1 Kings 1:41-53 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Kings 1:41-53. How Do You Know Who Your True Friends Are (Plus, Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep) Let’s go!
On verses 41-49: Having heard that King David has officially made Solomon king instead of Adonijah, all of Adonijah’s guests — who were supposedly Adonijah’s closest friends and supporters — disperse and flee from Adonijah.
What can we learn from this? It’s in the tough times when you can especially tell who your real friends are. When things are going well for you, everyone is happy to be your friend. But it’s in the tough times that you tend to notice which of your friends are truly loyal and truly love you for you, and which friends are friendly toward you for a more selfish reason.
1 Kings 1:50 (NIV)
50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
On verse 50: Up to this point Adonijah has shown no hint of being a God-fearing man. Yet now, fearing for his life, Adonijah runs to the house of God and grabs hold of the altar as a way to shield himself from Solomon’s wrath.
What can we learn from this? For many people, the only time they consider going to God is when they have no one else to turn to and are absolutely desperate. But godly people know a secret that the ungodly don’t, which is that every day we are in desperate need of God. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you need God only once in a while, when things are not going well. Instead remind yourself every day that you are desperate for Him and that apart from Him you can do nothing. (That’s why fasting can be so effective; it reminds you of your need for God.) If you will remind yourself every day that you are desperate for God, you will find yourself drawing close to God every day and finding your hope, strength and protection in Him.
1 Kings 1:51-53 (NIV)
51 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.'”
52 Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.”
53 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.”
On verses 51-53: Adonijah pleads with Solomon for his life and asks Solomon to swear not to strike him down. Solomon wisely makes no promises. Rather he says: if he shows himself to be a worthy man, he will not be harmed; but if evil is found in him, he will die (v52). (In saying this Solomon is in some ways leaving the outcome up to God.) Solomon tells Adonijah to go home (v53).
What can we learn from this?
1. Like Solomon here, do not be quick to make promises. That’s the flipside of keeping your word: don’t make promises you can’t keep. When someone asks you, “Can you do me a favour?” don’t say “Sure” before you know what they’re asking for. As Solomon would later say, “he who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3) and “it is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to reconsider his vows” (Proverbs 20:25).
2. Solomon’s statement in verse 52 is very much our predicament before God. If we can show ourselves to be worthy in the King’s sight, then we will be spared, and if evil is found in us, we will die. The problem is: contrary to what religions teach, none of us can show ourselves to be worthy in God’s sight. Evil can be found in all of us, for all of us have sinned. We all deserve to die and to be separated from the King’s presence. But in the King’s great mercy, He spared us. God took the only one who is worthy to be in His presence — Jesus Christ His Son — and sacrificed him in our place. The only One worthy to be in God’s presence — Jesus — was sacrificed for us who are evil, so that we could become worthy in God’s sight. It’s not through our own effort that we become worthy, but through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Holy Spirit, thank You for every lesson and insight we can learn from Your Word today. Your Word is far from boring; it is powerful and given to us for our strengthening. So may I not be quick to make rash vows. And may I always remember that in both good times and bad times, I am desperately and constantly in need of You. Thank You for being my most loyal and faithful friend, the One who is there for me in the good times and in the bad. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
