Isn't that a lot? And we're going to read it, but not all of it.
1 Kings, chapter 1, I think page 334. Is that right? 334, 1 Kings.
So it starts with a character we've probably all heard of, David.
Amen.
So let's hear God's word together. 1 Kings, chapter 1, starting at verse 1.
When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him.
So his attendant said to him, let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him.
She can lie beside him so that our Lord the king may keep warm.
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag a Shunammite and brought her to the king.
The woman was very beautiful. She took care of the king and waited on him.
But the king had no sexual relations with her.
Now Adonijah, whose mother was Aga, put himself forward and said, I will be king.
So he got chariots and horses ready with fifty men to run ahead of him.
His father had never rebuked him by asking, why do you behave as you do?
He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.
Adonijah conferred with Joab, son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support.
But Zadok the priest, Baniah, son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Ray, and David's special guard, did not join Adonijah.
Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves at the zone of Zahalath near Rogel.
He invited all his brothers, the king's son, and all the royal officials of Judah.
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah, or the special guard, or his brother Solomon.
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother,
Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Agath, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it?
Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
Go in to King David and say to him,
My lord the king, did you not swear to me, your servant,
Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne?
Why then has Adonijah become king?
While you are still talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.
Now let's jump on to verse 28.
Then King David said,
Call in Bathsheba.
So she came into the king's presence and stood before him.
The king then took an oath,
As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,
I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel.
Solomon your son shall be king after me,
And he will sit on my throne in my place.
Verse 38
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet,
Baniah son of Jehoiada,
And the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and put Solomon on King David's mule,
And they escorted him to Gihon.
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon.
Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted,
Long live King Solomon!
And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly,
So that the ground shook with the sound.
Verse 49
At this all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed.
But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
Then Solomon was told,
Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar.
He says,
Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.
Solomon replied,
If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground.
But if evil is found in him, he will die.
Then King Solomon sent men and they brought him down from the altar.
And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon.
And Solomon said,
Go to your home.
Well, there's a lot of people,
a lot of names,
a lot of kings,
and a lot happening.
And I don't know about you,
but when I started into kings,
I needed God's help and I still need God's help.
So we're going to pray
and ask for him to help us understand his word.
So let's pray.
Amen.
Father, thank you so much
that it has pleased you
to not only speak your word,
but to have your spoken word written down and recorded,
providing it in a language that we can understand.
before us that we can read and see and listen to.
And Father, we know because you've told us
that your word is powerful.
It is effective.
And when your word is taught and explained,
as the Holy Spirit takes that word,
it drives it deep into our hearts and into our minds.
And we pray for his help now,
that what we read in terms of history,
we will meet the living God
who changes lives,
who holds to his promise
and sees his kingdom prevail.
Teach us, Lord, we ask.
In your name we pray.
Amen.
The story of the Bible
is a wonderful promise from God
that he is going to establish his kingdom.
A kingdom of peace and justice,
prosperity and beauty.
This kingdom that God promises
would have one king.
A king with absolute power
and supreme authority.
And this king would not only rule over all people
and all nations,
but this king
was going to bring blessing
to all nations.
The blessing of forgiveness
and acceptance
and welcome.
The king
of God's kingdom
is, of course,
Jesus Christ.
And to be a member of that kingdom,
to experience the blessings of this kingdom,
we must turn in repentance
and look in faith
and submit to Jesus
as our king.
Jesus Christ himself
described
the kingdom of God
like this.
Jesus said,
the kingdom of God
is like a mustard seed
which is the smallest
of all the seeds in the earth.
Tiny, tiny, tiny.
Yet when planted,
it grows
and becomes
the largest
of all garden plants
with such big branches
that the birds
can perch
in its shade.
Jesus uses
it as a simple way
like a parable
to explain
how unstoppable
the kingdom was.
It appears small
but nothing
and no one
is going to stop it.
It will grow
and grow
as people
turn and submit
to Jesus Christ
as king.
But where is this kingdom?
You see,
God's promise
sounds great
but in reality
it appears
to be a very
different story.
I don't know
about you
but I don't see
the kingdom
making any headlines
in the paper.
It's not the new craze
on social media.
In fact,
it seems
Jesus is considered
irrelevant.
He's to be rejected
and ignored.
And where we do
see signs
of growth
of the kingdom,
there appears
to be great
opposition
and persecution.
It seems
that God's kingdom
is nothing more
than a grand idea
that has just
fallen
and failed.
Rather than
a big
great tree,
it appears
that it's still
like a tiny
little seed.
We can barely
see it.
God is in charge
and he will
ensure that
his kingdom
prevails.
That's what
we're looking at
this morning.
It might
appear weak,
it might appear
that it's all
failed,
but God
is in charge
and he will
ensure
that his
promised kingdom
prevails.
You see,
there was a time
when it looked
like God's
kingdom was
all over.
The kingdom
was under
David
and under
David it was
almost like
paradise.
Enemies had
been defeated,
borders were
secure,
the people lived
in a land
of plenty,
God's people
living in
God's place
under God's
rule and
blessing.
But things
were beginning
to change.
First,
God's kingdom
seems dangerously
fragile.
The kingdom
was under
serious threat
for two
reasons.
First,
there was
inside
failure.
Look at
verse 1.
When King
David was
very old,
he could
not keep
warm even
when they
put covers
over him.
Now we
remember David
as the great
hero,
don't we?
The courageous
shepherd who
fought off
bears and
lions.
He was the
great hero
who defeated
Goliath.
The warrior
soldier who
crushed his
enemies.
But now
look at him.
The passing
of time has
reduced him to
a frail,
cold,
old man.
But thankfully
he has good
people around
him.
So they
get on to
home help.
Verse 2.
His attendant
said to him,
let us look
for a young
virgin to
serve the
king and
take care
of him.
In fact,
it seems that
she was very
practical as
she doubled
up as a
hot water
bottle for
poor old
David.
Look at the
rest of
verse 2.
she can
lie beside
him so
that our
lord the
king may
keep warm.
And in
case we
think there
was some
sexual favor
in all of
this,
look down
at verse
4.
The woman
was very
beautiful.
She took
care of
the king
and waited
on him,
but the
king had
no sexual
relations
with her.
Now this
is not a
lesson about
how we
should be
caring for
those who
are advanced
in years,
as important
as that
is.
This is
the sad
and tragic
end to
David's
life.
David has
failed as
king.
He's forgotten
all about
the kingdom.
He's more
interested in
keeping his
toes warm
than appointing
a new
king.
Of course
he had the
great stories
to tell the
grandchildren,
fighting the
lions as a
shepherd,
knocking
Goliath's
head off,
battling the
Philistines.
What stories
of the
past?
But he
was failed
to do
what he
was meant
to do.
Prioritise
the kingdom
and appoint
a king.
So it
was under
threat,
from inside
and outside.
For David's
failure only
led to
rebellion.
Look at
verse 4,
5 sorry,
verse 5.
Now Adonijah,
whose mother
was Haggis,
put himself
forward and
said,
don't worry,
I will be
king.
Now it would
be a mistake
to think that
Adonijah is
helping his
poor father
out.
Kingship was
not his to
assume.
His I
will be
king is
an act of
rebellion.
And in
case we're
wondering how
he came to
be like this,
well it all
points back to
the failure of
David,
verse 6,
fathers,
listen up.
His father
had never
rebuked him
by asking,
why do you
behave as
you do?
He was
very handsome
and was
born next
after Absalom.
Adonijah was
the blue-eyed
boy who
could do
no wrong.
The kind
of kid
that ran
riot but
his father
could never
see it.
it seems
David couldn't
even manage
his family
never mind
the kingdom.
So rebellious
Adonijah plotted
to take over
the kingdom.
Verse 9,
the middle
of verse 9.
He invited
all his
brothers and
king's sons
and all the
royal officials
of Judah
but he was
careful.
He didn't
invite Nathan
the prophet
or Benaniah
or the special
guard or his
brother Solomon
because Solomon
was meant
to be
the king.
So it
appears that
the kingdom
is falling
apart.
Inside
failure as
David isn't
doing what
he's meant
to do.
Outside
rebellion as
Adonijah picks
up the charge.
The promised
kingdom is
dangerously
fragile.
Now it's
not unlike
the church
today is
it?
The church
which is a
visible
demonstration
of God's
kingdom on
earth is
dangerously
fragile.
Sadly we
fail far
too often.
Instead of
peace and
justice
well we
find fear
and abuse.
Instead of
repentance
there's
cover up.
leaders
have
affairs
members
fall out
with each
other
and we're
all too
busy seeking
home comforts
that we
forget to
prioritize the
kingdom.
But not
only is the
church and
her people
failing
there's
hostile
rebellion
against the
true king
Jesus Christ.
Churches
are being
wrecked.
Christians
are being
persecuted.
We don't
need Jesus.
Shut
him up.
Get rid
of him.
like
Adonijah
the world
cries
I will
be
king.
I will
live as I
please and
I will
do as
I want.
God's
kingdom
seems
dangerously
fragile.
Well
despite the
apparent
weakness and
failure of
the kingdom
God is
in charge
and he
will ensure
that his
kingdom
prevails.
Number
two
God's
kingdom
has
kingdom
loving
people.
Failure
and rebellion
may exist
but God
always has
his faithful
people.
He has
his faithful
servants.
You see
as people
rallied
around and
supported
Adonijah's
bid for
kingship
not everyone
did.
Look at
verse 8.
But
Zadok
the priest
Benaniah
son of
Jehoiada
Nathan
the prophet
Shimei
and Ray
and David
special
guard
they did
not join
Adonijah
in his
rebellion.
Here we
have a
bunch of
loyal faithful
servants
who knew
what was
right
and refused
to give
up.
They loved
the kingdom
they loved
God and
they knew
that something
must be
done.
So up
steps
Nathan
verse 11
then Nathan
asked
Bathsheba
Solomon's
mother
have you
not heard
that
Adonijah
the son
of Haggis
has become
king and
our lord
David knows
nothing about
it?
Now then
let me
advise you
how you
can save
your own
life and
the life of
your son
of Solomon
who was
to be the
king of
course.
Nathan
had to
take action
and fast.
Adonijah
would soon be
out to get
rid and kill
Solomon because
Solomon was
the true
heir to
the kingship.
But sensing
the danger
that was
going on
around him
Nathan
doesn't run
and hide
he makes
the kingdom
his priority.
He stood
against the
failure and
against the
rebellion.
Here was a
faithful servant
who loved
the kingdom.
Now this is
not the first
time we've
ever met
Nathan is it?
We're told
here he's
God's prophet.
That means
he's God's
representative.
He is to
speak God's
word to
the people.
Don't we
remember that
Nathan had to
speak to
David before?
Remember how
Nathan confronted
and rebuked
David over
his affair
with Bathsheba
and the
murder of
her husband?
And through
God's word
Nathan showed
David the
way of
repentance
and the
way back
through
grace.
Now once
more Nathan
is having
to intervene.
Ironically
speaking the
words of
God to
Bathsheba
herself and
to Solomon.
He intervenes
speaking to
rescue the
failure of
David.
His plan is
very simple.
Verse 13.
Nathan says
to Bathsheba
go in to
King David
and say to
him my
Lord the
king did
you not
swear to
me your
servant?
Surely
Solomon your
son shall
be king
after me
and he
will sit
on my
throne.
And then
Nathan after
she's gone
in and
spoken to
the king
Nathan
himself will
follow it
up and he
will confront
the king.
Down at
verse 24.
Nathan said
have you
my Lord the
king declared
that Adonijah
shall be king
after you and
that he will
sit on your
throne?
I mean this
can't be.
That's not
the promise.
Verse 27.
Is this
something my
Lord the
king has
done without
letting his
servants know
who should
sit on the
throne of my
Lord the
king after
him?
It's subtle
but as we
will see
David gets
the point.
Nathan speaks
the word of
God into
the situation
confronting the
failure and
rebellion because
God always has
his faithful
servants who
love the
kingdom and
speak the
word of
God to
the people.
And isn't
that what the
church needs
today?
Faithful,
loyal,
kingdom
loving people.
Servants of
God who
in their
sphere of
influence
don't run
and hide
but prioritize
the kingdom.
People like
Nathan who
refuse to
stay quiet
but gently
and humbly
remind people
of the
promises of
God and
speak God's
word into
the situation.
salvation.
You see
we should
never ever
underestimate
the power
of God's
rescuing
and restoring
word.
As you
if you're a
parent here
today as you
read your
Bible with
your children
you are
building the
kingdom.
As you
teach in
Sunday
school and
to think
now that
they've gone
through the
whole of
the Bible
in the
last three
years.
As the
word of
God is
taught at
the rock
and in
this new
group
rooted
you are
building
the kingdom.
As you
invest in
relationships
and talk
of Jesus
with your
friends and
colleagues you
are building
the kingdom.
But the
first place
to start
is always
with ourselves
with our
own hearts.
We are to
submit to
God's word
to sit
under it
let it
confront our
failures and
rebellions.
Let us
lead one
another in
repentance
and point
each other
back to
God's
grace.
never
underestimate
the power
of God's
word when
it is
spoken by
kingdom
loving
people.
You see
despite the
weakness and
failure of
the kingdom
God is in
charge and
he will
ensure that
his kingdom
prevails.
God has
his kingdom
loving people
people like
you
in your
family
in your
school
in your
college
where you
work
God has
his people
to bring
his word
to restore
his fallen
kingdom.
So it
seems
dangerously
fragile but
God has
kingdom
loving
people
and third
God's
kingdom is
faithfully
preserved.
You see
as Nathan
spoke into
the situation
and spoke
into David's
life the
word did
its work.
David might
still be
old and
cold but
now he
was on
fire for
the kingdom.
Look at
verse 29.
The king
then took
an oath
as surely
as the
Lord lives
who has
delivered me
out of
every trouble
and I
take that
to be
a looking
back on
his
forgetfulness
for not
prioritizing
the kingdom
having heard
what Nathan
said and
repented
and turned
back.
The God
who has
delivered him
out of
every trouble
verse 30
he says
I will
surely
carry out
this very
day
what I
swore to
you by
the Lord
the God
of Israel
Solomon
your son
shall be
king after
me and
he will
sit on
my throne
in my
place.
You see
David is
no longer
concerned about
home comforts
about his
cold toes
he's now
seeking
first
the kingdom
of God
he does
what he
should have
been doing
all along
arrangements
are quickly
made
instructions
are given
verse 34
there shall
Zadok
the priest
and Nathan
the prophet
anoint him
king over
Israel
blow the
trumpet
and shout
long live
king Solomon
then you are
to go up
with him
and he is
to come
and sit
on my
throne
and reign
in my
place
I have
appointed
him ruler
over
Israel
and Judah
what a
difference
the word
of God
makes
it shakes
a frail
old man
out of
his selfish
folly
and has
him using
his last
words and
energy
all for
the building
up of
God's
kingdom
the kingdom
that looked
weak and
fallen
is now
faithfully
preserved
the king
is installed
Solomon
heir to
the kingship
is installed
as king
the danger
has been
averted
and we
can all
now breathe
a sigh
of relief
but let's
not miss
the expectation
of what is
to come
look at
verse 36
Benaniah
son of
Jehoiada
answered the
king
amen
may the
lord
the god
of my
lord
the king
so declare
it
and then he
adds something
else he
says as
the lord
was with
my lord
the king
so may
he be
with Solomon
to make
his throne
even
greater
than the
throne of
my lord
king
David
you see
we will
short
change
ourselves
if we
stop
with
Solomon
yes
the kingdom
would
become
great
under
Solomon
as we
will see
but we
will also
discover
that Solomon
was actually
an even
greater
failure
than his
father
the kingdom
well it
would only
become
truly
great
when god
installed his
true and
faithful king
jesus christ
the true
king
who did
not fail
the king
who remained
faithful
the king
who came
to serve
and
prioritize
the kingdom
the king
who would
not hide
and bow
to pressure
and run
away
but one
who would
bow
before his
god
in the
garden
and say
not my
will
but your
will be
done
your
kingdom
the one
who would
come and
give of his
life
to rescue
us from
all our
failure
and all
our
rebellion
so that
we might
enter into
his kingdom
and enjoy
his favour
for all
eternity
you see
despite the
apparent
weakness
and failure
of the
kingdom
god
is in
charge
and he
will ensure
that his
promised
kingdom
prevails
he will
have his
king
installed
over his
kingdom
the kingdom
is faithfully
preserved
and so
number
four
god's
kingdom
will
gloriously
prevail
solomon
is installed
as king
but
there is
still that
rebellious
adonijah
it's rather
comedic
what's going
on
look at
verse 41
the last
time we
met
adonijah
he had
made the
great
proclamation
didn't
he
he says
i will
be king
now look
at verse
41
adonijah
and all
the guests
who were
with him
heard it
heard what
well they
they heard
the trumpets
blasting in
the distance
as they were
finishing their
feast
so we can
imagine the
scene
the party
is well
underway
another
glass of
champagne
is poured
a toast
to adonijah
the great
king
and then
the trumpets
they hear
what's
going on
what are
those trumpets
all about
look at the
rest of
verse 41
on hearing
the sound
of the
trumpet
joab asked
what's the
meaning of
all the
noise in
the city
even as
he was
speaking
jonathan
son of
abiatah
the priest
arrived
adonijah
said
come in
a worthy
man like
you must
be bringing
good news
the city
they must
be celebrating
my kingship
not at all
jonathan
answered
our lord
king david
has made
solomon
king
you see
rebels
they may
be
but god's
king
is still
on the
throne
the enemies
of the
king
may have
been
defeated
the
snooze
of
solomon's
kingship
is enough
to send
them running
and scattering
verse 49
at this
all
adonijah's
guests
arose in
alarm
and dispersed
once they're
having this
party
now they're
running for
fear of
their lives
adonijah was
a threat
to solomon
now he's
in fear
of solomon
verse 50
but adonijah
in fear
of solomon
went and
took hold
of the
horns
of the
altar
it's funny
isn't it
how boasting
rebels
turn all
religious
in a
crisis
the king
they hated
is now
their means
of mercy
verse 51
then solomon
was told
adonijah is
afraid of
king solomon
and he's
clinging to
the horns
of the
altar
he says
let king
solomon
swear to
me today
that he
will not
put his
servant to
death with
the sword
but i mean
that's what
should happen
to all those
who boastfully
declare
i will be
king
well they
need to be
put to
death
but yet
god has a
habit
doesn't he
of showing
mercy
to those
who seek
to destroy
the kingdom
verse 52
solomon
replied
if he
shows himself
to be
worthy
not a
hair of
his head
will fall
to the
ground
but if
evil is
found in
him
he will
die
then king
solomon
sent men
and they
brought him
down from
the altar
and adonijah
came and
bowed down
to king
solomon
and solomon
said
go to
your home
from
plotting
to kill
the king
he now
bows in
worship
to the
king
of course
adonijah
is still
very active
today
isn't he
he lurks
in our
hearts
as we
make our
grand
statements
i will
be king
he's
active
and busy
opposing
god's
church
and
persecuting
his
people
and as
we look
out it
appears
that god's
king
kingdom
is weak
and
dangerously
fragile
but surely
this reminds
us that
god's
king
will
always be
on the
throne
nothing
will deter
god's
plan
and so
today
jesus
christ
is still
on the
throne
the world
may boast
and party
but one
day we
will hear
the trumpets
again
and at
the sound
of the
trumpets
the world
will stop
in their
tracks
and the
risen lord
jesus
the king
of kings
and the
lord of
lords
will come
again
in awesome
power
and in
magnificent
glory
and at
the name
of jesus
every knee
should bow
in heaven
and on
earth
and under
the earth
and every
tongue
acknowledge
that jesus
christ
is lord
to the
glory of
god
the father
the kingdom
appears
weak and
fragile
it looks
like such
a tiny
seed
we sometimes
struggle to
see what
god is
doing
but let us
be encouraged
god is in
charge
and he
will ensure
that his
promised
kingdom
prevails
let's pray
together