Life of Solomon: Receiving the Baton

What makes a good leader? Intelligence. Organization. The ability to make decisions under pressure. The possession of a moral compass. These are some of the qualities that we would name. But what about mercy?

Many leaders take their positions in the midst of controversy. Dwight Morrow, the father of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, once held a dinner party to which Calvin Coolidge had been invited.

After Coolidge left, Morrow told the remaining guests that Coolidge would make a good president. The others disagreed. They felt Coolidge was too quiet, that he lacked color and personality. No one would like him, they said.

Anne, then age six, spoke up: “I like him.” Then she displayed a finger with a small bandage around it. “He was the only one at the party who asked about my sore finger.”

“And that’s why he would make a good president,” added Morrow.

Chapters 1-11 of 1 Kings cover the life of Solomon. Arnold and Beyer state that

“These chapters describe his dramatic rise to power, his great accomplishments and his tragic end.” (Encountering the Old Testament, 200).

And...

“These chapters describe the height of Israel’s political and military power. Only during Solomon's reign did Israel became a major player in the arena of international power politics. But Israel’s brief period of strength and prestige was ruined by Solomon’s religious apostasy.” (Arnold and Beyer, 201-202).

Here’s the setting of how Solomon, the son of David, became Israel’s king. David is advanced in years. His circulation is poor. The court has to hire a young maiden to help him. Nothing romantic, just make sure he is cared for. Nevertheless, Abishag the Shunammite became his nurse and one of his several wives.

Who would be the next king? That was a question on many minds at the time.

Not all do right, nor have the correct motivations for leadership.

In that day, it was quite common for kings to have more than one wife, and so multiple descendants that would be eligible. Although Adonijah was the oldest of David’s children, the successor would be by the king’s appointment. Adonijah assumed he would be king and arrogantly proclaimed: “I’ll reign.” (Verse 5)

Adonijah saw an opportunity and made himself king while his father was struggling with his health. He gathered men and chariots and assumed the title without going through proper protocol or even asking if he could become king.

He had an example in what he was doing. A few years prior to this, he saw his half brother Absolam do the same thing. He gathered horses, chariots and men to run before him, as if he were in leadership. 2 Samuel 15:4-6

2 Samuel 15:4–6 ESV

4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

His rebellious ambition got him killed. Would Adonijah learn? To keep his plans hidden, at least for a time, he was choosy about who he would inform. 1 Kings 1:9-10

1 Kings 1:9–10 ESV

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother.

What’s more is that Adonijah had employed Joab, a leader in David’s army and Abiathar, a priest. This was all seen as aggressive, not as peaceful. It was an act of subversion. Adonijah had crowned himself king!

Desperate times call for action.

Now this became a matter of life and death. When someone became king, it was assumed that his adversaries would be put to death. This is why Nathan advised Bathsheba to go to the king and speak with him about Adonijah’s treason.

After being informed of Adonijah’s behavior, David made a bold move and told Zadok the priest, Benaiah, Nathan the prophet and others to Gihon and anoint Solomon as king. David appointed him to be king in Israel. A trumpet was sounded that told everyone who heard it that a new king was installed.

Adonijah was made aware of this anointing, so he became afraid of Solomon. He retreated to the tabernacle and took the horns of the alter. This was a sacred place and Adonijah sought for asylum there. Exodus 21:12-14

Exodus 21:12–14 ESV

12 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

Many times God has a plan. We are often times put in positions to trust Him. We could take matters into our own hands, but we often foul things up. Romans 8:28 reminds us:

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 11:34–36 ESV

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Mercy makes a leader.

Solomon had mercy upon Adonijah and told him to go to his house. His half brother would be safe for a while, until he asked to marry the young lady who took care of King David, a move that had clear political ramifications and would put him in a place of receiving the throne should anything happy to Solomon. Therefore Solomon saw right through this and then had to have Adonijah executed.

Why did Solomon not kill his half brother for this treason? Because of mercy. He dealt mercifully with Adonijah. Not everyone deals with others in mercy. I was just reading the story of Lady Jane Grey, the grand niece of King Henry VIII, who was queen of England and Ireland but for a short time. She was only a teenager when she became queen. But her reign was challenged and she lost the throne to her half sister Mary after only nine days. She was put to death in 1554 because she was a Protestant. Right before she was beheaded, she recited Psalm 51 and quoted Jesus’ statement from the cross: “Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit!”

Quoting the Old Testament book of Hosea, Jesus said

“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””

More mercy is needed in our world today. Will you be a person of mercy? It was said that Martin Luther once stated: “God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.”

Solomon goes down in history as one of the most glorious kings in Israel’s history. History regards him as not only a glorious king, but also a wise one, until his downfall. One source said:

“To the Jew the court of Solomon was the highest representation of human glory. The magnificence of the court is not only celebrated in Jewish writings, but in all Oriental literature, and it is still proverbial throughout the East.” (See: MATTHEW 6:29 KJV "And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." (kingjamesbibleonline.org))

Jesus affirmed Solomon’s great wisdom, but said that something greater than Solomon was here, speaking of Himself in Matthew 12:38-42

Matthew 12:38–42 (ESV)

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Jesus also affirmed the glory of Solomon’s wardrobe, but said that the lilies of the field were even more beautiful and majestic. Matthew 6:28-29

Matthew 6:28–29 ESV

28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Are you a person of mercy? Or are you easily provoked, pulled into aggression? Do you thirst for revenge?

Is there someone you need to forgive?

Do you see a plan for your life? Are you trusting God to unfold whatever He has for you?

Or do you go after forbidden things because you feel it is your right?

In 1999 John F. Kennedy Jr. flew his small airplane from New York City to his family home in Massachusetts for a wedding. On board were his wife Carolyn and her sister. Though Kennedy was a licensed pilot, he had not yet been approved for instrument flight (using only instruments to navigate).

When their takeoff was delayed until after dark, Kennedy should have waited for daylight or sought a more experienced pilot to help. Yet, Kennedy took off into the darkness. The plane never reached its destination, and all three passengers were killed in the crash.

Investigators determined that the crash was likely caused by disorientation from flying over open water at night without any landmarks or visible horizon. Kennedy’s lack of experience may well have led him to trust what he thought he was seeing more than what his instrument panel was telling him.

All of us face the temptation to walk according to sight instead of faith. Faith in God will keep us from crashing. Human reason will fail us at times, but God never fails. His Word keeps us on the right course as long as we obey it.