#469 Justified by Who?

When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack[a] a man on the throne of Israel.’

5 “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging[b] in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war[c] on the belt around his[d] waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty[e] they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”
The Death of David

10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.
Solomon's Reign Established

13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, “Do you come peacefully?” He said, “Peacefully.” 14 Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” 15 He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord. 16 And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said to him, “Speak.” 17 And he said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” 18 Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak for you to the king.”

19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. 20 Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” 21 She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife.” 22 King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar[f] the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! 24 Now therefore as the Lord lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.” 25 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.

26 And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's affliction.” 27 So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, thus fulfilling the word of the Lord that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

28 When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah although he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and caught hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And when it was told King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold, he is beside the altar,” Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” 30 So Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord and said to him, “The king commands, ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” 31 The king replied to him, “Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause. 32 The Lord will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33 So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But for David and for his descendants and for his house and for his throne there shall be peace from the Lord forevermore.” 34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

36 Then the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever. 37 For on the day you go out and cross the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall die. Your blood shall be on your own head.” 38 And Shimei said to the king, “What you say is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.

39 But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei's servants ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And when it was told Shimei, “Behold, your servants are in Gath,” 40 Shimei arose and saddled a donkey and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath. 41 And when Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned, 42 the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and solemnly warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any place whatever, you shall die’? And you said to me, ‘What you say is good; I will obey.’ 43 Why then have you not kept your oath to the Lord and the commandment with which I commanded you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the Lord will bring back your harm on your own head. 45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.” 46 Then the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and he died.

So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. 1 Kings 2 ESV

The king's job, his honor, to keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in His commandments. It seems simple and it actually is, but we would not have it that way. Hear my Son, take the words of instruction, love the Lord thy God with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. There will always be wars and rumors of war, but as Solomon means peaceful, so is his coming to power in comparison to the former.

Just as David had to deal with the sins of the past administration, suffer for his own sins, Solomon must needs clean up such rebellions that have carried over to his own time. His father is forthright with these, rather than hide such, or spin it to his honor, or call that evil good, he puts it on the table. When we allow violent men to rule for us, like some will call their pit bull or enforcer, then we also condone more than their skill, but also their bloodshed. David took both of Joab's murders, as those in time of peace, as an affront to the king. Some say he feared him for his power and notoriety as a military leader, but I think he rather respected it too much more than feared it. David was a loyal friend, and he made sure that all knew he did not approve of the murder, yet he did not bring justice. He was this way to a fault with his own children, not correcting them or withholding from them any want. I think what made it the more difficult was that he brought Joab into his sin against Uriah, and after that they were bound in his mind by this blood covenant. Who am I to judge Joab, when I have not only allowed him off his leash, but have removed the collar myself and placed it upon my own neck. This has obviously plagued David, but look at the belt and the sandals of Joab, he proudly displays innocent blood. He has no remorse, he has raised himself against one in revenge at time of peace, another who he saw as his competition, and both times it made the kings word of no effect. He likes the choice of Adonijah over the chosen of God. He plots against the words of the king again, and again against the rule of God. This is the bane of every Christian, how do I share the gospel, that tells men to repent and be saved? I must tell my children that I am a sinner, that there was a time before this present struggle that I did not wrestle at all. I accepted and tried to justify my sin, held it as such a light and glorious thing. It was how I wished to be defined, like Joab, proud, loud, in fear of no man, and who is God? I can't see Him. Joab pushed the envelope so often and nothing came of it, but it would have been a blessing to be caught by the discipline of David, rather than to continue at murder and fall into the hands of an angry God. David, did you not realize that sin has already been judged? Of course, Joab could have thrown so much back in your face, against your guilty conscience, but God had already judged you, so do your job. Joab put power and politics above obedience to God. The throne that God provided kings, Joab held higher than God, but then despised the position because it was held by those who were corruptible like him. David gives his son fair warning that there is still blood unaccounted for, but that he can with a clear conscience, in his wisdom deal accordingly. This is probably why Joab preferred Adonijah, he was easily impressed. 

Adonijah comes to Solomon's mother after the death of David, and request a small thing. I would have been king because I was the next in line by birth, by being the eldest after all, such a wonderful quality in a man, "I was born", really, is that right? Good for you, I'm an American, my parents are Jews, mine are Christians, mine are atheist, everyone is born of the flesh and some are the first born of their parents. This was not such a blessing in Egypt. The only firstborn that lived at the time of the departure of the Jews, was the one's that were passed over. Your brother, Absalom, he was born before you, and he died trying to usurp and murder his father, after he had killed his older brother. You are still plotting, trying to plead your case another way, oh yea, I will go to his mother, for didn't she persuade the king against me? It was totally mine, we were having a party, people toasted me, I have heard of men moving their effects into the office of their boss, placing their name on his door, willing such an appointment, only to see it given to someone else. Do you really want a house built this way, out of things that don't last? What have you convinced yourself of? All right so even though I was entitled, it was owed to me, and a murderer, some thugs and a backslidden priest all agreed, yet God saw it differently. Nathan called Solomon, Jedidiah, or beloved of God, and God is not a respecter of persons, traditions, or genealogies. This same God said, Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated. He chose Joseph over his older brethren, Isaac over Ishmael. He glorifies His own Son, Who we would despise and reject. Let's face it, His ways are not our ways, He looks at the heart. Adonijah failed like Absalom with chariots and horses. He failed with show, but continues to conspire, to play with the wisdom of men, to entertain such rebellion, this witchcraft, and his step mother is undiscerning. She knows what it is like to be an object, and maybe she thinks this could be handled in such a manner so that the outcome would be different. After all, David had not known Abishag. This is not a story of young love, of a crush, this is the rejection of God's choice, the son who was passed over, who did not have the weight of the crown placed upon his head, will try to go by way of his father's bed. Solomon, though young, has given his brother the opportunity to save himself by his deeds, but he chooses rather to condemn himself with such deeds as these. He deceives Bathsheba, Solomon loves his mother, and pays much respect, but he loves righteousness more, and Adonijah's campaign cost him his life. If we always acted upon wisdom, what problems we could avoid. We should always respect our parents but they do not over rule God. 

Abiathar, the priest who sided with Adonijah, becomes the fulfillment of the prophecy against Eli, who allowed his sons to make a mockery of the tabernacle. They stole from portions allotted to be consumed, and made whores of the women who came there. Their father did not punish them in their wickedness and they became sorely reprobate, a dishonor to Levi. Abiathar as the man who is to guard God's word and proclaim it to the people, has abused the office of priest by siding with a man against the Words of the living God. For this thing he could surely die, but instead, Solomon demotes him and he is replaced with one who is faithful to God. The priest has no power other than to wait upon the Lord and to say what He has already said. Thinking that it is a political office, that you can manipulate, is atheistic, it assigns a god in the image of man, another Christ, a false gospel. 

Joab takes hold of the horns, either he has found religion or he is too arrogant to know that God will have obedience over sacrifice. God is a just God, and there is not an article of religion that we may grasp to protect us from His justice. Joab only reaches out as many do, because he was able to get this far he thinks on his own devices, that he has murdered, yet it is somehow not held against him, he is above the law, till now. So now I will embrace the altar, now I will hold onto the horns and beg for mercy. Will you really kill me in God's house, before His presence, with all of Israel knowing? Apparently people's perception doesn't matter to Solomon, he has him killed where he is, for there is nowhere outside the eyes of God, there is no religion that protects against God's wrath. He is holy and just, those who would have mercy should be merciful. Those who would avoid God's wrath may not avoid His Holiness. Those who would sit at His table must cast their crowns at His Son's feet. Those who are found were most surely lost. Those who are made alive were most certainly dead. 

Shimei is another vile creature, but Solomon is willing to give him a way out, time to repent, to honor David's decision not to kill him, but Shemei has not changed. David is patient though, and if he has spoken too quickly, at least Solomon has not, and he gives Shimei an order, to be followed unto life or broken unto death, and Shimei chooses the latter. The old business has been put away, and the new kingdom can move on. 

Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites. 29 Why do you[a] scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, 32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.

34 “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”’” 1 Samuel 2: 27-34 NIV