Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Kings 1 and Psalm 101

As 1 Kings begins, David’s life and kingdom are waning. The narrative of 1 & 2 Kings will cover almost five hundred years, from the end of David’s kingdom through to the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian Empire. It is the story of the rise and fall of successive kingdoms, the ministry of great prophets, high promise, abject failure, tragedy and hope.

The narrative begins with King David lying in his chamber, weakened by age and his many battles, his kingdom appearing to be up for grabs. Like Absalom before him, David’s oldest surviving son, Adonijah, now conspired to have himself recognised as king. Like the younger son in Jesus’ parable, he could not wait for his father to die; and he was not willing to take the risk that his father might leave the kingdom to someone else. So, taking matters into his own hands, he gathered to himself those he believed would support his bid, and arranged for his own coronation.

It appears David had failed to be a father to him in many ways (v.6), so perhaps Adonijah had never been taught that the kingdom actually belonged to the LORD, and that God alone had the right to identify and anoint its king. On the other hand, perhaps he simply did not want to accept the principle declared by Psalm 75:6-7: “For no one on earth—from east or west, or even from the wilderness— should raise a defiant fist. It is God alone who judges; He decides who will rise and who will fall.” (NLT)

The account ended in great embarassment for Adoniah, as his co-conspirators and coronation guests fled in fear at the news that Solomon had been enthroned as king with David’s blessing. Adonijah himself saw that he was doomed and clung pitifully to the horns of the altar, symbolically pleading for mercy. He was then hauled into the palace and sent home in shame by the new king, Solomon.

Adonijah had learnt the hard way that “God opposes the proud, but shows favour to the humble.” (James 4:6)

Loving God, in Your great mercy, grant me a humble and submissive heart. I consciously yield to Your Lordship now, and ask that You would direct my steps today. By Your Spirit, please keep me from prideful behaviour, and empower me to live as a faithful servant of Your will. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.