Your Kingdom Come

The most famous prayer in the history of the world is the one that Jesus told his disciples, when they asked him how to pray. We know it as the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name … YOUR KINGDOM COME -

And since the time Jesus taught us how to pray … Christians with a living relationship with Jesus Christ - who have experienced this world and drunk deeply from the misery of a life outside of a relationship with the God of the universe

… and who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good - and that by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ … they know what it is to be made a new creation - - - all the old has passed away - the scaly old skin of sin has been left behind .... forgiveness and freedom has come - and your relationship with the God of heaven has been restored - but not just as a servant of the King … but now as a child of a loving, all-powerful Father.

Christians have been praying, since the time of Jesus Christ - that God’s kingdom would come.

And as long as they’ve been praying that prayer .... Christians have been living in a world where it would be tempting to wonder whether God’s Kingdom will ever come.

Do you ever feel like the Church of Jesus Christ is on the wrong side of history?

There are so many who believe that in our society today. that’s because in popular circles, Christianity has, by and large been rejected. At best, it’s treated as a relic of ancient, unenlightened, superstitious times. “Oh, you’re a Christian” - comes the response to your testimony … and you can see the look of surprise, mixed with disdain ...

At worst, it’s treated as intolerant and dangerous.

So, is there coming a time when the whole world turns its back on Christianity?

You need to recognize that God’s Kingdom often passes through precarious moments - when the future seems almost hopeless.

Joseph, the prince of Egypt dies after saving the nation from starvation and bringing his family to safety .... and a new Pharaoh rises up who doesn’t know Joseph and enslaves his people.

Moses, leads his people out of Egypt’s slavery, through 40 years in a hostile wilderness .... and dies, just outside the border of the Promised Land.

Joshua dies and a new generation rises up that doesn’t know the Lord or what He had done for Israel.

1 Kings begins at a time like that.

The book of 1 Kings is a story of God’s Kingdom looking like it’s doing anything but advancing.

Right at the beginning of the book - we have heroic, mighty warrior, protector, man of faith and heart for God - King David … on his deathbed.

One wrong move - one bad turn … and there’s going to be disaster for God’s fledgling people.

And while the king is almost lifeless - not long for this world … there is an ambitious prince, who is trying to take David’s throne before he’s even dead.

Adonijah

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Nathan steps up. He makes an impromptu visit to Bathsheba: “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king and David our lord does not know it?”

Do you see David’s weakness on full display here? This legendary, once mighty warrior and conquering king is mighty no more. He’s not even able to keep his body warm under the covers of his bed, without a beautiful young woman lying next to him.

There’s a word play here that I don’t want you to miss: “Adonijah … has become king and David our lord DOES NOT KNOW IT.” Verse 4 ends with the description of Abishag and her beauty, “… but the king knew her not”. That’s ‘know’ in the ‘intimate sense’

And Nathan says in v. 11 that David does not ‘KNOW what’s going on in his own kingdom.

Just down the street from his palace, where his son is grasping for the throne before his dad is even dead. This is all going on right under his nose - but David doesn’t have a clue.

That’s not the kind of king you want - impotent in every way.

We have a crisis point for David right here: Is he going to go out with dignity? Will he end his story in full control of the nation God made him king over - strongly passing on the baton and directing the next generation before he says ‘goodbye’?

.... Or, is he going to fade away in ignorance, impotence, weakness?

Nathan is determined to help keep him on track and lead him by the hand if necessary - so he crosses the finishe line and ends well.

The prophet tells Bathsheba to pay the king a visit and remind him of the promise he made: that Solomon, her son, would be king after him.

Now just because Bathsheba is one of David’s wives … that doesn’t mean he’s going to want to hear what she has to say … doesn’t mean he cares. But the situation is deadly serious. Adonjijah is partying with ‘ALL’ of his brothers …EXCEPT Solomon. Why is he the only sibling not invited? The only respons can be that he knows David’s promise - he knows God’s plan - that Solomon has been chosen to take David’s throne.

Solomon’s presence would give the lie to what this usurping brother is claiming at his feast. And if Adonijah sees him as a threat now … you better believe that he will take the first chance he has to ‘get rid of Solomon’ and his mom - to make his own throne secure.

Nathan understands how serious the situation is:

Verse 12: “Now therefore, come, let me give you advice, that yo umay save your own life and the life of your son, Solomon.”

Bathsheba squares her shoulders, steels her resolve and makes her way to the king’s chamber. And when she steps into the room - she also has to swallow her pride. This can’t be easy for her.

There’s her husband, frail frame, barely able to get out of bed - - and there’s Abishag - the young beauty contest winner … nursing HER husband.

Once upon a time, Bathsheba was THAT woman - - now she’s on the outside of his bed - her place taken by a younger model.

See the humility on her face as she bows and pays homage to the king … giving him honor, no matter how she may feel. David may have forgotten about her - she may have been passed over - he may be too weak to protect her and her son, let alone the kingdom .... but she will not give up.

She reminds David of his oath and explains why she’s bothering to remind him about it right now. Adonijah is king. She’s careful not to blame David for being oblivious .... but the reality is that he should know what’s happening, not just in his kingdom, but in his own family - with his own son, Adonijah.

And she presses him - it’s not too late to do something to make things right. Verse 20, “… Now, my lord the king, all the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.”

As Bathsheba is still talking, right on cue, Nathan steps into the room and affirms the truth of everything Queen Bathsheba has been saying.

“Ummmm, King - did I miss the memo?” Verse 24, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and HE shall sit on my throne?”

“Because, right now, even as we speak, there’s a coronation party going on and the shouts are ringing in the air, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’”

Nathan says his piece, adding to what Bathsheba has already said. And then … everybody stops.

How will the king respond? Will any of this even register? Does David even really know where he is?!”

1 Kings 1:28–30 ESV

Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. And the king swore, saying, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, 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.”

“Then King David answered ....”. This is huge. Go back to v. 16, when Bathsheba steps into David’s presence. Remember what he said: “What do you desire?” Thats a generous English translation of what he said in Hebrew. What he said, in Hebrew, is exactly 2 words: “What to you?” (3 words in English - only 2 in Hebrew). “What to you?”! It seems like David is so far gone that he can’t even spit out a complete sentence!

So see the transformation! This same guy who, just minutes before, ould barely grunt out a couple of raspy syllables … suddenly is sitting straight up and full in command of the facts and the situation.

1 Kings 1:32–37 ESV

King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. 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. 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!’ 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.” And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so. 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.”

“Solomon will be king - and we are going to make that happen RIGHT NOW!”

Do you remember last week, when Adonijah tried to claim the throne and pass himself off as rightful king - he rented a limousine and hired a motorcade to drive ahead of him - so that he gave off the ‘air’ of inevitability and legitimacy?

Look at what David does, in v. 33: Solomon isn’t taking a rented limo to his coronation - Dad the king puts him in his own royal car … and sends the entourage on a processional. They drive through town and then out of town to Gihon, the water-spring that supplies most of Jerusalem’s water. Its’a bout 1/2 a mile from Adonijah’s feast at En-Rogel - the Serpent Stone.

And as soon as the group arrives at the water spring - David has the nations two most important representatives of God, anoing Solomon as king - to make it official.

Zadok the priest - and Nathan the prophet are both there.

1 Kings 1:39–40 ESV

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!” 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.

Verse 39, Zadok the priest takes a horn of oil from the tent - that’s the tent of worship - this is oil set apart for worship … and in an act of worship to the God who is the ultimate King over this country and in obedience to Him ....

Out pours the oil over the head and runs down the beard and clothes of Solomon. The torch has been safely passed to a new generation - - to God’s choice for leader of the new generation.

When the people shout, ‘Long live King Solomon’, when the trumptes blow - and throughout the parade back into the city … the shouts of celebration are rising. In fact, the parade is SO loud that, v. 40 tells us, ‘the earth was split by their noise.’

That’s a lot of noise. That’s real celebration. You can tell when people are sincerely excited and when they are just being polite - or forced.

Like the time when Nicolai Caucescu, the communist dictator of Romania, gave a FIVE HOUR speech and his audience gave him SIXTY-SEVEN standing ovations. Do you think that by number 5, it was true enthusiasm, let alone, numbers 62-67? More likely, that was about fear of being noticed as not being excited enough about the great and wise leader.

This is not that kind of celebration. These are people who recognize that God is providing His leader for the future … and with a noise loud enough to split the earth .... when it’s coming from less than a km. away from the other party in this battle of duelling coronation celebrations, you can imagine that the people at Adonijah’s feast are hearing the noise.

Sure enough, Joab, Adonijah’s military commander hears the trumpets: Verse 41, “What does this uproar in the city mean?”

Joab doesn’t even finish his sentence before Jonathan, the son of Adonijah’s priest shows up. And Adonijah, fully limbered up from the celebratory drinks … welcomes him,

V. 42, “Come in for you are a worthy man and bring good news.”

Ahhh - and we want to say, “Well, Adonijah, you’re partly right.” Jonathan is bringing good news alright. Good news for the nation … good news for the unfolding of God’s purposes in history .... but this is most definitely not good news for Adonijah.”

Verses 45-48

And in the few short breaths of time it takes Jonathan to speak his handful of words - Adonijah’s entire life plan, every ambition … instantly it all shatters on the rocks of reality. All of his life, he’s been angling to be king - he had everything planned, everything organized … there was no shortage of hard work or determination in him setting out to accomplish his dreams! And he was so, so, close.

And the dad he thought was past being able to influence a single thing … David has put Solomon on the throne.

And, as soon as the reality sinks into the minds of the guests - you can imagine how the festive mood is killed in an instant.

Reminds me of my 5th birthday party - that age when birthday parties are big events. You’re just old enough to understand, not so old that you want to be cool and only spend time with your closest friends.

No - everybody is invited - every kid in the neighborhood is there. Kids you’ve never played with, kids you’ve barely met, kids you don’t even like. Everyone’s there.

I remember we were getting ready for the cake and playing ‘Pin the tail on the Donkey’

… and just as mom was putting on the candles, somebody walked across the floor and accidentally stepped right square in the center of the birthday cake.

Now, what that cake was doing on the floor, in a room full of 5 year olds, I don’t understand … but what I do know is that the party was over. The footprint in the icing killed it. When the birthday boy is crying, the fun is over.

Adonijah is the 5 year old crying … and you can see everyone at the feast, look down at their watches and start muttering, “Oh, would you look at the time! I have to go. I have to be at a, a .... thing.”

The guests all scatter. Nobody wants to be seen as loyalist to a usurper.

And Adonijah is left alone. Left alone and he panics.

Verse 50: “And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 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.’”

Oh how the mighty have fallen! Minutes ago, this man had the throne in his grasp. He was calling the shots - he was crowning himself and keeping Solomon on the outside looking in.

Now look at him - terrified … taking sanctuary at the altar … reduced to a beggar - pleading for his life.

And the one person in whose hands rest his fate … Solomon, is the very one he wanted to eliminate.

Now this is the first test for the brand new king. What’s Solomon going to do? How will he respond to the plea of a rival who wanted his throne and wanted he and his mother dead?

What would you do?

Look at Solomon’s response in 1 Kings 1:51-52

“I’m not going to execute you for treason … yet. I’m also NOT going to pretend that you’re innocent … you’re not. What I’m going to do is put you on probation - I’m going to let you prove yourself. I’m going to let you decide your own fate, by your own actions.”

If you prove your loyalty … you don’t even need to fear a split end in your hair. But … if your actions prove treachery … you will have nobody but yourself to blame for your death.

BINGO! Great response! Solomon faces his first test as king … and passes with flying colours.

The chapter ends, in v. 53, with Adonijah led away from the altar - brought to the new king - and folds himself down to his knees in visible submission. See him there, the ambitious, self-promoter who tried to claim the throne for himself … only to end up here … bowing before God’s chosen king.

“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.’”

There’s no mistake who’s in control at the end of chapter one.

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Application

Three things I want you to notice from this text. First of all - do you see how the future health of God’s Kingdom is what stirred David to action? It wasn’t a beautiful woman in his bed … it was his heart for God’s Kingdom -

I wonder: what stirs you to life? What sparks your zeal and gets you fired up? Is it the mechanic who’s looked at your car 3 times and charged you shop rates for every visit … and the car still isn’t running right?

Is it your retirement fund?

Is it the government that lets the big box store stay open during Covid for shoulder to shoulder Boxing Day sales but won’t let you play hockey because you’re over 18?

Whatever fires your passion reveals your heart. And if you’re like me, and you’re honest with yourself - - you’ll find that far too often, what fires me up and moves me to roll up my sleeves for a battle … is whatever threatens my comfort.

See David in our passage - and catch his vision.

The second thing I want you to take from our text is confidence in God’s active direction of history. Did you notice how much God is at work in our story?

When Adonijah stood up and said, ‘I will be king’ - did you notice how that lightning bolt flashed from heaven and struck the godless self-promoter right between the eyes - killing him on the spot in a spark of instant judgment?

… No, didn’t happen.

How about when Adonijah held his feast to celebrate grabbing the throne for himself … did you see that miraculous outbreak of food poisoning that God sent into the roast lamb they were eating? Did you see how everyone at the dinner barely got two bites down before they started uncontrollably vomiting and running for home - so the party was over before it began and Adonijah’s scheming fell apart?

No - that didn’t happen either. Did you notice that there is ZERO mention of God’s activity in this story? All we get through the whole thing is human action after human action after human action.

Oh, but do you see past the realm of the visible here? See how God is so perfectly in control and working out His unstoppable purposes - even without a word?

At exactly the right time - He stirs Nathan the prophet, gives him the right plan and exactly the right words to use for himself and for Bathsheba.

See how God leads them to David at precisely the right moment in time - just when the danger was reaching its fever pitch - with the imposter about to steal the throne … but not a moment too late?

And David - there’s the nearly comatose king, barely able to fight to stay alive, grunting out a sentence … suddenly - he’s sitting up and making plans and barking out orders to his officials. He’s back to the military general and king who put Israel on the map. Where did THAT come from?

That’s not human. Do you see God at work, friend?

God’s name may not be used in this passage for any of the actions we read … but make no mistake, friend - - God’s finger is at work in every verse.

And He is the same God that is unfailingly and unceasingly at work in our world today. “I am the same yesterday, today and forever,” Jesus says.

Oh how often do you look at the circumstances of the world unfolding around us and you see everyone acting … except God? Why is His hand so invisible? Why does He seem to allow events to take their course rather than

Finally - do you see the life lesson for us from Adonijah’s example?

Anyone who tries to sit on the throne of his own universe will one day end up exactly like Adonijah. Please, hear this friend.

You can make your plans, you can scheme and work the system and promote yourself - you can say, “Not YOUR will be done, God .. .but ‘MY’ will be done” … and you might get away with it for awhile.

Teenagers, young adults. You feel invincible right now and you may have a time of partying where it seems that you’re making your own rules and the friends around you are cheering you on.

But there will come a day, much sooner than you think, when your star fades, your friends leave you alone … and all of the pleasures you demanded for yourself - - they all turn to gravel between your teeth.

Ask Adolf Hitler, who tried to rule the world - and ended up a suicide.

Ask Howard Hughes, the richest man in the world of his day ,who died alone, in his self-imposed prison cell of a luxury apartment - with Kleenex boxes on his hands and feet to protect him from germs.

Better yet - ask yourself: “How well has life worked out for you, when you’ve tried to sit on the throne of your own life and live on your own terms?

Have you tasted freedom’s joy and found the fulfillment you were designed and created by God to know?

Or, have you found the promises that this world offers - to be empty? Well, of course they will be empty: because God didn’t create you to be king. He didn’t design you to grab for your own glory … that’s too big a burden for you and one you can never complete.

God designed and made you to surrender to the KIng of Kings - Jesus Christ - the Eternal King who is also the Son of God.