Reading

• 1 Kings 1:1-53
• 2 Sam. 23:1-7
• 2 Kings 2:1-10; 1 Chron. 29:28-30, 23-25

Devotional

After spending close to one month looking at GOD’s character through the psalms, today we resume our historical look at the Israelites. King David is old, and he has already introduced Solomon as the next king over the nation. But David had many wives, and many sons by those wives. One of his wives was Haggith, and she bore David’s fourth son named Adonijah (2 Sam. 3:2-4). Adonijah wanted to be the king instead of Solomon. He wanted to rule the nation. So Adonijah gathered several important men, including Joab the commander of David’s army and Abiathar the priest, and he proclaimed himself the king of Israel.

Adonijah sacrificed numerous sheep, cattle and calves and invited all the king’s sons except Solomon and all the king’s royal officials, but he didn’t invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah the special guard. The Israelites were now confused, wondering who would really be the next king after David. Nathan promptly went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and they devised a plan where they would inform the king of Adonijah’s actions, and get David to settle the matter by proclaiming Solomon king and setting him upon David’s throne immediately to take over rule of Israel.

Zadok the priest, Nathan, Benaiah and several other people placed Solomon upon David’s mule, anointed him, sounded the trumpet and the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” The sound was so loud that the ground shook. Adonijah heard it and, once he realized what happened, he became afraid for his life. Solomon called for him and promised not to harm him as long as he remained innocent and worthy.

Many people in the world desire power. It’s one reason why the love of money can be so strong—money is a defense; in other words, money can equal power. The desire for power is a result of pride in one’s heart. It’s the person who says, “I want to be great…to be looked up to by others and respected.” Pride is a very dangerous thing. It is not of GOD but of the devil. Let us focus on these commands from GOD:

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 
(1 John 2:15-17 NIV)

⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ¹¹ But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
(1 Tim. 6:6-12 NKJV)