The Kingdom in Crisis
Northwest Bible Church – Jan. 8, 2006 Worship Service – Alan Conner
1 Kings 1
The Kingdom in Crisis
INTRO
Outline: 1 Kings 1
1 Kings 1:1-10 Adonijah, “I am king.”
1 Kings 1:11-27 Nathan, “Solomon should be king.”
1 Kings 1:28-40 David, “Solomon is king.”
1 Kings 1:41-53 Adonijah, “Please don’t kill me.”
1 Kings opens with an old, cold king who is at the end of his life and reign. He is about 70 years old having reigned as king for 40 years (2 Sam. 5:4-5). The kingdom for all practical purposes is without leadership for the king is too weak to even be able to keep himself warm and this results in a crisis in leadership.
I. WHY WAS THE KINGDOM IN CRISIS (1:1-10).
A. David must carry the blame.
1) Failures as a husband.
a) Polygamist.
b) Promise-keeper.
2) Failure as a father.
#1 Amnon – raped his half-sister Tamar, sister of Absalom (2 Sam. 13). David did not discipline or punish Amnon, 2 Sam. 13:21.
#2 Chileab – no other information; dead? Decided he wanted to be a farmer?
#3 Absalom – murdered his brother Amnon for raping his sister (2 Sam. 13) – David did not discipline Absalom, 2 Sam. 14:24.
#4 Adonijah - tried to steal the throne, 1 Kings. 1:6 David never crossed Adonijah, cf. Prov. 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child whogets his own way brings shame to his mother.
B. Adonijah, the fourth son of David, is also at fault. On the surface, Adonijah seems to have everything the world would want in a king. He had:
ambition, “I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5), –
style, “he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with 50 men to run before him” (1 Kings 1:5b), –
good looks, “very handsome” (1 Kings 1:6)
position, He was the 4th son of David (2 Sam. 3:2-6).
Endorsements, both military (Joab, the general of the armies of David,) and religious hierarchy (Abiathar the priest) and others (brothers, all the men of Judah), see (1 Kings 1:7, 9).
However, there were two major flaws:
Spoiled brat -
Spiritual delinquent, “he did not invite Nathan the prophet” (1 Kings 1:10).
Summary of Adonijah’s character: inept leadership, failed God’s standards.
APPLICATION: Young ladies:
APPLICATION: the kingdom of God:
But there is a means of grace which can rescue the kingdom from its flirting with the world. We see this manifested in the ministry of Nathan.
II. HOW THE KINGDOM IS RESCUED FROM THE CRISIS (1 Kings 1:11-53).
A. Nathan, the prophet of God.
B. Nathan, zealous for God’s will and word to be done.
APPLICATION:
1) Following God’s word is the key to how to resolve the crisis.
2) Keep a sharp eye out for the rise of Adonijahs in your heart.
3) Know that in every crisis, there is an invisible hand guiding the events.