Solomon Secures the Throne
[ READ ] 1 Kings 2:13–35
Solomon's Reign Established
13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, “Do you come peacefully?” He said, “Peacefully.” 14 Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” 15 He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord. 16 And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said to him, “Speak.” 17 And he said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” 18 Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak for you to the king.”
19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. 20 Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” 21 She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife.” 22 King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! 24 Now therefore as the Lord lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.” 25 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.
26 And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's affliction.” 27 So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, thus fulfilling the word of the Lord that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
28 When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah although he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lordand caught hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And when it was told King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold, he is beside the altar,” Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” 30 So Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord and said to him, “The king commands, ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” 31 The king replied to him, “Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause. 32 The Lord will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33 So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But for David and for his descendants and for his house and for his throne there shall be peace from the Lord forevermore.” 34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.
13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, “Do you come peacefully?” He said, “Peacefully.” 14 Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” 15 He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord. 16 And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said to him, “Speak.” 17 And he said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” 18 Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak for you to the king.”
19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. 20 Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” 21 She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife.” 22 King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! 24 Now therefore as the Lord lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.” 25 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.
26 And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's affliction.” 27 So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, thus fulfilling the word of the Lord that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
28 When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah although he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lordand caught hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And when it was told King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold, he is beside the altar,” Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” 30 So Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord and said to him, “The king commands, ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” 31 The king replied to him, “Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause. 32 The Lord will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33 So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But for David and for his descendants and for his house and for his throne there shall be peace from the Lord forevermore.” 34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.
There are two verses in this passage that the Lord highlights to me as I read and meditate on these words. The first is 1 Kings 2:15, “[Adonijah] said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord.”
When I was a kid… and then a teenager… and then a young adult… My mom has said the same thing to me my whole life.
“You know what I always say… We plan, and God laughs.”
Let me be honest, I am–to this day–still learning to ask the Lord to give me wisdom and strength to deal with rejection and changes in my plans. Ever since I could remember, I had a plan for my life. I was going to do something with music, then specifically musical theatre, then specifically Broadway. I auditioned for every show I could, I went to college for my Acting degree, I sent out many professional auditions. At the same time, I also always knew I wanted to get married, have children, be a stay-at-home mom (because my SAHM was so amazing, it’s all I could think I could give to my kids one day to do a fraction of the job my own mother did). As I expressed these plans to loved ones, I remember being asked, “How are you going to act and travel and also be stay-at-home with your kids? What if your husband isn’t okay with it?” and “That’s great, but what if acting doesn’t work out?” While fair questions, I always thought, “I don’t have a plan B– because if I did have a plan B, when this gets too hard or scary, I’ll let myself give up. This just has to be it, and I have to succeed.”
Then senior year of high school, supposedly my big finale in my school, I didn’t get the lead I thought I’d get. Then when I got into my dream school and dream musical theatre program, we couldn’t afford it and I had to turn it down. Then when I went to Towson on an acting scholarship, 3 of my 7 semesters there were over Zoom. Then later on when I got a job teaching Creative Writing & Drama at Wiley H. Bates Middle School, I left because I really believed in my plan to act professionally. Every step that I had meticulously planned to go one way, went another.
Yet I can look back, saying and truly meaning, “Thank You Father, that where I expected me to reign, You turned the kingdom about; for the plans You had for me are greater.”
At my ripe old age of 26 [cue 91% of the people reading this laughing at me], I still feel surprised when my plans don’t work out. I still get anxious that I’ve done something to deserve punishment. I still ask God why and wonder if He’s abandoned me because He won’t show me why the minute I ask. But that segues right into the second passage that stands out to me. In 1 Kings 2:26, King Solomon says, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's affliction.”
All I can think is that, all of these plans of what I wanted or what I thought was better, the Lord told me no because He had something greater, because He did. Everything I have and experience now is so much greater than any plans I had 10 years ago, 5 years ago, or even 3 months ago. And yet, “for [I] deserve death”. He spares my life because He didn’t spare His own Son’s life. Even in this verse, Solomon grants something that the priest did as the reason he would spare his life, saying “because you shared in all my father’s affliction”.
The Father has reversed the roles through the life, death and resurrection of His Son for us. Though we deserve death, though we have done nothing to deserve being spared, Jesus carried us. God inspires the apostles Paul and Peter to write:
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:16-17
“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13
“For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Corinthians 1:5
Man spares life according to what another has done to benefit us, God spares us according to what He gave up for us.
- Danielle Parker
When I was a kid… and then a teenager… and then a young adult… My mom has said the same thing to me my whole life.
“You know what I always say… We plan, and God laughs.”
Let me be honest, I am–to this day–still learning to ask the Lord to give me wisdom and strength to deal with rejection and changes in my plans. Ever since I could remember, I had a plan for my life. I was going to do something with music, then specifically musical theatre, then specifically Broadway. I auditioned for every show I could, I went to college for my Acting degree, I sent out many professional auditions. At the same time, I also always knew I wanted to get married, have children, be a stay-at-home mom (because my SAHM was so amazing, it’s all I could think I could give to my kids one day to do a fraction of the job my own mother did). As I expressed these plans to loved ones, I remember being asked, “How are you going to act and travel and also be stay-at-home with your kids? What if your husband isn’t okay with it?” and “That’s great, but what if acting doesn’t work out?” While fair questions, I always thought, “I don’t have a plan B– because if I did have a plan B, when this gets too hard or scary, I’ll let myself give up. This just has to be it, and I have to succeed.”
Then senior year of high school, supposedly my big finale in my school, I didn’t get the lead I thought I’d get. Then when I got into my dream school and dream musical theatre program, we couldn’t afford it and I had to turn it down. Then when I went to Towson on an acting scholarship, 3 of my 7 semesters there were over Zoom. Then later on when I got a job teaching Creative Writing & Drama at Wiley H. Bates Middle School, I left because I really believed in my plan to act professionally. Every step that I had meticulously planned to go one way, went another.
Yet I can look back, saying and truly meaning, “Thank You Father, that where I expected me to reign, You turned the kingdom about; for the plans You had for me are greater.”
At my ripe old age of 26 [cue 91% of the people reading this laughing at me], I still feel surprised when my plans don’t work out. I still get anxious that I’ve done something to deserve punishment. I still ask God why and wonder if He’s abandoned me because He won’t show me why the minute I ask. But that segues right into the second passage that stands out to me. In 1 Kings 2:26, King Solomon says, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's affliction.”
All I can think is that, all of these plans of what I wanted or what I thought was better, the Lord told me no because He had something greater, because He did. Everything I have and experience now is so much greater than any plans I had 10 years ago, 5 years ago, or even 3 months ago. And yet, “for [I] deserve death”. He spares my life because He didn’t spare His own Son’s life. Even in this verse, Solomon grants something that the priest did as the reason he would spare his life, saying “because you shared in all my father’s affliction”.
The Father has reversed the roles through the life, death and resurrection of His Son for us. Though we deserve death, though we have done nothing to deserve being spared, Jesus carried us. God inspires the apostles Paul and Peter to write:
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:16-17
“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13
“For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Corinthians 1:5
Man spares life according to what another has done to benefit us, God spares us according to what He gave up for us.
- Danielle Parker
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Do you read this passage and hear a story about things you would “never do”? Or do you relate to anyone here?
+ Why do you think Adonijah sends Bathsheba on his behalf? Does this parallel how Jesus advocates for us to the Father?
+ Do you read this passage and hear a story about things you would “never do”? Or do you relate to anyone here?
+ Why do you think Adonijah sends Bathsheba on his behalf? Does this parallel how Jesus advocates for us to the Father?
[ 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 are you still clinging to your own plans? Are you okay with your plans being changed or turned upside down?
+ When’s the last time you looked at your own plans and asked God what’s His and what’s yours?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where are you still clinging to your own plans? Are you okay with your plans being changed or turned upside down?
+ When’s the last time you looked at your own plans and asked God what’s His and what’s yours?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to choose in the afflictions of Christ. Help me to have the wisdom, grace, and mercy to treat others according to what You have done for me, not according to what they have done to me. I release all of my plans to You, for I can see now and understand ahead that nothing you withhold from me is out of spite, but out of love. Nothing You give to me is for the sake of burdening me, but for the sake of stretching me. The comfort zone and the growth zone cannot coexist, so help me to choose righteous growth in every season, every moment, every relationship. Strengthen me where I am weak, and break me where I think I’ve got this on my own. Your word assures me that the plans You have for me are good, prosperous, and hopeful. Thank You, Lord. It’s in the name of Jesus that I pray, amen.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to choose in the afflictions of Christ. Help me to have the wisdom, grace, and mercy to treat others according to what You have done for me, not according to what they have done to me. I release all of my plans to You, for I can see now and understand ahead that nothing you withhold from me is out of spite, but out of love. Nothing You give to me is for the sake of burdening me, but for the sake of stretching me. The comfort zone and the growth zone cannot coexist, so help me to choose righteous growth in every season, every moment, every relationship. Strengthen me where I am weak, and break me where I think I’ve got this on my own. Your word assures me that the plans You have for me are good, prosperous, and hopeful. Thank You, Lord. It’s in the name of Jesus that I pray, 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.
+ Who can you ask to hold you accountable to offering your own plans to the Lord?
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.
+ Who can you ask to hold you accountable to offering your own plans to the Lord?
Recent
Archive
2026
April
May
Leaders Gone WrongA Coming KingWhat God RequiresThe Fall of NinevehThe Day Draws NearGod Rejoices Over YouHow Long, O Lord?The Righteous Live by FaithYet I Will RejoiceWake Up and ReturnThe Lord Judges But He Also RestoresPride Comes DownConsider Your WaysGreater Glory AheadReturn to Me AgainNot by MightGod Dwells AgainYour King Is ComingLook on HimHalf-Hearted WorshipThe Sun of Righteousness
June
The Promise of the SpiritWaiting and ChoosingWind, Fire and WonderThe Gospel Goes PublicWhat the Church Looked LikeMore Than Silver or GoldRepent and Be RestoredArrested but UnsilencedOne Heart, One MindThe Cost of PretendingRejoicing at Being BeatenWhen the Church Has ProblemsA People Who ForgotThe God Who Keeps ComingBlood and ScatteringA Cast Down SoulLight and TruthOur HelpThe Throne of GodGod Our FortressYou Cannot Buy What God GivesA Road, a Stranger, a Question
July
The Day Everything ChangedA New Man on MissionA Vision That Breaks BarriersThe Spirit Has No FavoritesExplaining the UnexpectedThe Gospel Finds New GroundWhen the Church PraysThe Word Keeps MovingSet Apart and SentThe Story That Leads to JesusRejected Here, Welcome ThereMistaken for Gods, Treated as EnemiesStrengthening What Was StartedBlessed Are the RighteousBlessed Are Those Who Take RefugeBlessed Are His PeopleBlessed Are Those Who Call on HimBlessed Are the ForgivenA Hard Question, A Gathered Church A Letter, A Disagreement, A DecisionOpen Roads and Open HeartsSinging at MidnightNoble Enough to Check
August
An Unknown God, a Known NameStay, I Have Many People HereTeaching the Way More FullyExtraordinary Things in EphesusWhen the Gospel Costs SomethingOn the Road Again - Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, Troas...JerusalemGuard Yourselves and the FlockWarnings on the Way to JerusalemArrested and UnashamedStand Firm, I Am With YouA Plot, a Letter, a ProvidenceOn Trial for HopeAppealing to CaesarAlmost PersuadedUnhinderedBless The Lord Above AllHis Steadfast LoveHow Shall We Sing?Greatly to Be PraisedKnownEquipped for Ministry
No Comments