20240831

best outcome

1 Kings 1:28-53 (JDV)

1 Kings 1:28 King David answered by saying, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So, she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
1 Kings 1:29 The king swore an oath and said, “As Yahveh lives, who has redeemed my throat from every difficulty,
1 Kings 1:30 just as I swore to you by Yahveh God of Israel: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne in my place. I will make that happen this very day.”
1 Kings 1:31 Bathsheba knelt low with her face to the ground, paying homage to the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
1 Kings 1:32 King David then said, “Call in the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada for me.” So, they came into the king’s presence.
1 Kings 1:33 The king said to them, “Take my servants with you, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon.
1 Kings 1:34 There, the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan are to anoint him as king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon! ‘
1 Kings 1:35 You are to come up after him, and he is to come in and sit on my throne. He is the one who is to become king in my place; he is the one I have charged to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
1 Kings 1:36 “Amen,” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied to the king. “May Yahveh, the God of my lord the king, so affirm it.
1 Kings 1:37 Just as Yahveh was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”
1 Kings 1:38 Then the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down, had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and took him to Gihon.
1 Kings 1:39 The priest Zadok took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”
1 Kings 1:40 All the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the land ripped open from the sound.
1 Kings 1:41 Adonijah and all the invited guests who were with him heard the noise as they finished eating. Joab heard the ram’s horn and said, “Why is the town in such an uproar?”
1 Kings 1:42 He was still speaking when Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest, suddenly arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, because you are an important man, and you must be bringing good news.”
1 Kings 1:43 “Unfortunately not,” Jonathan answered him. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
1 Kings 1:44 And with Solomon, the king has sent the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have had him ride on the king’s mule.
1 Kings 1:45 The priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan have anointed him king in Gihon. They have gone up from there rejoicing. The town has been in an uproar; that’s the noise you heard.
1 Kings 1:46 Solomon has even taken his seat on the royal throne.
1 Kings 1:47 “The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more well known than your name, and may he make his throne greater than your throne.’ Then the king bowed in worship on his bed.
1 Kings 1:48 And the king went on to say this: ‘Blessed be Yahveh God of Israel! Today he has provided one to sit on my throne, and I am a witness.'”
1 Kings 1:49 Then all Adonijah’s guests got up shaking and went their separate ways.
1 Kings 1:50 Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to hold strongly to the horns of the altar.
1 Kings 1:51 It was reported to Solomon: “Look, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me that he will not kill his servant with the sword.'”
1 Kings 1:52 Then Solomon said, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him, he dies.”
1 Kings 1:53 So King Solomon sent for him, and they took him down from the altar. He came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your home.”

best outcome

David knew that if Adonijah was allowed to keep the throne he usurped, Solomon, Bathsheba and many others would soon see a violent death. He knew his own good name would be trashed because Adonijah — if beginning by rebellion, can only get worse. On the other hand, he knew Solomon was right for the throne, and would reign wisely and compassionately. We see an example of that wisdom showing itself in the way Solomon treats his brother. Adonijah could have been executed, and his followers might have become a thorn in Solomon’s side. Instead, Solomon’s compassion probably made him a few more supporters.

Because David chose wisely, he accomplished the best outcome. We should also pray for that kind of wisdom when making life decisions.