Starting at verse 1.
Good man, thanks.
Okay, well let's read 1 Kings chapter 2 starting at verse 1.
We'll just wait.
Good lad.
Pens and Bibles at the ready. Here we go.
1 Kings chapter 2.
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon, his son.
I'm about to go the way of all the earth, he said.
So be strong. Act like a man.
And observe what the Lord your God requires.
Walk in obedience to him.
Keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations as written in the law of Moses.
Do this, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.
And that the Lord may keep his promise to me.
If your descendants watch how they live and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.
Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zerah did to me.
What he did to the two commanders of Israel's armies.
Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether.
He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle.
And with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
Deal with him according to your wisdom.
But do not let his grey head go down to the grave in peace.
But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead.
And let them be among those who eat at your table.
They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gerah, the Benjamite from Bahuram.
Who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Manaheim.
When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord,
I will not put you to death by the sword.
But now, do not consider him innocent.
You are a man of wisdom.
You will know what to do to him.
Bring his grey head down to the grave in blood.
Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David.
He had reigned for 40 years over Israel,
7 years in Hebron and 33 in Jerusalem.
So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David,
and his rule was firmly established.
We are going to be looking at the whole of chapter 2,
and we are going to pray and ask for God's help.
Amen.
Father, we thank you that you are Lord over all,
and we can pray about all things.
We pray for Marie's sister Kate,
who has an operation tomorrow,
that you would be with her and bring her through that successfully.
Pray that in this time,
she might call out to you,
and find your love and your comfort.
We pray for the start of the rock,
and also rooted,
coming up on Friday.
We pray your help to all the leaders,
as they share the good news that Jesus is King.
And Father, just as we can pray for these things,
we pray for us now,
as we look at your word,
that just as you draw near to us,
you would come close by your Holy Spirit.
Give us understanding and help
that we might worship you as we should.
We pray this in your name.
Amen.
Well, just over a year ago,
Leo Varadkar was appointed as our new Taoiseach,
our country's leader.
replacing Enda Kenny.
You might remember at his first announcement,
he was accompanied by all the members of his party,
all of them behind him,
smiling and showing support for their new leader.
But not all of them were very happy.
A few days later,
Leo announced his new cabinet.
The old guard were swiftly removed,
and the new brought in.
You see,
to secure your position of power,
sometimes you must be ruthless
and root out any rebels.
Well, in our account of 1 Kings chapter 2,
a change of kingship is about to take place.
Look at verse 1 of chapter 2.
When the time drew near for David to die,
he gave the charge to Solomon his son.
So David is passing over the kingship to his son Solomon.
But there's still this problem.
There's a problem of a few disgruntled enemies within the kingdom.
And it seems to be that if you are going to bring security in God's kingdom,
then the king must be ruthless
and root out any rebels.
How can you have a kingdom of safety
when there are enemies in your ranks?
So as we look at chapter 2,
we're going to see
that God raises up his king
to crush his enemies
so that his kingdom is secure.
That's the big theme.
God raises up his king
to crush his enemies
so that his kingdom is secure.
First, God's means of establishing a secure kingdom.
God will secure his kingdom
by raising up a king.
But not just any king.
A king who obeys God's words.
Look at verse 2.
David says,
I'm about to go the way of all the earth.
In other words, I'm about to die.
So be strong and act like a man.
And here's how a man should be.
Observe what the Lord your God requires.
Walk in obedience to him.
Keep his decrees and commands,
his laws and regulations,
as were written in the law of Moses.
Now David's command
or his passing on of the kingship,
yes, obey God's word,
but he's only doing what God had commanded
and recorded in the law of Moses.
This is what was said there.
God said to Moses,
when the king takes the throne of his kingdom,
he is to write for himself
on a scroll of this law.
It is to be with him
and he is to read it all the days of his life
and that he may revere the Lord his God
and follow carefully all the words of this law
and these decrees
and do not consider himself better
and turn from the law to the right
or to the left.
You see,
obeying God's word
ensured that everything was done
God's way.
Because as soon as we start ignoring God's word,
well, that's when chaos and disorder happen.
We only need to think back to the Garden of Eden.
Disobeying God's word
led to broken relationships
and a broken world,
the effects we're seeing today
and experiencing in our own lives.
So obedience was crucial
and it will ensure a secure kingdom.
Look at the rest of verse 3.
David continues,
Do this,
that is,
obey,
follow the word of the Lord
so that you may prosper
in all that you do
wherever you go
and that the Lord may keep his promise to me.
If your descendants
watch how they live
and if they walk faithfully before me
with all their heart and soul,
you will never fail
to have a successor
on the throne of Israel.
Very simple,
if the king obeys God's word,
then the people,
the king,
and the kingdom
will enjoy peace
and prosperity,
a kingdom of joy
and happiness.
But not just a king
who obeys,
but a king who acts justly.
You see,
David may be on his deathbed,
but he knows a thing or two
about security
and about bringing peace
to the kingdom.
He gives orders
about what to do
with the kingdom's enemies
and there seems to be
a few of them.
Look at verse 5.
His final orders
before he dies.
Now you yourself know
what Joab,
son of Zariah,
did to me.
What he did to the two commanders
of Israel's armies.
Well,
he had murdered them,
hadn't he?
What should he do in response?
Verse 6.
Deal with him
according to your wisdom,
but do not let his grey head
go down to the grave
in peace.
Make him pay.
Well,
Joab wasn't the only one
that he had to watch out for.
Verse 8.
And remember,
you have with you
Shimei,
son of Gerah,
the Benjamite,
who called down
bitter curses on me
the day I went to Manaheim.
And that was an occasion
when David,
although king,
was being pushed out
of the kingship.
What should happen to him?
Well,
look at the end of verse 9.
Bring his grey head
down to the grave
in blood.
No mercy.
Now,
it's not everybody
who's going to be treated
like this.
those who are faithful
to the king
and loyal to the kingdom.
Well,
look at verse 7.
Show kindness
to the sons
of Barzillai
of Gilead
and let them
be among those
who eat at your table.
Welcome them,
in other words,
because they stood
by me
when I fled
from your brother
Absalom.
Now,
we must remember
that the kings
like David and Solomon
are only God's
representatives.
It's not their kingdom
to do as they please.
They are to obey
God's word
and act justly.
You see,
we can't have a kingdom
without rules.
Rules is what
keeps the peace.
Rules of the king
is what brings order.
and keeps
everything together
so people can live
in harmony
and joy.
You might know
the story
Lord of the Flies.
It's a fictional story
about a group
of well-educated
English boys
who get marooned
on an island.
They're there
without any adult
supervision,
no leadership,
and then disorder
and chaos
begin to reign.
The children
who are all there
together
begin to bully
each other.
They start fighting.
Little gangs
are formed
as they attack
each other.
And one of the children,
one of the main characters,
his nickname
is Piggy,
kept on insisting
on the need
for rules.
This is what he said
to the group.
He said,
we've got to have rules
and obey them.
After all,
we're not savages.
Which is better?
To have rules
and agree?
Or go hunting
and break things up?
Well,
a little while later,
he got his answer.
Not long after,
Piggy was violently
killed
and murdered
by the other children.
The story
is a social comment
on what happens
when we remove
authority
from society.
Anarchy.
All hell
breaks loose.
And so David,
as he passes
on the kingdom
to Solomon,
is saying,
if we are to establish
a kingdom of security,
then we need
a king
who obeys
God's word
and acts
justly.
A king
who will bring
about peace
and order,
joy
and happiness.
And that's
what we begin
to see happening
through Solomon.
Look at verse 12.
So Solomon
sat on the throne
of his father David
and his rule
was firmly
established.
That's the kind
of kingdom
we all long for.
So first,
God's means
of establishing
a secure kingdom.
Second,
God's response
to the enemies
of the kingdom.
Now the author
wants us
to know
very clearly
that Solomon
is king
and that his rule
was firmly
established.
But it seems
he wants us
to know
how it was done.
Enemies
must
be dealt with.
You might remember
the three rebels
of chapter 1.
You can go back
and have a look.
Chapter 1,
verse 7.
Adonijah,
he was the
one who wanted
to be king.
Adonijah,
verse 7,
conferred with
Joab,
son of Zariah,
and with
Abiathar,
the priest,
and they gave
him their
support.
Three rebels,
and it seems
they are still
trouble
in the kingdom.
first,
rebellion
will not
be tolerated.
Adonijah
has this
great plan.
Although Solomon
is king,
he's got
a plan.
He goes to
the king's
mother,
in verse 13,
we read this,
to Bathsheba,
and he's got
this request.
Look at
verse 17
of chapter 2.
Chapter 2,
verse 17.
He goes to
the king's
mother,
Bathsheba.
Please ask
king Solomon,
he will not
refuse you,
to give me
Abishag,
the Shunammite,
as my wife.
Remember Abishag
from chapter 1?
That was the
home help,
as we described
her,
for David
in his old age.
It seems
innocent enough,
doesn't it?
Maybe he
doesn't have
a wife.
Maybe his
toes are
also cold.
So Bathsheba
goes off
to the king
with the
request,
but Solomon
sees it
for what it
is.
Verse 22.
King Solomon
answered his
mother,
Why do you
request Abishag,
the Shunammite,
for Adonijah?
You might as
well request
the kingdom
for him.
After all,
he is my
older brother.
Yes,
for him
and for
Abiathar,
the priest,
and Joab,
son of Zariah.
Now,
we're not
given all
the political
details of
what it
would mean
if Abiathar
took over
David's
carer
as a
wife,
but it
seems to
be a
scheme
to take
over the
kingdom.
He still
wants to
be the
king.
look back
at verse
15 of
chapter 2.
As he
talks to
Bathsheba,
he says,
As you
know,
the kingdom
was mine.
It was
my kingdom.
All Israel
looked to
me as
their king.
I was
the king.
But things
have changed
and the
kingdom has
gone to
my brother
for it
has come
to him
from the
Lord.
Well,
the kingdom
never was
his and
kingship was
not his
to take.
And
Solomon could
see through
his plan.
Opposition
to God's
king will
not be
tolerated.
Verse 23,
Then King
Solomon swore
by the
Lord,
May God
deal with
me,
be it
ever so
severely,
if Adonijah
does not
pay with
his life
for this
request.
And now
as surely
as the
Lord lives,
he who
has established
me securely
on the
throne of
my father
David and
has founded
a dynasty
for me
as he
promised,
Adonijah
shall be
put to
death
today.
So King
Solomon gave
orders to
Benaniah,
son of
Jehoiada,
and he
struck down
Adonijah
and he
died.
Rebellion
will not
be
tolerated.
And
second,
promised
justice
will be
done.
So
Adonijah
has been
dealt
with.
Then there
was
Abi
Arthur,
the
priest.
We
read about
him in
verse 26.
He was
all part
of the
scheme
to take
over the
kingdom.
Now
Solomon
spares
his life
but he
is removed
from his
position of
service and
influence.
But notice
why he's
been removed.
Have a
look at
verse 27.
Solomon
removed
Abi
Arthur from
the priesthood
of the
Lord,
fulfilling
the word
the Lord
had spoken
at Shiloh
about the
house of
Eli.
Now
you might
remember
old Eli.
We can
read about
him back
in 1st
Samuel.
He had
two sons,
Hophni and
Phinehas.
They were
priests but
they were
rebellious.
Rather than
serving God
and serving
the people,
they served
themselves.
They were a
terrible pair.
And at that
time, it was
about 100
years before
the events
we're looking
at here in
1 Kings,
God had
made a
promise at
that time
that the
disobedient
priests would
be dealt
with and
all those
priests coming
from the
house of
Eli or
from the
line of
Eli would
be punished.
100 years
have passed.
Verse 27.
So Solomon
removed
Abi
Arthur from
the priesthood
of the
Lord,
fulfilling
the word
of the
Lord had
spoken at
Shiloh,
even though
it was 100
years ago.
about the
house of
Eli.
God's
justice may
be delayed,
but don't
ever think
that God
has forgotten.
He knows
and he
sees.
Justice
will be
done.
Enemies
will be
removed.
And third,
fake religion
will not
save you.
So
Adonijah
has been
put to
death.
Abi
Arthur,
the priest,
has been
removed.
But what
about the
other one,
the third
rebel,
Joab,
the one
who had
murdered the
king's
commanders
under David?
Well,
look at
verse 28.
When news
reached
Joab,
obviously the
news of
what happened
to Abi
Arthur and
Adonijah,
Joab,
who had
conspired
with them,
well,
he fled
to the
tent of
the Lord.
The tent
of the
Lord was
the meeting
place where
people went
to meet
with God.
And he
took hold
of the
horns of
the altar.
This is the
place where
the sacrifices
took place.
So he
went running
to the
tent of
the Lord
and took
hold of
the horns
of the
altar.
It seems
that Joab
has all of a
sudden got
very religious.
He
begins to
say his
prayers.
Somehow he
thinks as if,
well, if I go
to church,
that'll be
enough.
That's going
to keep
me safe.
Verse 29.
King Solomon
was told that
Joab had
fled to the
tent of the
Lord and
was beside
the altar.
Then Solomon
ordered
Benaniah,
son of
Jehoiada,
go and
strike him
down.
So Benaniah
entered the
tent of the
Lord and
said to
Joab.
The king
says,
come out.
But he
answered,
no, I
will die
here.
Benaniah
reported to
the king,
this is how
Joab
answered me.
You see,
he thinks
that if he
stays in
the meeting
place of
God,
well, he's
going to
be safe.
Nobody's
going to
come in
here.
My new
religion is
going to
save me.
Well, God
sees through
the sham.
He sees
the heart
of Joab.
God
longs for
submission,
not fake
religion.
Joab's
church
going is
not going
to save
him,
verse 33.
May the
guilt of
their blood
rest on
the head
of Joab
and his
descendants
forever.
But on
David and
his descendants,
his house
and his
throne,
may there
be the
Lord's
peace
forever.
So Ben
and I,
a son of
Jehoiada,
went up
and struck
down Joab
and killed
him.
And he
was buried
at his
home out
in the
country.
You see,
to secure
the kingdom,
the king
must be
ruthless
and root
out rebels.
You can't
have peace
and security
with constant
threats from
your enemies.
Enemies of
the kingdom
can't be
tolerated,
so the
king deals
with his
enemies.
Now it's
vital that
we don't
just keep
this as
a story
in the
past.
This is
something
yet to
come.
You see,
what Solomon
did to his
enemies
nationally
is what
God's
true king
will do
universally.
remember
what Jesus
said,
speaking about
the kingdom
of God?
You can
follow on
the screen.
So it
will be
at the
end of
the age.
The
Son of
Man,
that is
Jesus,
will send
out his
angels and
they will
weed out
of his
kingdom
everything
that causes
sin and
all who
do evil.
they will
throw them
into the
blazing
furnace and
there will
be weeping
and gnashing
of teeth.
Then the
righteous will
shine like
the sun in
the kingdom
of their
father.
You see,
rebellion
against God's
king,
Jesus Christ,
will not
be tolerated.
He is the
true king
and we
must submit
to him.
God is
patient.
His
justice
may be
delayed,
but what
he has
promised,
yes,
it will
come to
pass.
And there's
no hiding
from the
king.
Fake
religion is
not going
to work.
He
sees the
heart
and he
will crush
his enemies
so that
his kingdom
is secure.
God's
means of
establishing
a secure
kingdom,
his
response
to
enemies
of the
kingdom,
and then
third,
God's
demands
for people
who live
in the
kingdom.
You see,
if we are
going to
live in
God's
kingdom,
if we are
going to
experience
and enjoy
his
security,
there must
be loyalty
and devotion.
There's one
other character
that we have
to deal
with that
we haven't
looked at.
He comes
at the
end of
chapter 2,
Shimei.
David
didn't
trust him,
always had
a question
mark over
his head,
and Solomon
is unsure
about his
allegiance.
Verse 36,
Then the
king sent
for Shimei
and said
to him,
Build
yourself a
house in
Jerusalem
and live
there,
but do
not go
anywhere
else.
The day
you leave
and cross
the Kidron
Valley,
so if
you leave
the city,
you can
be sure
you will
die.
Your blood
will be on
your own
head.
Shimei
answered the
king,
What you
say is
good.
Your
servant
will do
as my
lord the
king has
said.
And Shimei
stayed in
Jerusalem for
a long
time.
It's a
test of
loyalty.
Serve the
king,
obey the
king,
live for
the king,
and you
will enjoy
the kingdom.
But,
verse 39,
three years
later,
two of
Shimei's
slaves ran
off to
Achish,
son of
Macca,
king of
Gath,
and Shimei
was told,
your slaves
are in
Gath.
At this,
he saddled
his donkey,
left the
city,
and went
to Achish
in Gath
in search
of his
slaves.
So Shimei
went away
and brought
the slaves
back from
Gath.
Now,
it seems
okay,
doesn't it?
Reasonable.
He's lost
some of
his workers,
he's out
of pocket.
That means
going outside
the city
to go and
get them,
but in
such
circumstances,
Shimei
reasons that
loyalty to
the kingdom
in this
case is
optional.
It seems
he was more
interested in,
well,
not obeying
what the
king said,
but securing
his own
little kingdom.
Because when
something else
comes along
that's more
important,
like securing
a career,
finding our
husband or
wife,
securing our
retirement fund,
well,
then it's
okay just to
put the
kingdom on
hold and
put it on
the back
seat.
So often,
loyalty to
the king
is optional.
But
disobedience
to the
king's
word is
treason.
It's
saying no
to the
king of
the world.
Verse 42,
the king
summoned
Shimei and
said to
him,
did I not
make you
swear by
the Lord
and warn
you?
On the
day you
leave to
go anywhere
else,
you can be
sure you
will die.
At that
time you
said to
me,
what you
say is
good,
I will
obey.
Why
then did
you not
keep your
oath to
your Lord
and obey
the command
I gave
you?
Verse 46,
then the
king gave
the order
to Ben
and I,
son of
Jehoiada,
and he
went out
and struck
Shimei
down,
and he
died.
The
kingdom
was now
established
in Solomon's
hands.
Now we
might read
that and
think the
king's
orders were
a bit
restrictive
and a
bit harsh,
and we
can gripe
and complain
and say,
I don't
like this
bit of
the story.
But the
king's
word,
no matter
how difficult
it is,
no matter
what our
reasoning may
be,
is always
right and
best for
us.
It seems
that Shimei
has something
to teach
us.
And here
it is.
Don't
sacrifice the
kingdom of
God for
the sake
of security
today.
Don't
sacrifice the
kingdom of
God for
the sake
of a
comfortable
life today.
You see,
the same
message would
be echoed
years later
as Jesus
spoke to
his
disciples.
Remember
what he
said?
What good
is it for
someone to
gain the
whole world
yet forfeit
their soul?
If anyone
is ashamed
of me and
my words in
this adulterous
and sinful
generation,
the Son of
Man will be
ashamed of
them when
he comes in
his Father's
glory and
with the
holy angels.
you see,
the king
demands
total
allegiance
and
absolute
loyalty.
So,
we can
say the
kingdom of
God is
secure,
but it
is not
safe.
We can't
say I'm
living in
the kingdom
and at
the same
time living
as I
please.
God will
raise up
his king
who will
crush his
enemies so
that his
kingdom is
secure.
So,
how can I
be secure
in God's
kingdom?
Because as I
read through
chapter 2,
I realise
that,
well,
I'm just
like Shimei.
So often
I'm more
interested in
my own
kingdom.
I rebel
against the
true king
Jesus Christ
just like
Abiathar and
Joab.
How can we
live in
God's
kingdom in
confidence and
without fear of
the king's
justice?
Well,
the answer is
simple.
We bow in
submission to
God's true
king,
Jesus Christ.
Christ.
We bow to
the one
who has
defeated and
destroyed our
greatest enemy,
the greatest
enemy of the
kingdom,
Satan himself,
who destroyed
him,
disarming him
through the
cross,
rising again
from the
grave,
defeating death
itself.
Here is
the true
king who
defeats our
one true
enemy.
And as we
bow in
surrender,
as we give
up the
fight,
well,
we find from
this king
grace and
mercy and
forgiveness.
A loving
king who no
longer treats
us as enemies,
but now
welcomes and
treasures us as
children of the
kingdom for all
eternity.
Submission is
not a one-off
event.
It is a daily
act of repentance
for all his
disciples,
as we daily
surrender our
will to his
will and
seek his
priorities over
ours,
who seek
first his
kingdom above
our own.
bow in
submission to
the king
and enjoy
the treasures
of the
kingdom.
Let us
pray.
Let us
pray.
Let us
pray.
Lord God, once again you remind us through your word
of who you are,
that you are king.
So right now we confess
we are sorry for the times we have rebelled against you.
We bow in submission.
We surrender our wills to you.
We ask that you would give us your Holy Spirit
that we might prioritize and seek first your kingdom.
Thank you for Jesus.
Thank you that he has defeated
the true and great enemy, Satan himself.
So that we might enter into your kingdom
and know peace and joy and security with you.
We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, in a moment we are going to share the Lord's Supper
around what we can call the King's Table,
the King's invitation to all his followers,
to all those who love him and obey him,
to share in the meal with the King.
And in preparation we're going to sing,
which reminds us that God is our servant king,
the one who gives his life for us
and calls us now to follow him,
to bow in submission,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the servant king.
Let's stand as we sing.
Amen.