Lesson 254 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak:  for your work shall be rewarded" (II Chronicles 15:7).

Notes

Rebellion

David had ruled Israel forty years, and he was now old and ill. His life had been troubled by enemies to his country, the jealousy of Saul, and by the rebellion of his own son. Even now, in his last hours, he was to have no peace.

Adonijah, another son, wanted to be king; and he would not wait until David died to make an effort to take the throne of Israel. He knew well enough that God had appointed Solomon to be the next king; but he had evidently always had his own way while he was growing up, and he thought he could have it in this, too.

Adonijah should have been warned by what had happened to his brother Absalom when he had become ambitious to dethrone his father. Absalom had been killed before the revolt had been settled; and he had never enjoyed any of the honour and glory of being king which he struggled for so desperately. One cannot deliberately set aside the commandments and will of God without suffering for it. David had been given the throne by God Himself, and God would not let rebellious Absalom take it from him. Neither was Adonijah going to prosper in his striving for fame and power.

The young and handsome prince Adonijah was confident that he could win the hearts of the people to himself. Possibly, no one had ever said No to him, and it perhaps never entered his mind that he would not get what he wanted this time. His plans were carefully laid " and why should they not bring him success?

Adonijah's Popularity

Adonijah did as Absalom had done. He rode through the streets of the city in a chariot, with 50 footmen running before him, calling attention to the young man who would soon be made king. What a handsome prince he was, clothed in royal garments, standing erect in his chariot as he guided his spirited horses expertly through the throngs of people who had gathered to shout his praises!

Adonijah had made a great feast to which he invited the other princes, the priests, and even the general in David's army. He was working for the favour of everyone who might be able to help him rise to power. But Solomon, the true crown prince, and Nathan the prophet, and Zadok the high priest, were not invited. Adonijah knew that they would be faithful to David.

There, in the midst of the eating and drinking, Adonijah was proclaimed king of Israel. The people shouted, "God save king Adonijah." That is how Adonijah treated his aged and ill father -" stealing the throne from him.

Adeonijah surely knew the commandment of God, "Honour thy father and thy mother" [EXO:20:12]). More than that, the Levitical Law said that a rebellious son was to be stoned [DEU:21:18]), and that the children who cursed their parents were to be punished by death [LEV:20:9]). Think what punishment Adonijah was risking by dethroning his father.

The News Brought to the King

All during this time that Adonijah was having himself made king, David was sick in bed. He had not heard anything about the rebellion. Solomon and his mother, Bath-sheba, knew that if Adonijah could establish himself as king, he would destroy them. Had not David promised that it was Solomon who should be king?

Nathan advised Bath-sheba to go to David and tell him the sad story. Nathan said he would come, too, and would confirm her words so that David would see the seriousness of the situation. Bath-sheba went to the king's room, and bowed low before him. David noticed her agitation, and asked what he could do for her. She answered, "My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth." How surprised David must have been! And how disappointed that his well-beloved son should do such a thing to him! Even godly parents will suffer for not demanding their children's obedience.

Bath-sheba went on to tell David that Adonijah had gathered the powerful and influential men around him who would help him, but he had not invited her son Solomon to the great feast. And now all Israel was watching to see what David would do. Would he be satisfied to let his pampered son remain on the throne? or would he keep the vows he had made and fulfil the will of God?

Nathan had always been very close to the king, and had brought him messages from God. He now asked: "Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"

Oh, no, this was not David's doing. He called Bath-sheba and repeated the promise he had made, that Solomon would indeed be king.

Solomon Set Up

David saw that he must act at once to set up Solomon in his place. He asked that Zadok the priest, and Nathan, both honoured by God and respected by the people of Israel, should place Solomon upon David's mule and lead him through the streets so that all the people could see David's choice for king. The ancient kings rode upon mules, which were not considered the lowly animal as we think of them now. The wealth of the kings was often counted by the number of mules they owned.

Solomon's glory had begun. Down the streets would the stately procession of David's bodyguard -" the Pelethites and Cherethites -" and Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, with Solomon in the lead. All the men of Israel who loved God and their king, who heard the news, fell in behind in the parade.

When the procession reached Gihon, Zadok took the horn of anointing oil and poured the oil upon Solomon, proclaiming him king. There was the blowing of a trumpet, announcing the new king: "God save king Solomon."

The crowd continued to grow. Everywhere people heard the good news of the coronation, and they came rejoicing. The very earth shook with their shouts of joy.

God's Will Done

Once more the will of God had been done. Solomon had been anointed king as God had commanded. David's faithfulness to the Lord had resulted in the fulfilment of God's will in favour of Solomon.

Prayers were prayed that Solomon's reign would be even greater than that of his father. And so it was to be, in that it would be a time of peace and great prosperity.

It has been David's duty to conquer the nations around Jerusalem so that Israel could inhabit all the Promised Land. For that reason there had always been war through the forty years of David's reign. Now that task was completed, and Solomon could rule in peace and enjoy the blessings of that great domain.

The news of Solomon's coronation was carried to David in his sickroom. How happy David was that all had been settled peaceably, and no one had had to die on this day of good tidings!

Adonijah's Fear

Adonijah and all the people with him had heard that Solomon had been crowned king, and they feared for their lives. They knew they were guilty of rebellion; and that if Solomon wanted to, he could have Adonijah executed.

Adonijah ran to the altar to pray that he might not die. He was like many sinners who are sorry that their sin have caused them trouble, but they do not repent. They want to escape punishment, so they pray; but they do not keep the promises they make to God.

Adonijah deserved punishment for disobeying God and dishonouring his father, but God was merciful. Solomon sent word to him that no harm would come to him if he would be subject to the new king. Adonijah came to see Solomon and bowed low before him, and pledged his allegiance. Solomon forgave him and sent him home.

David's Last Words

The kingdom of Israel was now established in the hands of Solomon, and David felt he could die in peace. The will of God was being done, and David was content. What satisfaction it brings to a child of God to know that his ways are pleasing in the sight of God!

Solomon would feel very much alone when his father was gone, and he would have to prove himself to be a man. David told Solomon how to be strong: "Keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgements, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself."

We can take the same lesson to ourselves. If we keep all the commandments of God we shall also be strong in the Lord. We want His Spirit on our work so that souls will be won for the Kingdom of God. No one is as prosperous as the one who trusts God. He may not have wealth and fame in this world, but he has eternal life, which is greater than anything we might gain here. Floods or drought might destroy one's crops, fire might burn his home, thieves might steal his money; but the one who is trusting in God has treasures in Heaven that no one can take from him. Our greatest treasures will be the sheaves we bring to lay at our Saviour's feet.

David reminded Solomon of a promise God had given him: "If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel" [1KG:2:4]). What a wonderful promise! And it could be fulfilled in Solomon if he obeyed the voice of the Lord.

Rewarded for Works

David also spoke of other things that Solomon would have to do as king. The sons of Barzillai were to be treated with kindness because they had been good to David during the rebellion of Absalom. They were going to be rewarded for their help to the king. The misdeeds of others were to be remembered, too, and punished.

Let us remember that every deed we do will be brought into judgement, and will be rewarded -" whether good or bad. The righteous will enter into eternal life, while the evildoers will suffer torment forever and ever.

The glorious reign of King Solomon had begun, and was to continue for almost forty years.

Questions

1. What was the ambition of Adonijah?

2. Why was it wrong?

3. Whom did Adonijah call to his feast? Who were left out?

4. What happened at the feast?

5. What did David do when he heard about it?

6. Why did David make sure that Solomon should be the next king?

7. What did Adonijah do when he heard that Solomon had been made king?

8. What had been David's duties as king?

9. What kind of reign would Solomon's be?

10. How could Solomon become strong and prove himself a man?