King James Bible Study: Keep The Charge

King James Bible Study: Keep The Charge
For: Thursday April 21, 2011
Chapters: I Kings 1-2
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-21

Details of Today's Reading: David’s declining health, Adonijah plots to seize kingdom, Nathan and Bathsheba blot to get Solomon anointed before Adonijah makes himself king, Solomon is anointed king, David’s charge to Solomon, David’s death, the executions of Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei, and Abiathar removed as priest.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word charge is defined as a person committed to your care, a special assignment given to a person, or a formal statement of a command to do something. Part of being a Christian is keeping the charge that God has placed before you, in other words, the special assignment or command that He has given you to do. The Bible says, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.” - I Timothy 5:20-22. There is always going to be someone trying to get us to compromise our commitment to keep the charge, but we must not let anyone, under any circumstances, persuade us to compromise ourselves by going along with or being a part of another's sins.

The book of I Kings is the eleventh book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-two chapters. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to the Israelites. The time line for these events took place approximately 1015 BC to 897 BC. The purpose of the book was to record God's dealings with His people from King Solomon's reign, through the division of Israel, through the reigns of Ahab in the north and Jehoshaphat in the south. What we are to learn from the book is that compromise may seem the best thing to do, but it is always costly later. “Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.” - I Kings 11:11.

King David was growing old and his health was diminishing rapidly, presuming that since he was the oldest son of David, Adonijah, the forth living son of David and Absalom's brother, took it upon himself to make himself king. Now, Adonijah as well as everyone in the kingdom, knew that God had already appointed Solomon to be the next king, however, with David being near death he thought it was the opportune time to take the throne by force.

“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.” - I Kings 1:5-7.

Adonijah, persuaded the two most influential men in Israel to join him and become traitors to David. Abiathar, the high priest, through whom Adonijah would have religious approval by the people, and the powerful Joab, commander-in-chief of David's army. The word exalted means to praise, glorify, or honor, we need to be careful not to exalt ourselves, we can feel good about doing a job well done, but it is a sin to think of ourselves so high that we put ourselves upon a throne. God exalts us Himself when we live our lives for Him, not when we live our lives for ourselves. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” - I Peter 5:6.

Vision is good, but if we are doing anything that goes against God that vision will perish. Adonijah knew that serious consequences would arise if anyone found out about his plot, therefore he did everything under lock and key. However, word got out about what he was about to do, Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba went to David in hopes that he would be able to do something before Adonijah takes the throne for himself.

“And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou? And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:..And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?..And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.” - I Kings 1:16-18,24,29,30.

It is important to have witnesses and someone to back up an accusation, when both Bathsheba and Nathan came to David he knew that Adonijah was trying to take the throne from Solomon. David assured Nathan and Bathsheba that Solomon would be anointed king that day. After Solomon was anointed king, David gave him some words to live by.

“Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.” - I Kings 2:1-4.

David was telling Solomon to stand his ground and not allow himself to compromise his position. God promised David that the Messiah should come from his descendants, and that promise was absolute, but the promise, that there should not fail of them a man on the throne of Israel, was conditional. If he walks before God in sincerity, following His commands, God will always be with him. This same condition still stands, while all who call upon Jesus Christ to save them are promised eternal life in heaven, those who do not follow His commands will deal with a lot of suffering here on earth. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” - I Peter 4:1,2.

While Adonijah gathered all his men together for a feast to celebrate his inauguration, Solomon was being anointed king. When all the conspirators found out that Solomon was now king Adonijah and all the rest of them ran, fearing for their lives. Adonijah and Joab got themselves killed, while Abiathar was stripped from being a priest.

“Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day...So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh...And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.” - I Kings 2:24,27,29.

No matter how powerful or cunning a person thinks himself to be, God is more powerful than anyone, none can overthrow God's will. Therefore, follow the advice David gave to Solomon, keep the charge, and do not let anyone stop you from fulfilling the commands God has given you. Not only will you save yourself some grief you may even show them they error of their ways. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - I Peter 4:12,13.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the oil used to anoint Solomon as king (1:39). Oil, symbolic of the Holy Spirit, was poured out upon those chosen for special service. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” - Acts 10:38.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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