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‘Old and stricken in years.’
1Ki_1:1
I. But even now the curse which ever seems to cling to polygamy again made itself manifest.—Adonijah (‘Jehovah in my Lord’), the fourth son of David, and the son of Haggith, one of David’s rival wives, taking advantage of his father’s feebleness, made an attempt to gain the crown for himself. Adonijah, like Absalom, was handsome in person, but he seems to have lacked that power of political intrigue which Absalom possessed. He had organised no military force, such as Absalom had gathered at Hebron; and his revolt, if such it could be called, was rather against Solomon than against David. But of popularity, or of shrewdness, he had enough to pervert to his cause the warrior Joab and the priest Abiathar. On the set day, the excited throng, down at the foot of the valley, began their eating and drinking, and ever and anon made the welkin ring with the shouts of ‘God save the king, Adonijah!’ In accordance with Nathan’s instructions, Bathsheba hastened to the king’s presence to make known the insurrection, Nathan following her to confirm her assertions.
It is to be noted that Solomon was not the eldest of David’s sons; and hence, so far as the custom of primogeniture was concerned, he would not have been the first to inherit. But he was the son of David’s favourite wife—one whom David had before wronged, and to whom he had promised that her son should be his successor on the throne of Israel. These were the surface reasons for the preference given to Solomon; but beneath these was the fact recognised by David himself: ‘Of all my sons (for the Lord hath given me many sons) He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel’ (1Ch_28:5). As Bathsheba and he met for perhaps almost the last time on this dark day, both of them must have remembered the announcement of Nathan, still with them as friend and counsellor, which he had given so long before (2Sa_12:10-11). How carefully we should walk with God, trusting Him to keep us moment by moment, since one glance of the eye at the forbidden may lead to such disastrous results!
II. Old age had not dimmed David’s clear apprehension of wise policy, nor dulled his sense of God’s redeeming mercy.—Old age gives us time to review the way in which we have been led, and to recall interpositions of God’s helping hand, which in the rush of life we had hardly noticed. Let not the young glory in their strength, for it soon fades away; and let them give the vigour of their early days to God, that when the years come in which they shall say, ‘I have no pleasure in them,’ they may be able, like David, to look back over a long life and say with him that the Lord ‘hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity.’
Illustrations
(1) ‘Adonijah’s undutiful and criminal conduct is traced by the sacred writer to his father’s fond indulgence, and the lack of proper parental control (1Ki_1:6). God’s covenant is with His people and their children, but this involves fidelity on their part likewise to their covenant engagements (Gen_17:7; Gen_17:18-19; Pro_22:6). David gave his son a name indicative of his pious desires and hopes on his behalf; “Adonijah” means Jehovah is my Lord; how sadly different was the issue of his manhood from this cherished expectation in his infancy!’
(2) ‘In advancing a good cause a little quiet planning may accomplish excellent results, and not be dishonest. Nathan and Bathsheba had made their arrangements beforehand.
In advancing a good cause, a good action or good advice wins much in efficacy by being skilfully performed or given.
In advancing a good cause a respectful demeanour toward those in authority costs nothing, and usually accomplishes much.
In advancing a good cause a good name is of the first importance. David knew at once that Nathan’s plea was not for anything bad.’
(3) ‘Repentance and forgiveness did not neutralise the natural consequences of David’s sin. Nor will they do so for us. God often leaves them to be experienced, that the experience may make us hate the sins the more.’
(4) ‘In advancing a bad cause, it is natural to have good things to eat.
In advancing a bad cause, its promoters are always forward in appealing to the Divine protection, “God save King Adonijah!”
In advancing a bad cause its promoters are generally exclusive in their friendships. Of course Nathan was not admitted to a share in proceedings upon which he would have frowned.
In combating a bad cause it is always best to come to a clear understanding of exactly who are its friends, and who its enemies. That is what Nathan sought in questioning David.
In combating a bad cause, the more care that is exercised the better. Every bad cause has at least one very skilful promoter, whose mere tools Adonijah and Abiathar and all the rest of them are. The devil keeps a close watch over his own interests.’