Solomon Deals With His Enemies

Transcript

GRS 2-88
11/11/2007
Solomon Deals With His Enemies
1 Kings 2
Gil Rugh

We are studying First Kings in your Bibles. First Kings and as the titles gives away this is about the kings of Israel. We have already seen two kings in Israel; Saul the account of his life and reign took up a large portion of First Samuel. Second Samuel was about the reign of David. And now as we come into Kings we are confronted with the reign of Solomon. And those three kings will be those kings that ruled over a United Kingdom.

The kingdom will split under Solomon’s son Rehoboam. And for the rest of its Old Testament history until the captivity in 722 and 586, Northern Kingdom in 722 and the Southern Kingdom in 586, they will remain a divided kingdom; the 10 tribes of the north having their own king and Judah in the south with Benjamin having their own king.

Chapter 1 of First Kings, recorded the transfer of the kingdom from David to Solomon. There was a move on the part of David’s oldest surviving son, Adonijah to assume the throne and in response to that David intervenes and Solomon was placed on the throne. Remember Adonijah had the support of Joab, who had been the commander of the armies of Israel under David, during David’s reign and had been a loyal supporter of David. Even during the time of the rebellion of Absalom Joab remained loyal to David.

But now there is a break and Joab alliance himself with Adonijah, and Abiathar, the priest who has loyally stood by David also joined in supporting Adonijah as the next king of Israel. God has already made clear that his choice is Solomon and so this is really not only an act of rebellion against David, but an act of rebellion against God and his reveled will.

Nathan the Prophet comes into the picture. Here again he along with Bathsheba bring to David’s attention the seriousness of the matter, if David doesn’t do something to prevent Adonijah from being successful, Adonijah will become king and that will result in the execution of Bathsheba and Solomon. So David does intervene and acts to see that Solomon is demonstrated to be David’s successor, by David’s appointment and that’s where we were.

As we come through Chapter 1, David gives thanks to God for the privilege he has of seeing his successor sit on the throne. God has honored his word, done what He promised and David gives thanks to God for that. The Chapter ended by Solomon extending mercy to Adonijah. He doesn’t have him executed for this act of rebellion.

But in verse 52, Solomon said of Chapter 1, if he is a worthy man not one of his hairs will fall to the ground, if wickedness is found in him he will die, he comes and bows before Solomon, Solomon tells him to go home. Those words though come back in Chapter 2, if he proves himself to be a worthy man he won‘t die, but before Chapter 2 is over Adonijah will be executed by Solomon.

Chapter 2 is really about Solomon solidifying his hold on the throne. It open with David’s final instructions to Solomon and then the rest of the chapter will be about Solomon dealing with those who were a threat to his throne. So that by the time we get done with Chapter 2, we can contemplate the building of the temple and move into the reign of Solomon and all its glory. It is a reign of glory and splendor.

David was the king who solidified the throne after Solomon. He unites the people, he is God’s king. But he is a man of war, its constant battle and war during David's reign. But with Solomon after he get through this opening period where he deals with his enemies, the nations around have been subdued by his father David, and he will have a reign that’s characterized basically by peace from war, and that will enable him to devote his energies to building the kingdom.

David's final instructions; down through verse 9, two parts; the first four verses, he challenges Solomon to walk in faithfulness, on obedience to the word of God. And then in verses 5 to 9, he gives instructions concerning three men who are all potential threat to the throne of Solomon. The Chapter opens up, as David's time to die drew near, he charge Solomon his son saying I am going the way of all the earth, be strong therefore and show yourself a man, keep the charge of the Lord to your God to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances and his testimonies.

According to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn. So, that the Lord may carry out his promise, which he spoke concerning me saying, if your sons are careful of their way to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man to sit upon the throne of Israel, a challenge that has been given at other times in Israel’s history.

Go back to Joshua chapter 1 take a moment to look at these two occasions; you see very similar language. In Joshua Chapter 1, you have God’s words to Joshua, as he assumes the responsibility for leading Israel. Now they don’t have a king yet, but Joshua has become their leader.

And in verse 6, God says that Joshua be strong and courageous and to what David tells Solomon to step up and be a man, be strong and courageous for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their father to give them, only be strong and very courageous, be careful to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you, do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night. So that you may be careful to do all according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous, then you will have success. Be strong and courageous do not tremble or be dismayed the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. He is saying basic instruction from God to Joshua, he assumes the role of leading God’s people, you be faithful, you trust me, you obey my word, and then I will fulfill my promises.

Back up to Deuteronomy just before Joshua to Deuteronomy 31, as Moses gives his closing words in Deuteronomy 31 verse 6, be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, he will not fail you or forsake you. Then Moses call to Joshua and said to him in the site of Israel be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land, which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, you shall give it to them as in inheritance. The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, do not fear or be dismayed.

Down in verse 23, he commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said be strong and courageous, you will bring the sons of Israel into the land, which is swore to them and will be with you. You see these promises; come back to First Kings 2; you step up and show courage, be a man, but it in the context in not being macho, but being faithful, be faithful to the word.

Your courage comes out of your commitment to the God of Israel. Your commitment to his truth and you do what he says and that’s the repeat it, emphasis Moses transfers the leadership of Israel to Joshua, as God reminded Joshua of his responsibility. Now it's David remind Solomon some things don’t change. Leaders come and go; God’s word stands firm and unchanging. The promises of God are the same, faithfulness to his word brings blessing. So that’s his challenge to Solomon, courage and obedience, go together.

Verse 4, when David refers to God’s promises to him that if your sons are faithful then you will not lack and descendant to sit on the throne. Goes back to the Davidic covenant in second Samuel Chapter 7 verses 12 to 16, we won’t go back and read that. But that’s God promise to David there, David remind Solomon of the importance of faithfulness. So that God will honor his word as he is promised.

Now David turns his attention to some things that Solomon will have to take care of; first instructions regarding Joab, Joab is a key figure. And let’s face it; the man who is in charge of the army wields great power. Joab has led the army of Israel under David's reign. He had always been loyal to David until the situation with Adonijah. But even during those times of loyalty to David he had not always been obedient to David. At times he took things into his own hands, including murdering two rivals, if you will military men, a one for personal revenge the other for conflict for position.

It wasn’t an active war it was an active murder in each of these cases. Abner in Second Samuel Chapter 3 verse 27 and Amasa in Second Samuel Chapter 20 verse 10. Joab contrary to the will of David took it upon himself to murder each of these individuals, was an active rebellion against David, and with defines of David. Joab was loyal and supporting David's reign, but there were times when he determined he would do what he wanted to do.

These murders are reflection on David, because he ultimately responsible for what happens under his authority. And ultimately he is in authority over Joab. And now for whatever reason David did not deal with Joab. Joab knew that the future was not bright for him when Solomon comes on the throne. That’s probably why he threw his support to Adonijah, where there he would have influence.

But as Solomon come to the throne he realizes with the transfer of the kingdom there will be an accounting. And so we have some further conflict going to develop with him. What David says regarding Joab, you know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the commanders of the armies of Israel to Abner the son of Ner to Amasa the son of Jether whom he killed. He shed the blood of war in peace.

See there is a problem Bible in the Old Testament makes clear, there is a difference between killing in war and Joab killed many, many men, killed women and children, but as part of the acts of war that was acceptable. But to murder two men even though they are military men, but it wasn’t peace that is inexcusable. He put the blood of war on his belt about his waist on his sandals of his feet. So act according to your wisdom, do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace, and that being don’t let him die of old age.

But show kindness to Barzillai the Gileadite. And what Barzillai had done remember he brought out provisions for David and his men when David had flee from Absalom and helped provide and protect David during that key time. Verse 8, you have to do with Shimei. Now remember Shimei, the Benjamite verse 8, he curse David when David had a fled from Absalom, Shimei is a Benjamite, Saul was king he was of the tribe of Benjamin.

Shimei went out curing David throwing stones at him saying, he didn’t deserve the throne. He sort it how to remain with Saul and the tribe of Benjamin. David had said that, he would not execute him. Shimei come back and asked for forgiveness from David. David told him that, he wouldn’t kill him. Second Samuel Chapter 19, but Shimei knows he still has an accounting to do.

Those are the awareness when there was going to be a change of king there were going to be some records that would be brought up to date. That will become clear when Solomon deals with Shimei here in a moment. David tells Solomon I swore that I would not put him to death with the sword. But verse 9, now therefore do not let him go unpunished, you are wise man, you will know what you ought to do, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood.

So here is not going to die a natural death, maybe a gray haired man, but he is not going die of old age, because you will bring about his execution. You decide how it has to be done. So you have three people dealt with here. You have Joab, who has to die. You have Shimei who ultimately will have to die, and you have Barzillai who should be honored and cared for by Solomon and provided for by him.

With that verse 10 and following we are ready for the death of David. Then David slept with his father’s was buried in the city of David. The days that David reigned over Israel were 40 years; 7 years he reigned in Hebron and 33 years he reigned in Jerusalem. Remember that then David was 70, and we looked in the previous study; he was 30 when he assumed the throne of Israel, reigned for 40 years, so now it's 70, and a body worn out.

Remember he had, his life was given to battles and warfare. So now he goes the way of all flesh or as he said in verse 2, the way of the all the earth; death is the natural end of life. David has no complaint here. He realizes this is his appointed end. Solomon sat on the throne of his father, his kingdom was firmly established. He is king, everybody recognizes that, but there are some issues to deal with to be dealt with. His throne is firmly established, but there are some individuals that would to like to overthrow him that would not be supportive of him, they will have to be dealt with.

The first of these is Adonijah. Now remember he is the oldest surviving son of David in Chapter 1, he was the one who try to assume the throne. Now Adonijah verse 13, the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon and she said you come peacefully, he said peacefully. Bathsheba obviously is a woman of great influence with David. Her role is one of his wives and obviously one of his favorites.

So we saw her coming to David with her appeal in Chapter 1, she is also the mother of Solomon, who now sits in throne. So obviously she has a particular in with Solomon. Solomon will have many wives, but he only has one mother, and so she will have influence with Solomon naturally. So Adonijah comes to Bathsheba, and she is not aware of the implications of what is going on here. And Adonijah attempts to use her to move himself into a position to attempt and overthrow of Solomon.

Verse 14, he says I have something to say to you she said, speak he said you know that the kingdom was mine that all Israel expected me to be king, however the kingdom is turned about and become my brothers, for it was his from the Lord. If you really plays on her emotions and sympathies; he said you know I was the one who would be king I mean he would be natural, he was the oldest surviving son the kingdom was mine.

And we saw he had a party going, a coronation time, and the nation expected he would be king. However, he came about that the Lord appointed Solomon. And he acknowledges that it was from the Lord. So a little bit of sympathy here for me, he is seeking from Bathsheba, you know I have lost the Lord here. But I recognized that the Lord wanted Solomon, your son to be king. But I am making one request of you don’t refuse me I am not asking a lot, there is one thing I would like to have.

Verse 17, please speak to Solomon the king for he will not refuse you that he gives me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife. Bathsheba says, very well I will speak to the king for you. Bathsheba doesn’t see anything wrong in this. Remember Abishag the Shunammite, she was the young beautiful woman who came to keep David warm in Chapter 1, during his closing days of life. David never had sexual relations with her, but she would have become part of his harem by virtue of the position she had now had with him.

Bathsheba doesn’t see any harm in this and it seems like a small consolation price. You give up the empire and all that goes with that, and all the wives and all the concubines and all that will go with that, you asked for one young beautiful woman with whom David never had a sexual relation. Sure, I will talk to my son on your behalf.

So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king wrote to meet her, bowed before her and this shows her special honor and respect as his mother. He has another throne brought into set up next to his, she sits on his right. So you can see the role that Bathsheba has here with her son. He brings a throne for her, she didn’t just come and stand before him, but she sits on a throne alongside to him on his right.

She sat on his right at the end of verse 19, then she said, I am making one small request of you do not refuse me the king said to her, ask my mother for I will not refuse you, she said let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as a wife. King Solomon answered and said to his mother and why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah, ask for him also the kingdom, for he is my older brother, even for him for Abiathar the priest and for Joab the son of Zeruiah, Solomon she is right through what is going on here and Joab and Abiathar the priest are also involved.

Remember those two supported Adonijah. Solomon sees this as a revived conspiracy to have Abishag given to Adonijah, who is the last women in the harem to be associated with David, and have the relationship of intimacy; even though it wasn’t sexual intimacy with David. That everyone knew was with the king in his closing time of life.

So by having her as his wife Adonijah now, give something of Davidic Authority and creditability if you will. And Solomon sees this as an act of treachery, as Adonijah tends to again position himself to take the throne, and he sees the hand of Joab in this along with Abiathar. These conspirators haven’t gone away.

Adonijah is the older brother. Now David is out of the picture. We say we thought this was settled in Chapter 1 and it was, but you know some things aren’t settled, settled, settled because now David is dead. And you know people easily are led astray. So Adonijah who is the oldest son of David Adonijah; who did the people first recognize as a legitimate successor, Adonijah; who has the support of David long-term military commander and supporter; Joab, Adonijah. Who has the support of Abiathar the high priest who so faithfully served under David; Adonijah. And David is not here to set the record straight. So you get this going of this time in an attempt, I think now with David dead maybe there will be a success in overthrowing Solomon and establishing Adonijah.

So verse 23 King Solomon swore by the Lord saying, may God do so to me and more also if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. Remember what Solomon said to Adonijah and about Adonijah at the end of Chapter 1, if he is a worthy man not one of hairs will fall to the ground, if wickedness is found in him he will die. In effect Adonijah is on probation, I am not going to execute him or his attempt to assume the throne. But we will see how he does.

Verse 24, now therefore as the Lord lives who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house as he promised surely Adonijah shall be put to death today. They didn’t have long term appeals in this day. And Solomon did not have to consult with anyone. He simply calls for Benaiah who was the man who will become his military commander and dispatches him to execute Adonijah his brother.

And so that is done, with Adonijah executed that leads Abiathar and Joab, with nowhere to go, no one is going to support Joab for king, Abiathar can't be king he is priest. The man they supported is dead. So then he summons Abiathar the priest in verse 26, and the king said go to Anathoth to your own field, you deserve to die I will not put you to death at this time.

So there is a clear warning to Abiathar. He is used up. He is not in lives or eight of the nine. There are going to be no other. I am not going to put you to death at this time. So don’t take advantage of this any further. Why? Because you carried the ark of the Lord God before my father, because you were afflicted in everything with him when which my father was afflicted. In other words Abiathar had been with David from the beginning when David was going to wilderness.

Abiathar’s family, remember had been slaughtered by Saul, Abiathar was the survivor. He endured the wilderness and persecutions of Saul with David. He had been faithful. He was a priest. Solomon gives him some of the way that he would not give Adonijah or Joab. So Anathoth is really sent into exile. He is removed from the priesthood.

Now interestingly this fulfills the promise to goes back all the way to the days of Eli. Eli was succeeded by Samuel. Remember Samuel came as a young boy and lived with Eli, but because of the wickedness of Eli’s family and Eli did not deal with it. God said that his priestly line would not prosper. And so we remove the priestly line of Eli here with Abiathar.

Zadok the priest will be appointed from a different family, still within the tribe of Levi of course, but now through a different line that promise of God to Eli and that judgment on his families found in First Samuel Chapter 2 verses 30 to 33. So here you have, well we have 40 years of Saul’s reign, 40 years of David's reign, then the life of Samuel up until the appointing of Saul as king. Passing of time God’s words always comes true with the removal of Abiathar and amazing how works Abiathar his own sin, brings about his removal. But that is used to bring about the fulfillment of God’s word to Eli.

There is one other conspirator to deal with that is Joab and Joab now is left out there hung out to dry sort to speak. Now the news came to Joab verse 28, for Joab had followed Adonijah no he had not followed Absalom. When Absalom David son rebelled against David Joab remained loyal ultimately Joab was the one who executed Absalom. But with Adonijah, he joined with Adonijah.

Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. It was told King Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold he is beside the altar. Solomon said Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada saying go fall upon him. Benaiah came to the tent of Lord and said to him, that says the king come out. He said no I will die here. Benaiah goes has word send to the king and says, what you want to me to do.

Here he had is gone into the tent, the Tabernacle, grabbed onto the horns of the altar that was a place of refuge; where a man could go until he had been truly found guilty. It was not a place of refuge for the guilty; it was a place where a person could go to find safety until his case had been decided. Joab’s case has been decided his guilt is clear. So he has no safety by holding onto the horns of the altar.

So verse 31 the king send word to Benaiah, do as he just spoken, fall upon him and bury him, he wants to die there man, he can die there. So Benaiah goes in and executes Joab. They have to do this verse 31, Solomon says to remove from me, and from my father’s house the bled that Joab shed without cause, two particular murders that he committed. David is still my carried out justice. So justice delayed did not been justice would not be carried out.

So the Lord will return his blood on his own head he fell upon two men more righteous and better than and he killed them with the sword. Well my father David did not know at Abner the son of Ner commander the army of Israel, Amasa the son of Jether commander the army of Judah; those blood shall return on the head of Joab on the head of his descendants forever, but to David and his descendants on his house his throne there maybe peace from the Lord forever. Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada went up fell upon him put him to death. He was buried at his own house in the wilderness. The king appointed Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada over the army in his place. The king appointed Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

So now we have dealt with these past offences. The conspirators have been dealt with Joab has paid the price for murder that hung over David's family until they executed justice that needed to be done. Benaiah is now the commander of the army and will be under Solomon. Zadok is the priest. The line of Zadok will maintain a permanent priesthood when you get them one you will temple. You read that in the end of Ezekiel, you find out that is the priest of Zadok that will serve in the Millennial Temple in the days of the kingdom.

Well we have another person that has to die. You know it can be bloody getting a new king installed and settled. Shimei the king send and call for Shimei. Remember David said you have to deal with Shimei. Solomon is not going to just call him in and have him executed; David had extended mercy to him. He call for Shimei and said to him build your house in Jerusalem live there don’t go out from there any place, for on the day you go out and cross over the brook Kidron you will know for certain you will die; your blood will be on your own head. Shimei said to the king your word is good.

As my Lord the king has said you serving will do Shimei knows he deserves to die for his offenses against David. There is no debate no argument here. He understands that the delay in any punishment from David was only temporary. So he doesn’t have any argument here. He hasn’t claimed. Your father David absolved me from my guilt. So he expected as the other did with the coming of a new king there would be a day of reckoning.

Solomon says, I will tell you what in effect, he is under city arrest, his punishment is as he confined to Jerusalem. He can live out his days in Jerusalem, but if he ever leaves Jerusalem there will be a death penalty. Shimei says that’s a good sentence I mean that’s fit in. That I have that kind of restriction from my crime, and if I leave the city I deserve to die agreed.

That goes on, but you know what happens you forget or you decide after time it probably will matter. Whatever his thinking is after three years two of Shimei’s servants ran away to another city. They tell Shimei where they are, where these servants are verse 39, so Shimei gets up saddles his donkey goes to Gath to get his servants. And he brought them back to Jerusalem.

It was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned. Remember these three years Solomon had kept track of Shimei. So the king send call for Shimei and said to him did I not make you swear by the Lord and solemnly warn you saying you will know for certain that on the day you depart and go anywhere you surely die, and you said to me the word which I have heard is good, why then if you do not kept the oath of the Lord and the command which I laid on you.

The king said to Shimei, you know all the evil which you acknowledge in your heart, which you did to my father David, therefore the Lord shall return your evil on your own head. King Solomon shall be blessed; the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever. The king commanded Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada; he went out fell upon him so that he died. And thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.

Shimei was an ongoing threat and the man who had declared his allegiance was to the line of Saul. He was opposed to David and so he receives just punishment. So these enemies of David, these guilty are now all been dealt with. The throne of Solomon is established. The rival Adonijah and his supporters were gone; penalties have been meted out as David said Solomon should do. Now Solomon can solidify his position with nations around him. You will pray to the Lord, the Lord will give Solomon great wisdom.

We see something of the Wisdom of Solomon. We are preparing the way for the construction of the Solomonic Temple and the glory of that reign. Couple of things to note, there is a repeated emphasis here on the establishing of Solomon’s throne. We will note that in a moment. Couple of things I have eight, I don’t know if you keep track of those kind of things, but eight things to observe out of this.

The first was what David gave as a charge to Solomon and that is the courage of being a man, you have seen in a walk of obedience to the word of God, show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God and walk in his ways to keep his statutes and his commandments and so on. That will be the mark of your manhood, you fulfilling your responsibility; Solomon being faithful to the word of the Lord.

And with that God’s promises are realized in the context of obedience. God made promises, but those promises are in the context of obedience. They will ultimately be realized. But there will be consequences to be paid for a failure to be obedient, and that will become more clear as we move through the kingdom. And ultimately the judgments with the removal of the kings of Israel to this day, no one is sitting on the throne of David in Jerusalem.

Well God’s word will be fulfilled ultimately, because we know that the one who will sit on that throne will return and do that. So God’s word is always ultimately fulfilled, but in their history they miss the blessings. So the end of verse 4, and if your sons are careful in their way to walk before me and truth with all their heart, with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.

The promise to establish the throne of David forever still stands good, but Israel will have to go through the time of judgment, and no one sitting on the throne, the kingdom really came to an end in functioning as kingdom in 586 BC and were 2500 years, without a true a man sitting on the throne. When the New Testament open remember Herod functioning as king of the Jews, but he is not on the throne of David, he is not even a Jew, an Idumean so still under judgment.

All right, God’s promises are realized in the context of obedience. We had realized that. God ultimately has promised me as his shall many things, but disobedience brings chastening and forfeiting of some of the blessings that could have be mine, as God accomplishes his work.

Verses 5 to 9, sometimes we read this and it seems strange, seems maybe even cowardly, if David. I didn’t deal with these matters Solomon, and I am going the way of all the earth. So now you have to deal with them. But justice must be done, and it's the right thing to do. And David is not rebuked for not dealing with them. But it is his responsibility to see that they get dealt with and justice must be carried out.

Solomon recognizes that until Joab is dealt with the guilt of his actions will hang over the throne of David, because Joab murdered and until he is dealt with as a murderer; whoever sits on the throne of David is accountable for that, a fourth point is God is sovereign and it's such an important point. God is sovereign. David is going the way of all the earth, but God is not leaving. When I think, all the way of David could have only been sustain by the Lord to live to 90, instead of 70.

What are they going to do with David the sweet psalm of the Israel, the man after God’s own heart he is dying, well it was me no, there Solomon. God is sovereign. It's time David recognizes it's time. And his instructions to his son Solomon indicate, you know we are not in trouble here the word of the Lord still stands true. It's to true for me and these promises were good for me, now they are good for you.

And so this transition from David to Solomon is within the plan of God. God has already told David that your son is going to build the temple for me to be center of my worship in Israel. Everyone knows here rebellious men sin against mercy. Adonijah had received mercy. He could have lived out his days as a son of David and the half brother of the reigning king, and he had received mercy. But you know sin has a way of driving us onto we’re destroyed and that’s what happens with Adonijah.

As we noted justice delayed, it's not justice cancelled. Down in verse 32, Joab’s actions will impact him and his descendents, because of the guilt that comes with that. The positions they lose. Shimei sinful manner and insensitive to the reality of judgment; he goes out he comes back he doesn’t think anything of it, goes and gets his two servants, what good are they to him, he was shortly be a dead man. Somehow there becomes insensitivity to the reality of judgment. In all of this God is faithful Solomon reigns.

Look at verse 12, Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, his kingdom was firmly established. Look at verse 24, now therefore as the Lord lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father and who has made me a house as he promised. Adonijah will die. I am on the throne, just like God promised. Adonijah he is going to die.

Verse 33, so their blood shall return on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever, but to David and his descendants and his house and his throne may there be peace from the Lord forever. Verse 45, King Solomon shall be blessed the throne of David will be established before the Lord forever. So the end of verse 46, thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.

You have to deal with Shimei. You have to deal with Adonijah. You have to deal with Abiathar. You have to deal with Joab, but no one can frustrate the purposes and plans of God. God is faithful, we can’t frustrate God’s plan, and even the sinful actions of men served to accomplish the purposes of God. Abiathar the high priest rebels against David and Solomon. He can't be successful and all his rebellion does is what, bring about the fulfillment of the promise given many, many years earlier to Eli, that his descendants would be removed and not function in the priestly role. So if he goes to exile.

God is sovereign that’s why we as God’s people today, don’t wring our hands and look at the world and look at world conditions and wonder, what is going to happen, because we have a sovereign God. Yeah but happens is so and so becomes president, well he said sub rulers and he takes down rulers, but what happens if the economy goes to pieces, that’s alright, we are not laying up treasures on earth.

We are more often and rest in inflation and deflation and every other thing removes it right. We have got it in heaven. I can't lose my treasure that’s the only treasure that counts, right. We have a sovereign God, yeah but you don’t know what’s going to happen to you, what about your kids what about your grand kids, what about your great grandkids when the world going to happen to them in this with the ways the world is going. Well, I know where the world is going and I know where I am going, right. I will read the last Chapter, have you, so no problem, right; no worries, no trouble, sleep good at night, nothing to fear. God is sovereign.

And we have read it in the Israel history and we say, yes why would anybody do anything, but faithfully obey the Lord and his word, and here we are 2500 years go by longer than that that since the Exile, we are 3000 years. God is still faithful. He is the sovereign God, his purposes are accomplished, his word is good and we belong to him what more could we want.

Let’s pray together. Thank you Lord for who you are; thank you for these records from ancient history, but they are so relevant. They are reminder of your faithfulness, your sovereignty, reminder that your word will always accomplish your purposes. It will always come to pass. Lord Solomon reigns, even as you promised, judgment has come upon the nation, even as you promise, someday the son of David will reign, as you promised. We are your people call to be obedience, obedient through trials, obedient in the phase of difficulties, obedient and faithful even with the blessings that are showered upon us.

In all that transpires and all that takes place we rest secure; knowing that your purposes will be accomplished. Someday we shall stand in the glory of your presence, heirs, and co-heirs with Jesus Christ, inheriting an inheritance that cannot be removed. May I walk with you this week? We want blessing and joy to our hearts even if difficulty and trials come because we know your purposes are being worked out. They are concern to be faithful and obedient in all we do that you might be honored. We pray in Christ’s name, amen.