Bible In One Year-Day 122 (Friday, May 02, 2014)

Commentary: 1Kings1-3. The book of second Samuel ended with David’s plead for God’s mercy concerning the plague in the nation. He made a sacrifice that cost him something. However, his life transcends into the book of Kings. The first chapter of 1Kings is about the politics surrounding the enthronement of David’s successor. The servants of David lived with him long enough to know what the weakness, strength and the hobby of their master was; they suggested a young and lovely lady be put with him. Adonijah, seeing that his father couldn’t do anything with the young lady, concluded that his father had no more strength and so it was time to take up the kingship responsibilities. Adonijah had three brothers as seniors; Amnon, Daniel and Absalom. The three of them were dead and Adonijah, being the fourth son, presumed he was the next to be the king. Unfortunately for him, he was unwise about it. He did not follow the traditional protocols of enthronement; he followed the path of bribery and sacrifice without the consent of the incumbent king. The plot against him was in line with tradition; king’s consent was sought for. Nathan, the trusted prophet of David received the mandate to pour oil on Solomon and Zadok was there to represent priestly backing. The plot was instigated by Nathan and I guess this was because Adonijah despised him, Solomon and Zadok. We need to know one thing. David loved Bathsheba and Nathan had a good relationship with her and Solomon because he knew God loved Solomon. David gave the name SOLOMON, but God gave him JEDIDIAH (2Samuel12:24-25), a name sent through Nathan. This was how the relationship began and this was displeasing to Adonijah. Nathan was not pleased either for the manner Adonijah despised him, therefore, he decided to call Bathsheba to go to the king with words words to say. In the first place, David did not say anything while Adonijah was doing all those things probably because he loved Solomon but Adonijah was the senior who, by tradition, should ascend the throne;

1 Kings 1:6 “And his father had not displeased (or rebuked) him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.”

But the plot of Nathan worked because David trusted Nathan as a prophet, therefore, he yielded to the words of Nathan. Without any doubt, God loved Solomon because the trait of godly wisdom was already in him. The first display of wisdom was the manner he handled Adonijah’s undeserved request for an oath from him, 1Kings1:52-53. His father acknowledged this trait in him in chapter2. In his admonition to Solomon, David told him the secret of his success as a king;

1 Kings 2:3 “And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:”

Joab, the commander of David’s army, did a lot for David, but his support for Adonijah at this crucial moment was a support in error. The inheritance David left for him is in 1 Kings 2:6 “Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head (i.e. gray hair) go down to the grave in peace.”

This is an evil inheritance, a verdict of untimely death. All those in Adonijah’s camp, including him went into serious error that terminated their lives one by one. The first bloodshed in Solomon’s reign was Adonijah’s blood. Chapter3 reveals what happens when one contacts God. Solomon contacted God in his dream and his bargain was the Spirit of wisdom, his greatness manifested immediately. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you for service, you become a solution to mankind. Greatness is in what God is able to do through you and not what you do for people. All the great people we read about so far in this Bible In One Year became remarkable, relevant and great after the Holy Spirit came upon them. That was why Jesus told His disciples, Luke 24:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, there is no relevance in any man. Your preaching, good work, evangelism and whatever will only have impact if the Holy Spirit finds His place in you. How open are you to Him? The reading for today is 1Kings4-6. Keep the fire burning and alive.

Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the demon; for God was with him.”