LA UBF
King David’s body may have been weak, but his faith and his spirit were strong. After talking with Nathan about Adonijah’s attempt to usurp the throne, David immediately called in Bathsheba. And on oath, he swore that he would accomplish what he had promised to Bathsheba—her son Solomon would sit on the throne in his place. David planned and executed it immediately to have Solomon made king. He had Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah mount Solomon on David’s own mule and have him taken to Gihon and anointed king. Then, they brought him back to sit him on David’s throne as king in his place. When they did this, all the people rejoiced greatly. David was a discerning king who saved the Lord’s people from a legacy of palace intrigue.
Meanwhile, Adonijah and his advisors were finishing up their celebratory feast. Joab, Adonijah’s general, heard a commotion in the streets and asked what was happening. Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest, replied that the people outside were making Solomon their king. Adonijah knew his rebellion could cost him his life. So, he ran and took hold of the horns of the altar. When Solomon heard this, he was magnanimous and let his half-brother live.
Nov 20, 2024
SOLOMON ANOINTED AS KING
Passage: 1 Kings 1:28-53
Key verse: 30
ESV
chapter 1
28. Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king's presence and stood before the king.
29. And the king swore, saying, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity,
30. as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.”
31. Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
32. King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.
33. And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
34. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
35. You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.”
36. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so.
37. As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”
38. So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David's mule and brought him to Gihon.
39. There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”
40. And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise.
41. Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “What does this uproar in the city mean?”
42. While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news.”
43. Jonathan answered Adonijah, “No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king,
44. and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they had him ride on the king's mule.
45. And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard.
46. Solomon sits on the royal throne.
47. Moreover, the king's servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself on the bed.
48. And the king also said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing it.’”
49. Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way.
50. And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
51. Then it was told Solomon, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”
52. And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”
53. So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”
Bible.prayer: Father, thank you that King David and King Solomon were both wise, discerning leaders. Please raise up these kinds of leaders today.
Bible.one_word: Raise up wise and discerning leaders