1 Knigs 1:11 says, Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? Nathan spoke to Bathsheba about the fact that Adonijah without David’s knowledge had pronounced himself David’s successor as king, and asked if she as Solomon's mother had not heard this. We, as God's people, need to be aware of what is going on in the church today, especially when it comes to the leadership of the church. Verse twelve adds, Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. Nathan told Bathsheba to listen to his counsel in order to save her life and the life of Solomon. Of course, the only advice that we can give anyone today in order to save their life spiritually is to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Verse thirteen continues, Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? Nathan told Bathsheba to go to David and ask him why Adonijah was reigning as king since David had promised her that Solomon would reign. We actually have no record of David doing this, but he may have. We may have no record of certain people hearing the gospel, but they may have. This should never stop us from sharing the gospel though. Verse fourteen states, Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words. Nathan said that whils Bathsheba was talking to David, he would come in and confirm her worlds. Matthew Henry says that Nathan knew that it was God's will for Solomon, whom David had called Jedidiah, meaning Beloved of Jehovah, to be the next king, even if Solomon himself seemed to be somewhat indifferent to the situation. We need to do all that we can in order to ensure that the people that God calls are really in place in the church. Matthew Henry also said that Nathan seemingly coming to him almost by accident at the same time Bathsheba was there asking about Solomon would be seen as a sign from God that what she was saying was God's will, which it really was. Verse fifteen adds, And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. Bathsheba went into David's chamber as Abishag ministered to his needs, and Bathsheba was not upset about this, but humbled herself before David. Verse sixteen continues, And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou? After Bathsheba humbled herself before David, he asked her what she wanted. Even though David had desired Bathsheba enough to have her husband killed, they were now old and evidently weren't that close at this time. Of course, David had not really followed God's design for marriage to start with. Verse seventeen declares, And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. Bathsheba said that David had sworn by the LORD his God that Solomon would succeed his as king. Again, we have no record of this happening, but can assume that maybe it did. Verse eighteen adds, And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not: Bathsheba said that Adonijah had assumed the throne and David didn't even know about it and therefore couldn't have endorsed it. Once more, I say that we must know what is going on in the church today to keep it true to God's will. Verse nineteen continues, And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called. Bathsheba said that Adonijah was throwing a feast for Abiathar the priest, Joab the head of David's army, and all David’s sons except Solomon in attendance. This would seem to indicate that Adonijah knew Solomon was supposed to succeed David. It shouldn't matter to us how many people in a position of power are endorsing a certain person or position in the church today if we know that what they are doing is not in accordance with God's will. Verse twenty states, And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Bathsheba said that all of Israel was looking to David for him to name his successor. We must look to our King, Jesus Christ, to name the next leaders in the church today. Verse twenty-one adds, Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. Bathsheba then told David that if he didn't take action and name Solomon as the next king, that when he died, she and Solomon would be sseen as offenders to Adonijah who had claimed the throne. since Solomon was supposed to be the next king. We need to pray that Christians who are being true to God's word will never be seen as offenders in the church today, but if we allow error into the church, we may. Verse twenty-two continues, And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. As planned, while Bathsheba was still speaking to David, Nathan came in to him as well. It is always good to have fellow Christians stand with us as we are presenting God's truth to the world, especially if many others who profess to be Christians are teaching something else.
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