David In His Old Age Series

Scripture

Last week, we concluded our study of 2 Samuel but not of “The Life of David.” The first one and a half chapters of 1 Kings tells us about the sunset of David’s life.

Let’s read about David in his old age in 1Kings 1:1-10:

1 Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. 2 Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm.” 3 So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not.

5 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. 7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother. (1 Kings 1:1-10)

Introduction

A year ago, on March 6, 2020, three senior members of the Saudi royal family, including King Salman’s brother and two nephews, were arrested. The three were accused of treason for plotting to overthrow the king. Newspaper reports suggested that the arrests were ordered by the king’s favorite son and de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was seeking to consolidate power. There have also been reports that King Salman is growing quite feeble, which is why his son has been so prominent in squashing any opposition to the throne.

When kings and other leaders become old and feeble, there is often a grab for power. People jockey their way into a position to become the next king or ruler. And sometimes it can get ugly.

This is exactly what we learn about as King David came to the end of his life. One of his sons made a grab for power. David’s son, Adonijah, wanted to become the next king over all Israel. He wanted to be preeminent. We are going to examine today’s text from the perspective of Adonijah.

As we engage with today’s narrative, let’s keep in mind that we sometimes struggle with preeminence. It may be with our spouses, or with our parents, or with our colleagues, or even with our neighbors. This text has something to teach each one of us.

Lesson

First Kings 1:1-10 shows us what happens when we wrongly desire preeminence.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. We Notice the Diminishment of Others (1:1-4)

2. We Exalt Ourselves (1:5, 6b-10)

3. We Pursue Our Own Pleasure (1:6a)

I. We Notice the Diminishment of Others (1:1-4)

First, when we wrongly desire preeminence, we notice the diminishment of others.

Verse 1 begins with these words, “Now King David….” The first thing I want to note is that 1 Kings is a continuation of 2 Samuel. We know that because of the word “Now.” In Hebrew, it is a conjunction that is called a “waw connective.” It is often used in narrative portions of Scripture to tie all the parts together.

The second thing I want to note is that the narrative begins with the words “King David.” I did not realize how significant the issue of kingship was until I read the commentary by John Olley on this passage. He writes:

That the focus of chapter 1 is on kingship is shown by the designation of key characters. Not only is King the first word but David is always King David (nine times), the king (thirty nine times) and only once our lord David (v. 11). The first instance of simply David is in 2:1, after the issue of succession is resolved. Alongside are references to Adonijah seeking to become king (six times), the promise that Solomon is to be king (four times) and statement that he has become king (seven times), or the question as to which is to be king (vv. 20, 27). The seventy instances of the noun king or the related verb is the most in any chapter in the Bible. The narrative has movement as various questions arise. Will David act as king in his last days, and if so, how? What will happen because Adonijah wants to be king? What about Solomon?