So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king’s bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, with Solomon riding on King David’s own mule. There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon with the oil. Then they sounded the ram’s horn and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound.
1 Kings 1:38-40
Dear God, I wish we had more about Solomon’s relationships with Bathsheba, David, and all of the people involved with his ascent to the throne. One thing I’ve noticed in the telling of this story is that Adonijah was a self promoter while the author here had yet to tell us anything that Solomon has said on his own behalf. We won’t get a quote from him until he has to deal with Adonijah at the end of this chapter.
The other interesting thing is the the writer goes out of his way to tell us that Adonijah was spoiled and undisciplined. What kind of a mother was Bathsheba? I’m betting she disciplined her children. At least Solomon was thought enough of by Nathan, et. al., to be promoted and desired as the next king.
But back to the subtext of the fact that the author is careful to contrast Adonijah and Solomon by who they did and didn’t promote themselves. My dad told me one time when I was young that if I ever got a promotion at work, on my first day in the new job I would likely not see much difference in my future because I had already been doing those things. The message that I received in that was, “Work hard and let the reward come from the hard work.” In words my wife, the writer would use, “Show, don’t tell.”
Father, we are still a few chapters and executions away from Solomon asking you for wisdom, but I want to continue to seek that from you. Help me to simply serve you and then let your plan unfold around me. My biggest danger is allowing inaction and lethargy to keep me from what you’ve called me to do. So please make your call clear to me. I repent for the things I’ve done and the things I’ve failed to do.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen
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