Xanthe Hancox

Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, ‘I will be king.’ …Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, ‘Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? 1 Kings 1:5,11

First Kings is one of those Old Testament books that reads a bit like a history textbook. It begins with the end of David's reign and the grisly events that led to the succession of Solomon. We read about the reign of Solomon in which the temple was constructed; and the division of the nation into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. It’s a long book (and often a long-winded one) and you might be tempted to wonder what good it will do us in the twenty-first century to study the kings who ruled a nation of Hebrews three thousand years ago. If you’re one of those people who get excited about battles and dates and ancient political manoeuvrings, you’re in luck, but what about the rest of us?

But while it is a story of the monarchy's failure and deserved judgment, it is also a story of God's unrelenting commitment to God's people through divine words of hope, judgment, summons, and warning.

And it’s also a story about people who dealt with the same kind of issues we deal with. Take chapter one; David’s family was every bit as complex and chaotic as any modern family. David might have been a great and mighty king of God, but he didn’t do a very good job raising his own sons. He was inclined to indulge them, and they grew up privileged and entitled. As a result, when David had become an old man, unable to do much of anything, his son Adonijah plotted to take the throne for himself even if it meant betraying his father and killing his brother Solomon. Fortunately, David listens to his trusted friend, Nathan the prophet, and sets things straight.

I’d encourage you to read the whole chapter if you’ve got time. It’s a story of family drama to rival anything on a 21^st century reality TV show. Isn’t it reassuring to know that even David struggled when it came managing his family? Scholars suggest that David knew Adonijah was plotting to become king, but chose to stick his in the sand and hope the problem would simply disappear. Today, we might not have the words our own family prophet to guide us in our decision-making, but we have something even greater, the Word of Christ himself.

Prayer:  Lord, you have created families in all different shapes and sizes. Give us the courage to face the problems that need to be faced today. Thank you for the wisdom of trusted friends and help us to seek answers in your Word. Amen.