Oct 30, 2018
With the opening of 1 Kings, we see David in the waning days of his kingdom and life. He is old and bed-ridden, and while Solomon was God’s appointed successor to David’s throne, he would face an unexpected challenger: His own half-brother, Adonijah. This scene is eerily reminiscent of Absalom’s attempt to usurp the throne from David. Once again, we see one of David’s sons exhibiting disrespectful and rebellious tendencies, all because David had failed to provide him with proper guidance and discipline in his life. In 1 Kings 1:1-10, Adonijah will mirror the methodology used by Absalom in order to win over some of David’s key advisors and leaders, including Joab, his former military commander and Abiathar, the priest. David, relegated to his bed, would be able to do little to stop what was about to happen. In his younger days, he had suffered from complacency and indecisiveness. Now, he was hampered by debility and helplessness.