1 KINGS - WHEN THE FUTURE IS UNCLEAR

When the Future is Unclear

When the Future is Uncertain

1 Kings 1:1-10

This morning, we begin a new series in the Old Testament book of 1 Kings. The very name 1 Kings means that, obviously, there’s also a 2 Kings - right next door. Originally, these 2 books belonged together. The only reason they are separate now is because when they were written - people didn’t write in notebooks, like we do today - where you can bind a bunch of pages together with a spiral ring and then flip pages over. Back then, people wrote on scrolls - wrote in them and rolled them up. And the most you could write on one scroll without it becoming something only a weight lifter could carry - was about as much as we have in each of the books of Kings.

We’re going to focus on 1 Kings and then go back to Romans, Lord willing - and pick up 2 Kings another time.

This morning, I want to introduce you to 1 Kings. With a title like that - any idea what this book deals with? It’s a book that tells the story of 14 Kings - beginning in Israel’s glorious years of conquest under King David, about 961 BC … and ending in about 850 BC.

It’s in the section of our Old Testament known as the historical books. So, as you might guess, this is a book of history. Now stop right there - before you tune me out. Some of you hear ‘history’ and your first reaction is a yawn. “I’m not a historian. I didn’t like history in high school - so I don’t see how I’m going to be interested in whatever this book is going on about.”

If that’s how you feel - let me say a couple of things to hopefully change your mind:

FIRST - Remember the old saying, “He who doesn’t know history is condemned to repeat it.”

“Don’t get stuck in the past - you’ve got to keep up with the times as we make our way into a new future.” Well, I like what Charles Spurgeon once said, “I rather like to be just a little behind the times, so I can see where the times are going.”

With God’s Word in your hand, friend - looking at history in God’s world - you can know where the times are going.

When I look at the world that we are living in today - I see so much relevance in this book for us. God’s word always speaks into our lives - wherever we find ourselves. Of course it does … this is God’s Living and Active Word. But there’s something about the books of Kings that is MASSIVELY relevant in 2021 ....

...... and my prayer is that you will see that in crystalline clarity in the weeks ahead. This is a book dominated by government power - kings rising and falling … government changes - some good and some terrible .... and in the midst of it all - - you see God, quietly … but most certainly, Sovereignly guiding history forward and accomplishing His purposes.

SECOND thing for you non history buffs - Our English translations follow the Greek translation of the Old Testament - that put 1 Kings in the historical books. But in the Hebrew Bible - Kings is actually in a different section. It’s the same book - same contents - but it’s placed in teh section known as the “Former Prophets”. That’s important. Because you know what the Biblical prophets do: They speak into the world situation of the day - with a message from God. Whether it’s a message of encouragement or a word of rebuke and a call to get your act together … the messages of the prophets are reminders that there’s a power above every earthly power. And the God Who sits on the universe’s throne is watching very carefully … and is holding you accountable for what you do with your few short days under the sun.

The fact that Kings is among the prophetic books is a great reminder that a prophets word doesn’t have to come in direct 1st person speech, “THUS SAYS THE LORD - I AM AGAINST YOU ....”.

… It can also come in the seeming silence of history where God doesn’t seem to be saying anything. Friend - God is always speaking through His word with a message for us. That’s what we will learn in our journey through 1 Kings.

So, without any more delay - let’s dig into this book. This morning, we are going to whet our appetites with just the first 10 verses that kick off the events that we’ll explore in the next number of weeks.

1 TIME TO PASS THE TORCH, vv. 1-4

“Now King David ...”. The very first words of 1 Kings are a reminder that what we’re about to read is the continuation of the story of King David’s life - that was the subject of the 2 books that come just before this one: 1 and 2 Samuel. And, when you read these words - you instantly have a full-colour picture in your mind’s eye.

The shepherd boy, the youngest and forgotten one in his family - with older brothers who looked more impressive. But God chose this insignificant one to be the king over his nation of Israel.

This is the one who became a great fighter, politician and lover … Legend in Israel. From the time he was a teenager - killing giants, having songs written about him - top of the Spotify charts and sung by all the young girls througout the nation. Warrior - king - unifies the 12 tribes spread throughout the country

… crushes Israel’s enemies

.... he captures the city of Jerusalem, makes it the center of the nation ...and and puts Israel on the map - gets it noticed on the international scene. Israel becomes a nation to be reckoned with … with David as its king.

Most of all, this David is called by God, ‘A man after God’s own heart.’ Psalm writer, musician, passionate follower of God … even though there are some huge black stains on his resume.

You remember Bathsheba and her husband who was no more - because of David’s schemes. Remember Absalom his son - who is also no more - because of David’s failures as a father.

Anyone here identify with David?! You love the Lord with all of your heart … and still there is such shame in your past? You understand David. And it’s this David that God makes a promise to. You can’t understand the book of Kings without knowing God’s promise to this very king:2 Samuel 7:12-16

In spite of David’s heinous sins ...

God doesn’t remove the promise. He doesn’t ‘hand David over’ to his own sin … When we are faithless … He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (

1 John 1 tells us).

But the David we meet in 1 Kings 1 is not the David you have in mind - the warrior, conquering - not even scheming man of action and victory.

1 Kings 1:1 goes on .... “King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm ...”

The king is about 70 years old right now - and he’s not doing well. In fact, David’s not doing as well as some people who are older than that - We have in our own church people in their 80s who can do more pushups, or situps … or who drive more like a Race Car driver … than most everyone who’s half their age.

David’s not that kind of a 70 year old. He’s not in good shape - He’s bedridden and can’t even get warm - no matter how many blankets they throw on top. He appears to be suffering from advanced arteriosclerosis. He’s not going to be fighting any giants anymore - that’s for sure. This is a shivering shadow of the mighty ruler David once was.

“How do we keep our king from freezing to death?”

Someone has an idea: “I know David - I know what will warm him up - let’s get a beautiful yong woman to crawl into bed beside him and be like a personal hot-water bottle.”

And when you’re dealing with the king of the country - not just any young woman will do: this has to be the MOST BEAUTIFUL young woman Israel has to offer. So they put on a beauty pageant to find MISS ISRAEL … and the winner is a young virgin named Abishag. She’s brought to David, she climbs into his bed so that her body heat warms up his fragile frame.

But just in case you are wondering what else was going on under the covers - verse 4 makes it clear that there was no funny business going on here: “The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him … BUT THE KING KNEW HER NOT.”

That’s an encouragement in terms of avoiding adulltery … but it’s also a concerning reminder:

This is not the virile, full of life David … not anymore.

David has lost his potency in every way and with it, his ability to govern his people.

The Bible does not ignore this reality. Looking at King David, near the end of his life, quivering under his blankets, unresponsive to the beautiful young woman beside him, we are confronted with human mortality. David had been one of the greatest and best men to have ever lived. For many years he had been the one who led Israel to victory over enemies. He had been the “shepherd of [God’s] people Israel” (see 2 Samuel 5:2).

Here’s an old king who seems not to be long for this world.

And you see the problem here for the people of Israel. David was our security! He was the king who advanced our borders and crushed our enemies ...

What’s our future without

As we prepare to read the story that 1 Kings will tell, think about this bleak scene: the frail and fading King David, beyond human help, beyond human hope.

All of us who are blessed to live long enough will experience something like this. Your strength will fade. Your brain will fog. You’ll lose your independence.

Whatever you have been - all that you have accomplished … you will become but a shadow of what you once were - just like David. And you’ll hear death driving up the road to meet you.

Visit a nursing home and spend some time with frail old people. It is difficult to imagine what they have been and what they have done when they were young, fit, and healthy. We all find this confronting. None of us likes to think about this reality, but reality it will be for all of us—unless, of course, we suffer the even greater tragedy of premature death.

Human power at its best does not last long. Nothing human lasts forever.

Not our bodies. Not our institutions. Not our empires and nations. Do you get the feeling, when you look at our world today - that our Western society is past its peak and well on its way on the downward slide?

Coronavirus

People so angry – not communicating WITH each other or debating ideas … but talking OVER each other and past each other – with nothing solid to bind us together anymore, it seems.

Carl Henry began his book, “Twilight of a Great Civilization’ with these words:

“We live in the twilight of a great civilization, amid the deepening decline of modern culture. Those strange beast empires of the books of Daniel and Revelation seem already to be stalking and sprawling over the surface of the earth. Only the experimental success of modern science hides from us the dread terminal illness of our increasingly technological civilization.

… We sit glued to television sets (or smartphones or computer screens) – unmindful that ancient pagan rulers staged Colosseum circuses to switch the minds of the restless ones from the realities of a spiritually-vagrant empire to the illusion that all is basically well. Our generation is lost to the truth of God, to the reality of divine revelation, to the content of God’s will, to the power of His redemption, and to the authority of His Word. For this loos it is paying dearly in a swift relapse to paganism. The savages are stirring again; you can hear them rumbling and rustling in the tempo of our times.”

Carl Henry wrote those words 32 years ago. Do you think they’re any less relevant to our situation today?

What hope could there be for Israel when their great king was now so weak that he could not even get warm? What hope can there be for the world today, when every human ruler, every human power, every political system, every scheme to make a better world will sooner or later fade away—just like King David?

There is more. David had been God’s king, whose throne, God had promised, “shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). How is it possible to believe God’s promise when we see his chosen king frail and fading away? What would it take for God’s promise to be fulfilled?

God’s promise to David gives us a clue: “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you … and I will establish his kingdom” (2 Samuel 7:12).

So, who can possibly fill the shoes of David?

2 A NEW KING STEPS FORWARD, vv. 5-10

The good news for God’s people is that someone is waiting in the batter’s box - all warmed up and ready to step up to the plate. The person I’m talking about is David’s oldest living son and his name is Adonijah.

READ vv. 5-10.

Adonijah buys himself a stretch Rolls-Royce limousine, has decals made to stick on the doors: “Office of the King-Elect”, he hires a motorcade to drive ahead of his car - and recruits Joab and Abiathar to key roles in his upcoming government. Joab was his dad’s Secretary of Defense and Abiathar was one of the most influential religious leaders in the country. So he already has his first cabinet posts filled.

Think about this: Here’s a member of the royal family, next in lined to the throne … and he’s eager to get started on the job ahead. Isn’t this exactly what you want in a king?!

And … as the cherry on top of this ice-cream Sunday .... notice what it says halfway through verse 6 … “He was also a very handsome man.”

A king with ambition AND he’s easy on the eyes - someone that you can be proud of when you turn on the tv news and see him in a photo op with other world leaders. You don’t need a leader who looks good … but some people seem to really like that … and that’s Adonijah.

Ambition, Organization and Looks … this nation is going to be left in good hands. .... or at least that’s what it looks like to human eyes.

But not so fast! Part of reading and understanding OT narrative is picking up the clues that are put right there in the text in front of you.

And the narrator is sending us some strong messages here.

First of all - v. 5, “Adonijah, son of Haggith EXALTED HIMSELF … saying ‘I will be king’.”

This is nothing like the way his dad became king. Remember David was taking care of the sheep when Samuel came to his dad’s place to anoint the next king. All of the other brothers were paraded in front of the prophet - all the ones that you would expect - the oldest, the strongest, the best looking … and David was forgotten in the fields. Until God steps in to make sure the insignificant one is brought in - because man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

The very first glimpse we get into Adonijah’s heart - paints a picture of a young man who cares about nobody but himself: “I will be king” - not a mention of the people he wants to lead.

Another concerning part of this young man’s character is his lack of discipline. Look at v. 6, “His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, ‘Why have you done thus and so?”

If you know the life of David at all - maybe you remember another son he had, who he also failed to discipline. Remember Absalom?

And do you remember what happened in that story? Undisciplined and neglected Absalom led an attempted coup against his dad, the king .... sparked a civil war.

Another connection with Adonijah is that Absalom was described by how handsome he was … and handsome Absalom, with his long luxuriant hair - ended caught up in a tree by his flowing locks … and ended up dead.

One more thing to notice about Adonijah’s quest for David’s throne is that he threw a great coronation banquet for himself (which is a little creepy itself), but when he invited almost all the A-listers of the nation to ‘come and celebrate ME!’ …there were some significant people who were left off the guest list.

Verse 10, “… but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men … OR SOLOMON HIS BROTHER.”

If you took a poll in Israel, asking, ‘Who is the person in all of the nation who is most likely to speak God’s truth - whether it’s popular or not … the man who would absolutely come out tops in the poll … would be Nathan the prophet.

This is the man who fearlessly stormed into David’s presence after the Bathsheba - Uriah debacle, when David had an innocent man’s blood on his hands - and waved his finger right in the face of his king, saying, “You are the man”. Nathan speaks truth to power and can’t be bought. But Adonijah doesn’t invite him to his party … why do you think that is?

And v. 9 tells us that he invited all of his brothers - David’s sons .... all except Solomon? Why not him?

Are concerns starting to build in your mind about Adonijah being fit for the throne?

Well, let’s go back to 2 Samuel 7 and I’ll make sure you’re concerned. When God promises David that one of his sons will sit on his throne - 2 Samuel 7:12, He says “… I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your own body ...”. Well, when God makes this promise, Adonijah is already born … it can’t be him.

And in our own chapter, in 1 Kings 1:17, “Bathsheba reminds David had promised her that Solomon would be king after him.”

So it was never the plan.

And that’s the crisis we have here, isn’t it: You have an ambitious usurper clamoring for power on one side… and an impotent King David on the other side.

… you know that if Adonijah gets the throne … he’s going to kill Solomon to consolidate his power and remove every threat.

And ultimately, it’s the people of the nation who are going to suffer with a self-centered, self-serving king on the throne.

Adonijah is not a man fit to be ruler over God’s people. He’s not the one promised … AND – he doesn’t have the character qualities necessary to lead the people of God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Adonijah’s chief end is to glorify himself and enjoy his privileges forever.

In Mark 10:43, Jesus contrasts His Divine way of ruling with the way of the world’s leaders: “Whoever wants to be great among you mmust be your servand (44) and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”

That’s what David did in his best days … he risked his life against the giants – for the sake of his people. But even that man after God’s own heart failed.

So there is no earthly king that could ever rule perfectly – Not David, not anyone.

We need a greater king. That’s one of the main themes of this book. No human king is enough for our needs.

Hear that, political warriors – getting your preferred candidate into office will never be enough – they all have feet of clay – because they’re all afflicted with the same disease of sinful selfishness. Does that mean don’t get involved in politics? Absolutely not … we are called to be salt and light in this world – and that needs to penetrate every area of life.

But we need a GREATER KING – we need THE LIGHT of the World, Jesus Christ.

And that’s where the Bible storyline is going – its moving toward Jesus who took His throne – by laying down his life for His people. May He be your hope.

But in the meantime … God is at work in history. And as David lies in weakness and the future seems up for grabs … God is in control. Spoiler alert: Adonijah will not be king. The God of glory will see to that. And we will pick up that story next week.

So,, are you anxious as you look ahead into the future? You don’t know what’s in store for our civilization in the days ahead. Well, you aren’t alone, you know. And, you aren’t the first to find yourself in days of uncertainty.

Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo, in North Africa is the probably the most famous person of his day. Augustine lived in a time like ours – but so much more dire.

As he was carrying out his ministry responsibilities, he received word, in December 410 that the city of Rome had fallen. “Rome has been sacked, much of it burnt down and the government of the civilized world is no more.”

It was one of the most extraordinary stories of calamity that had ever been seen up to that point. Like when the Nazis broke through into France and were pushing through towards the English Channel.

It meant the end of civilization. Because civilization WAS Rome.

But Augustine didn’t panic. He reassured his flock and then spent the next several years writing his great work, ‘The City of God.” – analyzing like nobody else ever had – the contrast between the ‘City of Man’ – that’s temporary, and the city of God – that’s forever.

And stepped into his pulpit in the cathedral of Hippo and preached to a scared flock who thought the world was ending.

“You are “You are surprised that the world is losing its grip, that it’s grown old. Think of a man: He’s born, he grows up, he becomes old

“You are surprised that the world is losing its grip, that the world is grown old? Think of a man: he is born, he grows up, he becomes old. Old age has its many complaints: coughing, shaking, failing eyesight, anxious, terribly tired. A man grows old; he is full of complaints. The world is old; it is full of pressing tribulations. . . . Do not hold onto the old man, the world; do not refuse to regain your youth in Christ, who says to you, ‘The world is passing away, the world is losing its grip, the world is short of breath. Do not fear. Thy youth shall be renewed as an eagle”

If it had not been for Augustine - it’s a great question as to whether the Christian Church would have survived, to have its youth renewed like an eagle.

Twenty??????? years later, the barbarians swept through Spain and across the sea to Africa – destroyed Carthage and then laid siege to Hippo.

Literally 2 days before they broke through the walls - Augustine died. Just 2 days later, the barbarians invaded the city, burn the city to the ground, destroyed his legendary library, reduced his basilica to a heap of rubble that it today.

Bishop Augustine sought words of wisdom to offer his deeply shaken congregation, some of them refugees from Rome. He responded to the question he knew they were all asking: How could our God allow this to happen? Could a Christian empire truly fall? Augustine said to them

“God does not raise up citadels of stone and marble for us; outside of this world he raises up citadels of the Holy Spirit for us, citadels of love which could never collapse, which will for ever stand in glory when this world has been reduced to ashes. … Rome has collapsed and your hearts are outraged by this. Rome was built by men like yourself. Since when did you believe that men had the power to build things that are eternal? Your souls, filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, will not perish.”

Note what Augustine did not say. He did not tell them that they shouldn’t weep for the suffering—that they had nothing to fear and that everything would be ok. He definitely didn’t say ‘Let’s just calm down and give these Barbarians a chance. They may be stealing from the poor, mocking the vulnerable and sexually assaulting women, but this new administration’s policies may prove to be beneficial to us (although clearly not to everyone). After all, the old regime wasn't perfect either.’ No, what he did say was, in fact, the opposite.

In a series of sermons, Augustine told his flock not to worry, that they were not citizens of Rome or denizens of earth. He appealed to their imaginations and told them they were citizens of the heavenly city of Jerusalem. Since the fall of Adam, said Augustine, the loyalties of the human race had been divided between two great symbolic cities. One city, the heavenly city of Jerusalem, served God along with his loyal angels. The other city, Babylon, represented by Rome, served the rebel angels: the devil and his demons. He said that although Jerusalem and Babylon appeared mixed they would be separated at the Last Judgment. The righteous, he said, would return to the heavenly city of Jerusalem just as the prophets had foretold of the return of Jews to their homeland.

The message of the book of Kings isn’t just about kings and governments and God’s rule over them. This book is relevant to you on a personal level as well.

If you’ve ever been hurt before - I mean, really wounded by the decisions and actions of others … in fact, you’ve been so devastated by the sinful choices that someone else perpetrated against you - that you rearely, if ever, even go back there in your own mind: the pain is just too much.

And I know enough of your stories to know that there are many of you watching right now - and this is you.

If all there is to this world is what you can see with your eyes .... this world of humans, choosing and scheming and acting ON other humans, where injustice is, where people get hurt - - - and where the guilty seem to go unpunished far too often

… if this is all there is - then you have no reason for hope, do you? Justice? Vindication? It’s all so much wishful thinking.

But friend that’s where the book of Kings comes in. This is a God’s-Eye View of history. It shows us the reality behind what we can see with our eyes. It shows us that this is a world of people acting and choosing and bringing grave consequences by the choices they make.

But, above it all: is GOD!

God is on the throne. He is fully in control and He is using the free choices of the humans he created - rulers of the world even - no matter how evil their intentions may be ...

… He’s using it all to accomplish the Good purpose He has for history .... and for you.

The purpose that ends with the King of KINGS reigning forever - and you, his blood-bought child, delighting in the Glory of His Presence without a single hindrance and with GREAT JOY … forever!