Previous: [[Meditation on 1 Kings 1|1 Kings 1]] In this chapter, there is a history of David’s judgements upon sinners under his reign, the end of Adonijah, and the execution of judgments by Solomon. David admonishes Solomon to walk in the ways of the Lord, and not to make up his own way of walking after God, but to “keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgements, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses,” verse 3. As a father, I must instruct my children to turn “To the law and to the testimony,” Isaiah 8:20, that is contained in the word of God, and not instruct merely by my own word. David enforces this instruction also from an appeal to the covenant that God had made with him. God has promised me that he will be the God of my children, but this does not free me from my responsibility to have the word in my heart, and to diligently teach it to my children (Deut. 6:6-7). There is much responsibility in a covenant engagement. David pronounces judgements against some of his associates who at this point had committed grievous sins without repentance. David’s sin in the matter of Uriah was very serious, and became a blot on his name for the rest of history. Yet, he repented and turned to God for help. These others, not so. He names Joab for his sins of murder against Abner and Amasa, who he killed in the times of peace. Joab was a man of violence. He also needlessly killed Absalom in battle contrary to David’s instruction that he be taken alive. In the previous chapter, he is seen defecting to Adonijah. These last two instances are not mentioned here. I take from this that my sins, whether known or unknown, are seen by God. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,” 2 Chr. 16:9. There is no place to hide from God’s searching eye. David pronounces kindness to Barzillai the Gileadite for his kindness toward David after he fled from Absalom. My kindness to the people of God even at their lowest will be seen and rewarded on the last day. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” Matt. 25:40. I should never be ashamed to help the outcast and downtrodden Christian. David pronounces a curse against Shimei. Shimei had mocked David at his lowest, but when David returned to his kingdom, Shimei came and humbled himself before him. An external humbling and show of repentance can sometimes avert God’s wrath for a time, but wheels of God’s justice will make a full turn by the end. After David’s death, Adonijah again seeks to put himself in prominence. He tells Bathsheba that it was his right to the kingship, but the Lord directed otherwise. I should be careful not to inwardly chafe at God’s providences, even while acknowledging them outwardly. Adonijah seeks to have David’s nurse as his wife. Perhaps he thought this would give him some sort of equivalency to David, to have for his own his lord’s servants. Solomon in his wisdom sees through the ruse, and executes the sentence of death against him. Adonijah had space to repent after his previous rebellion, but he failed to learn his lesson. I should remember God’s mercy and deliverance, so that I don’t find a worse end after sinning against so much light. Solomon judges Abiathar. Abiathar was a close friend of David. David had saved his life from Saul’s violence. It seems strange that Abiathar would defect to Adonijah in the previous chapter. Even men older and wiser than us, with a long life of service to God, can fall near the end of their days. How many have I seen that walk with the Lord all their lives, just to fall into scandal in their old age? I must daily look to Christ for my strength and my help to keep me from falling. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen,” Jude 1:24-25. Abiathar, for his long service to David, was not fully destroyed. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” Psalm 37:24. God in his mercy still preserves those that he loves, even after great faults. Joab sought to escape judgement by turning to the altar. God can see through such hypocrisy. External rites are no covering against the evils of the heart. “Be sure your sin will find you out,” Num. 32:23. ShimeI receives the judgement of Solomon, yet like Adonijah, is still given space to repent. Mere time does not overcome sin. “He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it,” Psalm 10:11. Shimei soon forgets the mercy shown to him. Perhaps he used the excuse of his servants being in Gath to go there to plot against Solomon with the Phillistines. Perhaps his journey was purely honest. Either way, he should have been aware of how such a journey would appear to Solomon. I must ”abstain from all appearance of evil,” 1 Thess. 5:22. May the only wise God protect me from covenant defection, and only have affinity for the true King and Lord Jesus Christ. Next: [[Meditation on 1 Kings 3|1 Kings 3]]