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Friday, May 12, 2017

A Real Family

About that time David's son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, "I will make myself king." So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, "Why are you doing that?" Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome. (1 Kings 1:5-6 NLT)

Am I the only one thinking, “Here we go again!”  Absalom rebelled against David, his father, and tried to become king.  Now Adonijah, Absalom’s younger brother, is following in big-brother’s footsteps.

Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and asked her, "Haven't you heard that Haggith's son, Adonijah, has made himself king, and our lord David doesn't even know about it? If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice. Go at once to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, didn't you make a vow and say to me, "Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said." (1 Kings 1:11-14 NLT)

It’s not really a problem that one of David’s son’s wanted to be king.  It was just a problem because it was the wrong son.  David had already promised that Solomon, a different son, would succeed him as king.

Then King David ordered, "Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came into the king's presence, the king said to them, "Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram's horn and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah." (1 Kings 1:32-35 NLT)

David didn’t run away this time.  He did not leave Jerusalem.  His son, Adonijah, wasn’t stirring up Israel to rebel against David, either.  This time it was much more low key.  This time, it was more easily resolved.  This time, David took action and Solomon was declared king.

Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed onto the horns of the altar. Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, "Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!" Solomon replied, "If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die." So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed respectfully before King Solomon, who dismissed him, saying, "Go on home." (1 Kings 1:50-53 NLT)

How about you?  Do you have troubles that show up in your family?  Are some bigger than others?  How do you handle them?  Do you run away or address them head on?  Do you handle them with the wisdom and the power of The LORD?  How do you work through issues with your family?

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