The Horns of the Altar
(1 Kings 1:47-53) “…the king’s servants have gone to bless our lord King David, saying: ‘May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne’ Then, the king bowed himself on the bed. [48] Also, the king said thus: ‘Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, while my eyes see it!’ [49] So, all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid, and arose, and each one went his way. [50] Now, Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose, and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. [51] And, it was told Solomon, saying,’ Indeed, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; for look, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’ [52] Then Solomon said, ‘If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.’ [53] So, King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. And, he came and fell down before King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, ‘Go to your house.’”
OVERVIEW
Solomon was to be the king after David, but his elder brother – Adonijah – was preferred by Joab, the captain of the host, and by Abiathar, the priest; and, therefore, they conspired together, and tried to steal the throne and set up Adonijah as the next king of Israel. They utterly failed in this ill-conceived venture; and, when Solomon came to the throne, Adonijah feared for his life. He fled immediately fled to the horns of the altar at the tabernacle for shelter. Solomon permitted him to find sanctuary there, and forgave him his offence, and said that if he proved himself a worthy man he should live without further molestation. But, very soon, he began plotting again, and sought to undermine Solomon now that their venerable father was dead. It became, therefore, necessary –especially according to ancient philosophy and ideals – for Solomon to strike a heavy blow. However, Solomon chose to bring mercy and peace; only when it appeared to be sought honestly.
Then, we see in 1 Kings 2:28 that Adonijah went back onto his own commitment to peace with the reign of his younger brother Solomon. Adonijah – the 4th son of David and his wife Haggith – came to Solomon’s mother Bathsheba. He asked her to go before King Solomon and ask for a wife to be given unto him. However, it was the attitude Adonijah had in his royal query that cost him his very life.
(1 Kings 2:15) – “…You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the LORD.” Then, we see the reaction of the king; and, just how swift and serious it was (1 Kings 2:18-23) – “’…Very well, I will speak for you to the king.’ [19] Bathsheba, therefore, went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And, the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king’s mother; so she sat at his right hand. [20] Then, she said: ‘I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me.’ And, the king said to her, ‘Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.’ [21] So, she said: ‘Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.’ [22] And, King Solomon answered and said to his mother, ‘Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also – for he is my older brother – for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.’ [23] Then, 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!’” In v. 25, we see Solomon’s death penalty met-out upon Adonijah – “So King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and, he struck him down, and he died.”
Then, we find the final two conspirators – Joab captain of King David’s army, and Abiathar the high priest – were dealt with by King Solomon’s decree. First, the king – though, he thought Abiathar the high priest – deserved death, the king commuted that penalty, and simply remove him from the priesthood, and exiled him to the area where his home was (ref. 1 Kings 2:26-27). However, Joab – motivated by his fear of King Solomon – ran to the tabernacle and do the same thing that initially saved Adonijah from death (ref. 1 Kings 2:28-29). Yet, this did not work this time with the king. King Solomon ordered Joab’s death; even at the very feet of the altar of sacrifice that he clung to for mercy; and, that is exactly what happened (ref. 1 Kings 2:34).
So, a question stands out after we looked at this historical story: Why did Adonijah receive royal mercy and Joab did not? What are we to learn from/about the LORD through this transitional time in Israel’s history? I would suggest the following thoughts…
I. The conditions that came with the king’s mercy.
(1 Kings 1:52) – “Solomon said: ‘If he (Adonijah) proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but, if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.’”
Adonijah’s newly-found royal mercy did not come without a required holy and honest response by Adonijah himself! Then, unfortunately, the wickedness that Adonijah promised he would not allow into his heart and life; that he promised he would stay loyal to King Solomon and his leadership, was not honored by Adonijah. Therefore, the king followed through on his execution orders; and, Adnoijah lost his life. What we learn from this is: No matter what some may suggest that our interpretation of Scripture, and our doctrinal teaching about Divine expectation of our daily obedient walk with the LORD – that if we suggest that God expects us to maintain our walk and relationship with the LORD through our daily obedience unto Him and His expectations for our lives as some form of ‘works’ or attempts to ‘earn’ our salvation – I tell you that God’s offer and application of His grace-initiated, divine forgiveness and mercy is tied to our willingness to walk in His ways! The very spiritual heart-beat of our redeemed status with a holy God is contingent upon our daily obedience unto the LORD and His will and His ways!
- We as Wesleyan-Arminian believers do not believe nor teach that we can ‘lose our salvation (like a set of keys can be lost).’ We do believe AND un-ashamedly teach that we can walk away from a relationship with Christ; which makes that relationship’ null & void! How many people – who walk away from a marriage through divorce – consider themselves still in a relationship with their former spouse?!
(Deut. 6:17-18) – “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you. [18] And, you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the LORD swore to your fathers…”
(Deut. 30:15-16) – “…I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, [16] in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”
(Matt. 5:19-20) – “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
(Phil. 4:9) – “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
(1 John 1:7) – “…if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
We can see – through thorough Biblical exegesis – that the blessings, protections and promises of God are forever-tied to the moment-by-moment, day-in and day-out obedience unto the LORD!
- (Peter T. Forsythe, an early 20th century Scottish theologian) – “The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master!”
(1 Cor. 6:12) – “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
- (Thomas a Kempis, a 15th century theologian and Christian writer) – “Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from grace.”
II. Then, we see the apparent repentant response by Adonijah.
(1 Kings 1:53) – “…King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. And, he (Adonijah) came and fell down before King Solomon; and, Solomon said to him: ‘Go to your house.’”
Living a life of true, repentant surrender unto God is a wonderful life! It truly is good to be a forgiven child of God! The blessings available to the Christian are of infinite worth.
(Eph. 1:1-3) – “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: [2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…"
(Eph. 3:20-12) – “…to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, [21] to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever…”
(1 John 3:21-24) – “…if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. [22] And, whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. [23] And, this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. [24] Now, he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And, by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”
(Rom. 5:1-2) – “…having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
III. Finally, we see the failure of Adonijah to keep the mercy, forgiveness & victory he secured by holding firmly onto the horns of the altar.
(1 Kings 2:13-15) – “…Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So, she said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ And, he said, ‘Peaceably.’ [14] Moreover, he said, ‘I have something to say to you.’ And, she said, ‘Say it.’ [15] Then he said, ‘You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the LORD.’” (v. 25) – “…King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he (Adonijah) died.”
God’s mercy and forgiveness is never kept from the truly repentant! However, should one depart from his/her walk and relationship with Christ, they leave behind the forgiveness and mercy that God’s grace had shed and sheds in and over their lives; here on earth and throughout eternity (should they fail to once again seek God’s forgiveness and repent from their backslidden condition before they die)!
(Eccl. 12:14) – “…God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing; whether good or evil.”
The heavenly Father sees our daily walk in this world; for both saint and sinner. He is recording every thought and every deed; again, for both saint and sinner. We find plenty of evidence of this eternal fact in God’s Word.
(Daniel 7:9-10) – “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; [10] a fiery stream issued, and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”
(Rev. 20:12-15) – “…I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And, another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And, the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. [13] The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And, they were judged, each one according to his works. [14] Then, Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And, anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Let me (quickly) share with you some definitive Scripture from the OT that assists us in understanding the true and very real aspect of God’s constant offer of His forgiveness and grace…
(Ezek. 18:20-24) – “’The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. [21] But, if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. [22] None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.’ [23] ‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord GOD, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live? [24] But, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.’”
(Ezek. 18:26-28) – “When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. [27] Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. [28] Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.’”
(*Then – in 1 Kings 2:26-34 – we see, following King Solomon’s command to execute Adonijah, the king removed Abiathar from the priesthood [which was a fulfillment of God’s Word that Eli’s ancestors would not remain in the priesthood; ref. 1 Sam 2:31-35]. After Joab heard of Adonijah’s death and Abiathar’s exile from the tabernacle, he, too, did as Adonijah had done; he fell down at the altar of sacrifice and gripped the horns of the altar; evidently seeking mercy and forgiveness that the king’s step-brother had done…to no avail.*)
- (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) – “You cannot make your parents love each other. You cannot make God’s people come together in oneness. We cannot even change our own hearts. It is a work of God, and that is why we need to pray: ‘Lord, would You do what only You can do…?!’”
So, what do we glean and apply from taking hold of the horns of the altar? What is it we are to really learn about the spiritual importance of the altar of sacrifice?
1) When we pray we must be earnest. (James 5:16) – “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” The Greek word here for fervent is best translated energetic. Energy denotes even more specificity; it could be also called powerful. With powerful praying – prayer with true focus – can and will have a real impact! And, the type or attribute of the one praying with true, burdened fervency is the prayer “of the righteous man (or woman)…” Albert Barnes says this: “The quality on which the success of the prayer depends is not the talent, learning, rank, wealth, or office of the man who prays, but the fact that he (she) is a ‘righteous man…’”
2) When we pray, we must confess and repent of sin.
- Adam Clarke (comments on James 5:16: “Confess your trespasses one to another…”) –
“This social confession tends much to humble the soul, and to make it watchful. We naturally wish that our friends in general, and our religious friends in particular, should think well of us; and, when we confess to them offences which, without this confession, they could never have known, we feel humbled, are kept from self-applause, and induced to watch unto prayer, that we may not increase our offences before God…” (Lev. 5:5) – “…it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing…” (Josh. 7:19) – “…Joshua said to Achan: ‘My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.’” (Psalms 38:17-18) – “…I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me. [18] For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin.”
3) When we pray, we must seek the true and anointing presence of God (His Holy Spirit). Why is this so important to the aspect of praying for God’s presence? (Psalms 46:1-4) – “…God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [2] Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; [3] though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah. [4] There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.”
IF YOU ARE A TRUE, BORN-AGAIN CHILD of GOD, you (we) do not – must not – seek for help and refuge from alcohol and drugs, from Hollywood and television; we do not seek for help and refuge from a constant pursuit of anything/everything this world offers! We seek our help and refuge from “a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High!” This is where God’s holy presence resides!
(Psalms 51:10-11) – “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and, renew a steadfast spirit within me. [11] Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”
(James 4:7-8) – “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”
The Holy Spirit does not exist to fulfill our desires. We exist for His glory. And – I don’t know about you – I want God’s presence to use me, to use our Church for His glory; to bring men, women and children to Christ! God is a God whose purposes are the only ones worth pursuit! He is truly a God whose mysteries are the only ones worth probing!
