DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DISCERNMENT

DAD'S RAMBLING – DISCERNMENT

"Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, 'Do you come peaceably?' And he said, 'Peaceably.' Moreover he said, 'I have something to say to you.' And she said, 'Say it.' Then he said, 'You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother's for it was his from the Lord. Now I ask one petition of you; do not deny me.' And she said to him, 'Say it' Then he said, 'Please speak to King Solomon for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.' So Bathsheba said, 'Very well, I will speak for you to the king.' " (I Kings 2:13-18)

We find more intrigue in the royal family. Adonijah, an older step-brother of Solomon born to Haggith, had proclaimed himself as king over Israel without the knowledge of King David (I Kings 1:11). But King David had promised that Solomon would succeed him to the throne by the word of the LORD (see I Chronicles 22:9-10). Adonijah wanted to usurp the throne from Solomon. He was the brother of Absolom, who had also formed an insurrection against King David to become king. Apparently, Adonijah had the same ambitions. So he hatched this plan to get Solomon to give him Abishag, the Shunammite, to be his wife. Abishag was a lovely, young virgin who was conscripted to care for King David when he was in his final days. David was cold, and though they covered him with covers, he still could not get warm. So Abishai would cuddle up next to David on his bed to keep him warm. There is no sexual connotation (I Kings 1:1-4). Now that David was dead, Abishag was free to marry.

Adonijah apparently figured that if he could have Abishai as his wife, then he could make some claim to succeed David. In his wisdom, Solomon saw through this scheme, saying to Bathsheba, " 'Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also...' " (vs.22) Solomon could figure that if Adonijah had a following, which he did, he would cause all kinds of problems to his young kingship. Solomon summarily executed Adonijah, thus eliminating any contender to the throne.

It takes wisdom to see through the schemes of people who have their own agenda. Not everything is as it appears. Bathsheba did not have this wisdom, but Solomon did. Without being too suspicious of people, we need to have discernment of their true motives. God is the source of all knowledge and wisdom and we need to seek Him and His wisdom for discernment.

Love, Dad