Sermon Share Share arrow_down facebook_grayscale Facebook x_grayscale X whatsapp_grayscale WhatsApp telegram_grayscale Telegram email Email print Print link Copy Link gift Gift Article Save to Bookmarks Save save save_hover_active save save_hover_active Quick Save add Create Folder close Create new folder: Create new folder close This feature is only available to members. Join now for full online access. The King Takes His Throne: Solomon's Rise to Power A Royal Conspiracy If we believe in the kingdom of God, we will act toward its fulfillment. Philip Ryken close This feature is only available to members. Join now for full online access. Table of contents Table of contents Table of contents Close - Table of contents Close - Table of contents In This Sermon Series The King Takes His Throne: Solomon's Rise to Power Introduction Solomon’s Wish Putting the Kingdom First David’s Last Words Long Live the King! A Royal Conspiracy King Me! Introduction The right to rule as king has been the occasion of many bitter conflicts. Often brother has fought against brother to wear the crown, forcing members of the royal family and citizens of the realm to choose sides. During the Third Crusade, King Richard 1—also known as the Lionheart—waged war against Muslim armies under the command of Saladin. But while Richard was fighting to regain Jerusalem, his brother Prince John was busily trying to crown himself the King of England. Richard hurriedly made a treaty with Saladin and raced home to protect his royal prerogatives. But as he made his way across Europe, the king was captured by Leopold V of Austria and held for a ransom two or three times the amount of his kingdom’s annual income. Everyone in England was forced to choose sides. John offered Leopold half as much money to keep Richard in prison for another couple of years, so he would have time to consolidate his power. Meanwhile, Richard’s mother—Eleanor of Aquitane—tried (and eventually succeeded) to raise enough money to have her favorite son rescued and restored to his rightful throne. It was a conflict for the kingdom, which Richard eventually won. But while the throne was still in dispute, people had to decide which man they wanted to be king, and how much they would give to support his cause. We face a similar choice when it comes to the kingdom of God. Will we honor God’s true and rightful King, or will we try to seize the crown for ourselves? Which kingdom will we choose? And how much will we sacrifice to see it established? Rivals for the throne The people of God faced the same choice during the last days of David, when the king was on his deathbed and two of his sons, Adonijah and Solomon, were contesting for the crown. With the question of royal succession on everyone’s mind, David’s oldest living son Adonijah decided to take the throne. “I will be king,” he declared, and then he gathered as many followers as he could. In truth, he did what many of us are tempted to do many times in life: he exalted his own honor, pursued his own pleasure, and grasped for the control of his own destiny. He had named himself the royal heir of David’s house without having even one word with King David himself! Adonijah’s coup of a party was still in full swing when one man decided to take action: “Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, ‘Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king and David our lord does not know it? Now therefore come, let me give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon'” (1 Kings 1:11-12). At this critical moment in the history of the people of God, one man understood exactly what was at stake. Nathan also knew what would happen if Adonijah proved to be successful: Bathsheba and Solomon would both be killed, for in ancient times it was customary for a king to put his rivals to death. The whole situation was a royal crisis. By trying to usurp the throne, Adonijah was threatening the royal succession, and with it all the promises that God had made to the house of David. This was more than a power struggle; it was a life-and-death conflict for the kingdom of God. Everyone had to make a destiny-deciding choice: Which king will you serve? Messengers to the King Nathan and Bathsheba chose to serve Solomon, and in choosing to serve Solomon they were choosing to serve the kingdom of God. We learn some important lessons from their example, but first we need to hear their story, with all of its royal intrigue. After sounding the alarm about Adonijah, Nathan told Bathsheba his clever plan: “Go in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then is Adonijah king?’ Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words” (1 Kings 1:13-14). It was a crafty plan. Nathan was the master strategist, skilled in the art of human persu...