1 Kings 1:1-10 “The Danger of Passivity”
When King David became old he could not keep warm so his servants focused on finding him a young virgin to lay with him. They found a beautiful girl named Abishag, “…and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her.” (4b, c). At this point of physical decline, David’s oldest remaining son, Adonijah, “…exalted himself, saying, ‘I will be king.’” (5b). God previously spoke that Solomon was to be the next king. Adonijah was not promoted by God but thought highly of himself without any correction. “His father had never crossed him at any time by asking, ‘Why have you done so?’ And he was also very handsome man, he was born after Absalom.” (6) Adonijah obtained Joab’s help [the military commander] and support from Abiathar the priest. Others, including Zadok the priest, Benaiah and other mighty men, and Nathan the prophet remained loyal to David. Adonijah gather all his brothers for a large worship celebration to announce his self appointed position as king. “But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.” (10) David’s consciousness of his own sin likely contributed to his neglect to deal with the sin of his sons. We see a great danger emerging to the entire nation because of David’s passivity toward his sons.
