Adonijah's Bid for the Throne

As the scene opens, we find that “when King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him” (1 Kings 1:1).  He had aged prematurely, for scholars say he was only 70 at the time of this writing.
How often families are stirred to action when the patriarch is feeble; and so, with the case of David’s oldest son, Adonijah, who made an attempt to get his father’s throne.
Yet God had other plans.  Nathan, the prophet, gave religious training to Solomon. In fact, he loved Solomon so much that he gave him the name Jedidiah, which means “loved by the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:25).  So Nathan approached Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, to tell her what Adonijah was preparing to do:
12 Now therefore come, let me give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then is Adonijah king?’ 14 Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.
And so the story goes that Solomon became king, at only 19 years of age.  We will learn how Solomon leads his kingdom throughout our time in 1 and 2 Kings, but for now, how wonderful is the hand of God that he works through us to procure his story, or what we know as History, through Jeremiah, who most scholars believe wrote 1 and 2 Kings.
- Eileen Dowd

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What do we learn about David’s condition at the beginning of the chapter, and why does his weakness create an opportunity for Adonijah?
+ What does Adonijah’s statement, “I will be king,” reveal about his heart? Where do we see the difference between pursuing what we want and waiting for what God desires?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where might I be tempted to say, like Adonijah, “I will…” without first asking, “Lord, what do you want?
+ Is there an area of my life where personal ambition, recognition, control, or pride may be competing with obedience to God?
+ Who are the “Nathans” in my life - people who are willing to tell me the truth even when it is difficult?  Am I willing to listen to them?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, please direct my steps this week. Before I establish any plans, my prayer is that I will put my trust in your purposes and will courageously obey you. In Jesus’s name, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.