them, “I never knew you” (Matt 7:23). Don’t just make a decision because others are doing it, and don’t trust in some ritual that is empty of meaning. Repent and turn to the King in surrender.

We have answered the question, “Who is the King?” and now we will answer the second question.

What Should the King Do?

1 Kings 2:1-46

Final words are important. In David’s final words he gives Solomon a “spiritual charge,” urging him to obey God’s word (2:1-4). These final words remind us of Moses’ instruction for Israel’s king (Deut 17:14-20) and remind us of his charge to Joshua (Josh 1:6-9). They are also reminiscent of the blessed man of Psalm 1. Solomon is to walk in the law of the Lord, mediate on it, and experience blessing.

David also gives Solomon a “political charge.” He tells Solomon what he should do with the threats to the kingdom (vv. 5-9). Solomon carries out this advice in verses 13-46. I will focus most of my attention on verses 1-4.

We might break down the spiritual charge and political charge by simply saying that the king is to keep the covenant and reign. With both of these, we see that Solomon is to be vigilant, not passive.

Keep the Covenant (2:1-4)

As David is dying, he issues his command to Solomon. Notice the writer’s choice of words: “As the time approached for David to die” (v. 1). It reminds us of the psalmist’s words, “My times are in your hands” (Ps 31:15 ESV). Dying David tells his son to “be strong and be courageous like a man” (v. 2; cf. 2 Tim 2:1; Eph 6:10; 1 Cor 16:13). We might expect a father to say something like David says. When I go out of town, sometimes I say to my oldest son, “Be the man of the house.”

But what makes a man “a man”? Physical strength? Career success? Sexual conquest? Political power? Belonging to the Million Miler club? Athletic dominance? No. If these are the only things we live for, then we are wasting our lives as men. David gives us a simple understanding of godly manhood: obedience to God’s Word. The Word makes the man.

David tells his son/king to walk in God’s ways, which are found in the statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies written in the law of Moses (2:3). These words emphasize the totality of God’s Word.

Nothing is wrong with having vocational ambition, but God’s Word puts these pursuits in proper perspective. It helps us understand them.

Solomon’s kingship was supposed to be founded on God’s Word. He was to rule differently from others. He was not supposed to lead as a law unto himself. He was to keep God’s law.

The benefit of following God’s Word is clear at the end of verse 3: “So that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn.” While God would continue to be faithful to David’s line because of His promise (2 Sam 7:14-16), Solomon wouldn’t enjoy the blessing if he didn’t follow God’s Word.

The same is true for us. We are blessed when we walk in God’s Word (Ps 1). This doesn’t mean we will never suffer. It means we will experience blessing in a variety of ways. Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock” (Matt 7:24). Jesus says those who know Him will bear fruit. Those individuals are wise. They enjoy the blessing of having a firm foundation, even when the floods come.

In verse 4 David mentions a double blessing for obeying God’s word. He says not only will Solomon have personal blessing but he will also have a perpetual dynasty. Solomon was David’s son, and God promised David an everlasting kingdom. The continuity of the dynasty depended on obedience to God’s word. On the one hand, this was clearly a conditional promise (cf. Ps 132:11-12).

However, God made other promises that were unconditional (2 Sam 7:16). So which kind of promise was this? Was it conditional or unconditional? This is a tension raised in the Old Testament that Jesus Christ resolves.

Solomon, like his father and the other kings, would fail. They couldn’t keep the law perfectly. Yet God would keep His promise of preserving the kingdom, and eventually one would keep the law perfectly: Jesus. Christ came down, keeping the law perfectly. God kept His promise; Christ the King kept the covenant.

God’s promises to David were both conditional and unconditional. Conditional in that the king had to live out the demands, but unconditional in that God stated that wrongdoing on the part of David’s successors would not lead to the end of the dynasty. The kingdom came on the king’s obedience and by God’s own promise. God’s promise never failed, and God’s ultimate King never failed. This is why we bow down to Jesus and why we call him “King of kings.”

Build your life on the Word of God and worship the hero of the Word: Jesus. What a King we have! Sin is our attempt to make ourselves king; salvation is in Christ, the King substituting Himself for His servants. He lived the life we could not live and died the death we should have died. Now He is the risen and reigning exalted Lord. Glorify and enjoy Him.

Reign (2:5-46)

After telling Solomon to keep the covenant, David gives him instructions about two enemies of the kingdom and one friend. Apparently, David thinks Joab is too dangerous to be allowed to live once David is gone, so he recommends for him to be eliminated. Joab had long served as the commander of David’s army, but he occasionally tried to pursue his own agenda, and he had blood on his hands from his actions against Abner (2 Sam 2:18-23; 3:1-39) and Amasa (2 Sam 20:1-10; 20:23). Joab was dangerous. One can only wonder why David never brought him to justice earlier (see 1 Chr 2:13-16).

David also gives orders regarding Shimei, the pro-Saul Benjaminite who cursed David and threw stones at him previously (2 Sam 16:5-14). Later Shimei regretted what he had done and asked for mercy, which the king granted, promising not to put him to death “today” (2 Sam 19:18-23). David admits that he swore he would not kill him on that day, yet he encourages Solomon to “bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood” (v. 9). Perhaps he was saying that Solomon was not bound to this promise of sparing Shimei, as David had been.Some wonder about David’s counsel. Was this brutal? Was David acting like “the Godfather” in the old movie, killing off all of the rivals to secure his own power? Is this an example of David’s failure? Shouldn’t he have already dealt with these guys? There are many questions here.

We have to remember that these were kings; it was their job to render justice. Further, they were divinely anointed kings, and any assault against his royal person was an attack against the kingdom of God (e.g., 1 Sam 24:6). Opposition was no small thing. We must realize the importance of securing the kingdom. All of these things must be considered as you make your judgments. David instructs Solomon to use wisdom in dealing with these individuals.

Twice David mentions Solomon’s “wisdom” (vv. 6,9). He will receive more wisdom in the following story (3:5-14), which is essential for leading people in a godly way.

In between these two calls for the death penalty is a story of kindness. David instructs Solomon to reward old friends. Barzillai had provided bread and supplies when David ran from Absalom (2 Sam 17:27-29). He was loyal to the king and made personal sacrifice for the kingdom.

Verses 10-12 report David’s death. His 40-year reign was the greatest of Israel’s history. He was buried in the city he built. Later, other kings will be judged in comparison to David. Verse 12 notes the succession: Solomon’s “kingship was firmly established.” It’s noted again at the end of the chapter: “So the kingdom was established in Solomon’s hand” (v. 46). God is keeping His promises.

On earth we have human rulers. But ultimately, the psalmist said, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all” (Ps 103:19). God is the Ruler of all, and He allows us the happy and holy privilege of embracing His rule.

David’s death points to the need for another king. Peter would preach at Pentecost that David was “buried, and his tomb is with us to this day,” but Jesus, the Holy One, would not see corruption (Acts 2:22-36). Jesus would rise from the dead as the ultimate King.

Let me summarize verses 13-46. Here Solomon acts according to David’s instructions. He deals with the enemies his father mentioned and with other threats. In verses 13-25 Adonijah is executed after he makes another play on the kingdom. Because he was with the king’s concubine, Abishag, it amounted to a claim on the throne (though she may not have technically been a concubine, she did attend to the king; 2 Sam 16:20-22). Solomon interprets it as a wicked conspiracy. After we read about Adonijah’s execution, we read about his associates. Abiathar is banished from office (vv. 26-27). Joab is executed because he is still conspiring with Adonijah and because David wanted him executed (vv. 31-34). In verse 35 Solomon then replaces Abiathar and Joab with Zadok and Benaiah. As for Shimei, he is confined to Jerusalem and threatened if he ever leaves (vv. 36-38). He didn’t abide by this warning and was put to death (v. 46).

In his depiction of the events, the writer simply tells this story without saying whether these actions were necessary or condoned. He doesn’t comment on motives either. He does say that Solomon is the king and these rivals have been eliminated. I think Solomon is acting justly, though I understand the concern over these actions. As mentioned, these threats were serious. Adonijah was told that he would not die if he didn’t act wickedly (1:52), but he did act wickedly. Joab should have been dealt with earlier. Shimei acted foolishly by not obeying orders.

One thing is certain: God knows. The writer of Proverbs said, “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord evaluates the motives” (Prov 16:2). The King of all the earth will judge perfectly. Throughout the Psalms we read of God’s justice: “For Yahweh, the Most High, is awe-inspiring, a great King over all the earth” (Ps 47:2). “Your throne, God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice” (Ps 45:6). “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Ps 89:14).

Perhaps this is a story of mixed motives, much like the story of our lives. This doesn’t justify injustice, but it does highlight human weakness in leadership and the need for a perfectly just King and a better kingdom. Thankfully, God, by His grace, made good on His promise and gave us the Ruler we need in Christ.

Now, on this side of things, we understand that zeal for the kingdom today doesn’t mean taking lives but rather giving up our lives for the good of others and the glory of God. And we know that one day we will give an account to the King of kings.

Who Is Your King?

While we know the rest of Kings tells the story of decline, another King would eventually reign: Jesus. Is He your King? We have already noted the superiority of the kingship of Jesus. He is the perfectly righteous, infinitely wise King. He is majestic, merciful, and eternal. Paul exalted Christ, saying that He is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, the only One who has immortality . . . to Him be honor and eternal might” (1 Tim 6:15-16). Bow to this One who has invited you to His table. Submit to Him. Love Him. Trust Him. For He has come, as Isaiah and others promised:

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this. (Isa 9:6-7)

Reflect and Discuss