1 Kings 1.
THE two books of Kings carry on the history of Israel and of Judah, begun in 1 Samuel, to the destruction of Jerusalem and the carrying away of the king and people by the king of Babylon. They cover a period of about 450 years, which we may compare with the 100 years or thereabouts of the two books of Samuel.
Why is so much told of David in the books we have been reading, compared with what is given about the kings who succeeded him? Because David is one of the principal types of Christ, and it is the Holy Spirit’s delight to point us to the Son of God.
The books of Kings give us the history of the kingdom of Israel under responsibility to God, including its glory under Solomon, and its utter failure amid the long-suffering dealings of God, and finally the overtaking in judgment when delay was no longer possible. Only One has ever trodden this earth in unvarying perfection; in One alone has the lamp of testimony burned with undimmed luster; One alone could say without contradiction, “Which of you convinceth Me of sin?” (John 8:4646Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? (John 8:46)). It is Jesus.
The feeble old king David is shown us in the first chapter, the chill of death already drawing upon him. And even then, he had to know sorrow in another son Adonijah. The sword was not to depart from his house, as God bad told David through Nathan the prophet (2 Samuel 12:1010Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. (2 Samuel 12:10)) because of his sin. Yet there was failure in responsibility, as verse 6 shows, David had not displeased him at any time in saying “Why past thou done so?”—a warning to Christian parents.
Adonijah now proposed to be king, —his eldest brother, Amnon, and also Absalom and the third in age, were dead: perhaps the second, Chileab, was dead also. However, it was for God to show who should he king after David, and of Solomon alone of all the sons, it is recorded, “and the Lord loved him.” God had told David that Solomon should be his successor. (1 Chronicles 22:9, 109Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. 10He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. (1 Chronicles 22:9‑10)).
The claims of Adonijah attracted Joab, as we might have expected, and Abiathar that descendant of Eli the priest who had escaped the sword of Doeg the Edomite (1 Samuel 22:2020And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. (1 Samuel 22:20)), who had taken refuge with David.
Solomon was therefore declared king, and anointed at Gihon, a place near Jerusalem, and when Adonijah and those who had consorted with him, heard, they were afraid and fled. Adonijah was allowed to live as long as he went on a right, but the next chapter shows his end.
ML 04/17/1927