Boom & Bust
Boom & Bust
1 Kings
June 17, 2007
Some dates
970 – Solomon’s reign begins
930 – Split between northern kingdom (Israel) and southern kingdom (Judah)
722 – Assyrians conquer northern kingdom
587 – Babylonians conquer southern kingdom
Why 1 Kings? I haven’t done it before. Secondly, I think it is good to look at an OT Book – which we don’t do too much of. In the lectionary, 1 Kings is read about twice a year – We read about Solomon’s wisdom; Solomon’s prayer for the dedication of the Temple; then a few stories about the prophet Elijah; his healing of the widow of Zarephath’s son & his flight from Queen Jezebel.
In a sentence, 1-2 Kings are about the rise and fall of the nation of Israel
In 1 Kings we encounter an aged David, Solomon, his great wisdom on display; the construction of Solomon’s temple – Solomon’s magnificent prayer of dedication – and his rebellion. The breakup of the kingdom, and then a procession of kings – mostly evil & the rise of the great prophets of Israel – Elijah & Elisha – the wicked Ahab & Jezebel
Two Jeroboams, there is a Jehoram (or Joram) in each kingdom at about the same time, not to mention double Ahaziahs.
Kings can be divided in 2 parts – the Golden Age – chapters 1-11; The Torn Kingdom 12- 2 Kings 17 – then life in Judah
Boom and Bust. The greatness of the Kingdom in 1-11; the bust, when things begin to fall apart.
In the boom and the bust, the Lord God is behind the scenes working out his plans to save his people. God’s activity remains hidden among the plots and ambitions of human beings.
As we look at any part of the OT, we must never forget the overall theme of the Bible – God’s actions to reverse the effects of human sin and to establish a new creation.
So, we’ll look at Chapter 1 and
When Leaders Don’t Lead
Friends When You need Them
Where is God in all of This?
Point One: When Leaders Don’t Lead
Of the kings, David is the greatest. He has already been told in 2 Samuel 7:16 (ESV)
16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.' "
In the opening verses of chapter 1, David is decrepit – His son, Adonijah is everything David isn’t. He has ambition, style, image, position and support.
The narrator seems to take a neutral view of Adonijah; however, as one commentator notes, “the description of Adonijah’s fine looks recalls the glossy word picture of Absalom, as well as Saul and Eliab (one of David’s brothers). All of these persons were physically impressive and either disastrous or rejected.”
Verse 6 reveals some flaws in both father and son. He was undisciplined by his father, and now he is unrestrained in his ambition to unseat his father.
Now, as you read on, you will see David finally take control of things; but at the beginning of this narrative, David passively allows circumstances to develop his asserting the leadership over Israel that the Lord God had given him.
Of course, it is true that he is old and somewhat frail; yet as we see later in the chapter, he still has the ability to exercise his authority as king. When he fails to do so, confusion is close at hand.
There is another point to be made here. God’s plan to establish a kingdom frequently passes through precarious moments, for instance when Joseph’s death leads to the rise of bondage in Egypt; the death of Moses and the transition to Joshua; the burial of Joshua and now the imminent death of David.
Are we now not in a time of such a crisis as a church? We are passing through an unprecedented time, I think, as the church seems to have lost confidence in the central mission of the church – which is not social action, but personal salvation from sin; and also seems to have lost confidence in the moral teaching of the Bible, especially regarding homosexual practice.
David’s son is attempting to usurp not only David’s prerogative to name a successor, but also in defiance of God’s purposes for his people. But, as we will see, David will step up, thanks to some faithful friends and an honest wife.
Point Two: Where are Friends When You need Them
Juab, the brilliant, but merciless military general who demonstrated that cold blooded murder was as acceptable as a fairly fought battle; Bather, the priest who repaid David’s favorable treatment of him with treachery, and Jonathan, Bather’s son who had helped David stop Absalom’s rebellion, now, for some reason, lines up against him form one team.
But, those who remain loyal to David are Benaiah, one of David’s famous 30 men; Zadok – the hp and Nathan, God’s prominent prophet during David’s reign remain loyal to the elderly and now ineffectual king.
The key aid is Nathan. Realizing the need for quick and effective action, he enlists Bathsheba, David’s wife and mother of Solomon to help in offsetting the advantage of Adonijah.
Bathsheba reminds the king in 1 Kings 1:13 (ESV)
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?'
David had six sons by six different wives. But God had told him 1 Chronicles 28:5 (ESV) that Solomon should be the next king.
5 And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
Like Absalom, another of David’s sons who tired to unseat him, Adonijah had chariots and horsemen, and fifty men read to go. Time was of the essence.
Bathsheba tells her husband, 1 Kings 1:20 (ESV)
20 And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
After both Bathsheba and Nathan warn the king of the imminent coup, David begins to take action.
Now why he didn’t up to this time is a mystery – maybe because of his deteriorating physical condition – perhaps something else.
Now, he know the danger he is in; and not only him, but Bathsheba and Solomon as well – 1 Kings 1:21 (ESV)
21 Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders."
The key friend is Nathan. From an earthly point of view, everything rests on him.
On verse 28, the tide turns; David asserts himself and goes to action. In verses 33-35 he gives orders to thwart the coup, and to set Solomon on the throne as the next king.
While God was the one to establish David’s dynasty (2 Samuel 7:12-16 (ESV)
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.' "
It was up to David to do it.
The imminent danger of the Adonijah’s heist of the kingship got David’s motor running.
What stirs us to action? Must we not confess that frequently only our comfort zone has the ability to ignite any real zeal in us.
Should it not be the case that the first 3 petitions of the Lord’s Prayer – ignite us?
What stirs us reveals us.
Point Three: Where is God in all of This
One commentary puts it this way. God’s activity remains hidden among the plots and ambitions of human beings.
The narrative continues with Solomon taking the reigns of the kingdom in verse 38 – anointed in 39, and the party was on – just as Adonjiah’s party was all over in verse 41 and then 49. 1 Kings 1:49 (ESV)
49 Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way.
Fearing for his life, Adonijah 1 Kings 1:50 (ESV) 50 And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
The whole chapter is about human activity. Adonijah’s quest for the throne is met by Nathan’s vigilance and countered by the orders of a rejuvenated David.
Yet God had made no spectacularly miraculous intervention in human affairs. He had not struck Adonijah down with any sudden illness nor had he sent a bolt of lightning from heaven to spoil his celebration. At the right time, andin the right situation he had simply inspired minds with thoughts that moved them on, and given the exact words that were required to turn events in the right direction.
Why is God’s hand so invisible, his ways so hidden? Why does he seem to allow things to take their course rather than put things right?
Why does he seemingly commit to fragile human hands such critical matters? Why do we constantly long for one of the days of the Son of Man and never see it? (Luke 17:22 (ESV)
22 And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
Conclusion
1 Kings 2:1-4 (ESV)
1 When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 "I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'
As we will see as we journey through 1 Kings, we will see that king after king doesn’t walk in his ways; and as a result the country will be torn in 2; and each of the kingdoms, both north and south, will be plundered and its people exiled.
While we do wonder and ask about where is God in all this – God is keeping his promises that he has given to his people, despite their continual faithlessness. And the Lord will eventually send one who will be superior – Luke 11:31 (ESV)
31 … and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
And not only did the Lord carry out is his promises in the coming of Jesus Christ; but in Christ he continues to keep them. Further, he still requires of us, his people, justified freely and graciously by the death and resurrection of Christ, to continue to ‘walk in his ways and keep his statutes, his commandments, his rules and his testimonies.’ While they are not the way to salvation; they still mark out the way we as followers of Christ are to walk and live, so that we might experience the blessings which come to those who live in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul.