Conspiracy

Then Dyson said to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Hagan has become king and David, our Lord does not know what that with me as we got our Lord in prayer. Heavenly father. The passage it we have before us today reminds us that men are wicked proud, presumptuous and self-centered passage also reminds us that you were sovereign holy and all-powerful evil men believe that they call the shots in this world. They believe that they can force their wheel through manipulation and deceit their own brute strength is passage reminds us that you were God and we are not is a reminder to us that compromise with evil will never win our culture lasted the estate believe that compromise with evil is the only answer. Father uses passage in every heart today to be a character in your people, help us to quit being dependent on self and to grow in our dependence on Christ. You woke David up from his deathbed.

Would you wake us out of spiritual lethargy.

Help us to fight the good fight to finish our course and keep the faith. What is the precious holy name of Jesus that we pray.

Amen. Maybe seated my sermon last week was entitled King me boy, Saul, David son, Adonijah claiming the throne of Israel for himself now. Did he have permission to do that.

And the answer is no, they do not have permission from David his father David was keying he was still alive. David gave no permission. He did not have permission from God. He didn't really give a hoot what God thought he had no desire to know what God's will was. No permission from the godly men in Israel to become King himself. He just bypassed all the godly men and did what he wanted to do. So what we have here is a full-blown unholy ungodly conspiracy what what did Adonijah do a said well I am the oldest living son of David, I believe that I am the most qualified, so by but come hell or high water will be king.

That's the conspiracy I got three points that I want to share with you today. As we look at this conspiracy.

Number one is godly insight. Look at me.

In verses 11 to 12. Then Dyson said to Bathsheba, the mother, Solomon, have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Hagan has become king and David, our Lord does not know it now, therefore, let me give you advice that you may save your own life and the life of your son, Solomon, who is Nathan Nathan is a priest and a prophet but more than this is a man of God.

Nathan is the only one who had the spiritual guts to stand up to David when David committed adultery with Bathsheba and conspired to have her husband killed when David needed counseling spiritual counseling.

He always went to Nathan when David needed a prayer warrior. He always went to Nathan. Nathan had an unbelievable spiritual gift and the gift that that Nathan had was a gift of spiritual discernment.

He could smell a satanic scheme a mile away and he would discern that and then fight against it very interesting verse over in first Chronicles chapter 12 verse 32 that is describing the sons of Issachar. The men of Issachar and we read that to you.

Verse 32 says the men of Issachar had understanding of the times so that they knew what Israel ought to do. Nathan had that same spiritual gifts that the men of Issachar had. It was a gift of discernment that Nathan could see things that other people could not see they could understand things that other people did not understand.

And when he looked at the situation with Adonijah. He immediately knew this is weekend. This is wrong and it is extremely dangerous so he goes to Bathsheba and he says this tour have you not heard that Adonijah has made himself the King now had Adonijah actually done that in the answer that is absolutely yes. In first Kings chapter 1 verse five Adonijah says I will be king. And then he's through this big coronation party brought in the chariots and the charioteers and all these horsemen paying a kill Fanny Kazin and lambs and and did all of this stuff get everything ready and then there was a a huge guest list of all the people that he invited and what's interesting is who was not on that guest list. Nathan's not on the guest list. Neither is I.the priest neither is Solomon and neither is Bathsheba. None of them are there, that was not by accident that they were left off EC Adonijah did not want him anywhere around him so wise Nathan so up in arms about Adonijah becoming the king. Adonijah is a son of David, just like Solomon was so what's the big deal Nathan you that this was not just a kingdom of Israel, issued that this was a kingdom of God issued if Adonijah had been wise, he would've gone to Nathan to begin with. Ask his counsel and if they had the Nathan would've said to them and said to him, this this kingship is bigger than all of us. Adonijah it's not about David is not about Solomon is not about you. Adonijah is about a future king. It is about the Messiah, who is coming that we don't know his name yet, and we don't even know how long it's going to be before this Messiah gets here, but this we know he will be a sinless and perfectly righteous king. He will be the King of Kings and Lord of lords. He will be sent from God to bless Israel and to bless the world his bloodline has been sovereignly chosen is God, who commanded that our Messiah be a descendent of Solomon's is not about you Adonijah. Nathan would've said it is about the Messiah.

I call this point a godly insight because I look it Nathan's counsel and I look at the counselors of of Adonijah in man what a difference from one nation.

Nathan gave counsel to people. It was always based on the word of God.

Proverbs chapter 3 verses five and six of trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Nathan lived by that principle 5.2. A crafty plan.

Look at verses 13 through 14. Going at once to King David and say to him, did you not my lord the king swear to your servants and Solomon your son show running after me, and he shall sit on my throne, while the end is Adonijah King and while you're still speaking with the king also will come in after you and confirm your words. Nathan install all this out carefully as some commentators have said that this is nothing more than just worldly manipulation. None none none. This is godly planning. He knows what the will of God is he knows the wickedness of Adonijah. He knows what it will take to shake David out of his lethargy and motivate David to do something about this terrible situation so he goes to Bathsheba and Nathan doesn't tells Bathsheba what to do step-by-step. Bathsheba was the person who had the most direct contact and access to the king, so he tells her what to say to David books. Nathan knows how to ring David's veil Dunning human route.

David acted after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and conspired to have her husband killed. He just, swept it under the rug. What you'll say anything about it, acted totally apathetic about it. Didn't want anybody to mention it or bring it up until finally, that went on for nine months and Nathan walked into the throne room Nathan telling the story about the poor man who had a little ewe lamb that he loved, just like it was a pet but he loved it like a daughter and the next-door neighbor, very rich man came over and stole a poor man's lamb and kill the lamb and's and ate it for supper. David was livid over this injustice and he's ranting and raving and then Nathan stops them right in the middle of his rant and he points his finger in his face and he said David you're the man in the story. You are the one who stole somebody's wife and then and had her husband killed. You're the one who did this David Thiel are the man and David fell down on the floor just weeping and crying and tears of repentance, just flowing books. Nathan you God so well that he could see David's heart so he sends Bathsheba into into David's bedroom. In verse 15 says that Bathsheba went into the bedroom and there was Abishag the shooter might who he was in the bed with David cuddling him Abishag the Sheena might was a beautiful young lady and there she was with with David cuddling him because he was he was shivering with cold. She's trying to get him warm shared with you last week what Philip Reich and set about this and he said that Abishag could be called a human hot water bottle Bathsheba stay focused on what Abishag it is Nora.

What David is needs to do that. She's not even concerned about Abishag. I think that's very interesting look what's being say in verse 16 through 21. Bathsheba bailed and paid homage to the king and the king said what do you desire. She said to him, my Lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, saying, Solomon, your son shall reign after May.

Initial sit on my throne, and now behold Adonijah is king. Although you my lord the king do not know it.

He has sacrificed oxen, fattened calf and sheep in abundance is invited all the sons of the King bias are the priest and Joe at the command of the Army, Solomon, your servant, he's not invited. And now my lord the king the eyes of all Israel her own. You to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his father's that I and my son Solomon will be counted. Offenders Bathsheba approach David and humbly bowed before him. And David says what do you desire and she pours at her heart to David. She said to David, you told me that God told you that Solomon would be your successor that Solomon would be the one who would sit on the throne of Israel as the next king. Don't you notice what she's doing. She did the exact same thing that Nathan did she.

She used and appealed to the word of God." A lesson that should be to every single one of us. What matters is this what does God say what does God say when it's all said and done.

That's what matters. What does God say David said yes that's right, Bathsheba, and she said you you been out of the loop for several weeks, David. You've been bed ridden, you don't know what's going on here, but Adonijah has claimed himself to be the king and he's claimed himself to be the king over and above the anointed king who is Solomon.

He's done that he's Artie had this big coronation party. These kill, she please kill cattle.

He's invited all these people in and the ones that he would not invite was basin and Solomon and Sadock, and David. He didn't even consult you. Then she says David you need to take action.

For if you allow this thing to take place. Then Solomon and I are going to be executed while she still speaking Nathan waltzing and he's got this all planned.

This is a this is very wise for him to do this he knows how important godly timing is and he wants in writing this point in time and what is Bathsheba done. Bathsheba has spoken to David's heart, but now Nathan's get ready to speak to David's mind. Verses 22 through 27 while she was still speaking with the king Nathan the prophet came in and they told the king here is Nathan the prophet and when he came in before the king. He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and Nathan said, my lord the king had you said Adonijah shall reign after me initial sit on my throne, free is going down this day it is sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, sheep in abundance is invited all the king's sons. The commanders of the Army in a bath are the priest, behold, they are eating and drinking before him in San Longley of King Adonijah but me, your servant, Sadock, the priest neither some joy to your servant Solomon, he is not invited. Is this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not told your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him Nathan when he came in pretty much just confirmed what Bathsheba's already said hey said Adonijah had proclaimed himself to be king. He through this big coronation party had all these people that came, and the, the, the ones that should've been. They are the ones that weren't there. And then Nathan added this. He said, and all the people are shouting now let Longley of Adonijah only of Adonijah. In other words, Adonijah has convinced everyone that he really is the king and everyone in Israel now just kind of accepting it so well, I guess. Guess that's the way it's supposed to be so. Nathan said David did you okay this did you give Adonijah the stamp of approval from the king that that he was to be the next king. Is this something you did. He said David, I don't think that she did that. I don't think any got your stamp of approval see what's happening here.

Bathsheba has appeal to David's heart.

She said if Adonijah becomes king, then Solomon and I are to be executed were gonna die. You think that might've gotten a David's heart believe that it would. But now, now Nathan is speaking and Nathan is speaking to David's mind is a David look what's going on here.

This is a clue. This is nothing but treason. This deserves an execution what he is done is so terribly evil.

I see these actions of Nathan and Bathsheba is being very godly and here's why think that they honored their God-given authority. David was old and feeble, they could have just ignoring I could've taken advantage of them. They could've manipulated him. I didn't do any of that came in they buy out before David is her king and Bathsheba asked king and husband Bathsheba said this may my lord the king reign forever and she was on her face before king and husband. Ladies, don't you put yourself in Bathsheba shoes for just a minute. She walks into David's bedchamber and there is this beautiful young girl, Abishag the most beautiful girl in the kingdom.

She's probably about 19 years old and there she is cuddling with her husband as she's about 19 years old that she was going on 60. At this point in time. I don't know many wives that would've handled that situation with grace. We are told that all Abishag was doing here was just cuddling with him and trying to get David warm. He was shivering with the cold that there was no infidelity here now that had to make Bathsheba still very uncomfortable. Most wives of the Simplot David. If you're cold and shivering. I got a closet over here that sphere will blankets and David if you need somebody to cuddle with. I'm you huckleberry I can take care of this for you. I can travel with you. I can be a hot water hot water bottle for you. She could've said all that, but those thoughts don't seem to even be going through her mind whatsoever is no time for jealousy. She's nothing thinking about that at this point in time she bows before David and she honors him as her husband and her king. She is respecting her God-given authority.

Nathan shows David the same honor in one of the results the results are that David listens. Evidently when Nathan came into the room. Bathsheba slipped out. I think that was all planned.

This is an amazing thing to me on. I think David was confident that this was the Ian for him. He knew that he was dying and I think in his mind he's just accepting that and he knows that it's coming so mentally and physically and emotionally.

David is just kind of winding down pays at the point where he's getting ready to die and have you ever been in bed at night. Get ready go to sleep. You're just about asleep and you're at that point where you just don't think about anything else. Not you even recognize what's going on. You're just all everything else. You just oblivious to your own list is completely out of it.

Ever been to that that point, I think that's where David was and all the sudden Nathan in and Bathsheba come in and they share these truths with him about what's going on with Adonijah and man. He wakes up just like that he comes out of this stupor. No longer is he thinking about his own death. Now is thinking about the kingdom and who's going to be the next king. He realizes that he cannot die until all this is dealt with the cannot allow this the wrong son to become the king. Joy tells a servant bring Bathsheba back in your right quick and the servant does in all David's mental fogginess and all his lack of clarity just flows right at the window and so he's he's clears a bail shouting out orders. He is given every body instruction. He is sharp as he can be liquid said in verse 28 through 31. Thinking David answered call Bathsheba the money so she came into the king's presence and stood before the king and the king sore saying as the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, Solomon, your son show right after me, and he shall set on my throne in my place. Even so will I do this day and Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king, and said, may my lord king David live forever. David's think it is clears a bail he assures Nathan and Bathsheba that Adonijah's conspiracy will not stand.

I think most of you probably remember Wanda Lily. I want is going to be at the Lord a few years back, but she was a Sunday school teacher here for over 30 years for our little children and a wonderful wonderful job but when she was on her deathbed, she was at the hospice house over in Annapolis and and the morning she died. Cindy and I were over at the in her room with her and Lucy here and was there and Vicki Wes were there. We were standing around her bed and she somehow realized that in her wheel she had left out a relative that she cared for love very much and she said I gotta get the lawyer back of your very quickly. She had been going down and you you could tell she was just closing out. Up until that point and then we call the lawyer the longer got over there and just just very quickly.

She told Lori what she wanted done how she wanted this other relative, in her will to get some of her inheritance and she said this is very important. He wrote it out just exactly like she wanted it. We had to sign as witnesses at this was right and we signed it. The longer turned around to to Wanda and he said it's taken care of your your relative is going to get that inheritance and she said thank you and she closed her eyes. Within minutes after that she was with the Lord when when I read this passage this week about what's going on with David at what was going on with Wanda was very much like that. She said I cannot die until this will is corrected until the relatives that I love is taking care of and that's what David is saying I cannot die until I know that Solomon is on the throne and when I know that then I'll be able to.but not until the end. I cannot die until I know that Adonijah can't stop Solomon's reign. This only believe that the only reason it Bathsheba and Nathan were so concerned about this and almost in a panic was because they knew that they were gonna dive Adonijah became King I don't think that at all somewhat. Commentators also believe that God never told Solomon or prophesied that Solomon would be the next king of Israel.

I don't believe that either in first Chronicles chapter chapter 22 verses 9 to 10 David is talking to Solomon, and David told them what happened. David said that he was praying to the Lord, and he asked the Lord about becoming our building the temple of of God in Jerusalem. He said that's what I want to do for you Lord and the Lord said no David you will not do that because you're a bloodied man your man-of-war and and you will not be all the template needs to be a man of peace, so the one that will build the temple will be the next king in the next king is going be Solomon.

Solomon's not even born at that point time Stephen gives him his name. Solomon will be the next king and Solomon, a man of peace will be the one who who bills the temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem. Marie first Chronicles 22 to the verses nine through 10 while the sun shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest I will give him rest from all the surrounding enemies for his name shall be Solomon. I will give peace and quiet Israel in his days he shall build a house for my name, he shall be my son and I will be his father and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever. Think about that it was God who said Solomon would be the next king in Israel. It was God who said Solomon would build the temple of God in Jerusalem.

God said all that is.

David is dying Nathan and and Bathsheba come in and they say Adonijah is claiming to be king and people are accepting it is Adonijah going to be the next king, the successor to David is is that what's gonna happen. It's no wonder David woke up. It's no wonder David started shouting out orders. He knew that the will of God was being violated and come hell or high water. David was not going put up with that, the reasons I just shared with you there true, and I think they're relevant there valid, but I believe that there's something much, much more important here much bigger and more glorious that David had in mind and second Samuel chapter 7 God given David royal promises. The kingdom promises that he had given him.

RRR promises that reach far beyond the little nation of Israel, the kingdom promises pointed to a king who would be much greater and much more glorious than Solomon, the kingdom promises spoke of an eternal kingdom, and of an eternal King. A perfect sinless, perfectly righteous Messiah Messiah and and David and you that the bloodline must go through the prophesied Solomon. So how would the kingdom come. Only one way, the kingdom could come and that is to a perfectly holy life that would be sacrificed as a substitutionary atonement as a propitiation as a reconciliation and as a ransom for redemption and then after that sacrificial death. It would be a resurrection, a resurrection to eternal life. David did not have that full revelation that he was somehow able to look down the corridor of history a thousand years, and when he did, guess what he saw. He saw Jesus he saw Jesus he saw Jesus the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the earth.

He saw Jesus the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. This Jesus would be born in David's bloodline through Solomon, not through Adonijah. That's what woke David up. That's what gripped his heart.

That's what forced David to stop Adonijah in his tracks. This political treason was not just about Adonijah.

It was essentially that Jesus both from your teaching your children about life teach them that there's one question that is more important than any other question and that is this what will you do with Jesus. What will you do with Jesus, Philip Reich and said it this way, although in many ways, the kingdom has come, we are still waiting for all his promises to be totally fulfilled.

This is why we praise thy kingdom come, we are looking and faith of the kingdom to come in all its full dominion, and while we wait. We are called to believe the kingdom promises of God's promise that in his kingdom there be no more death or dying or pain.

He is promises the citizens of his kingdom will experience the full joy of being at home with Jesus forever. And he has promised that his kingdom can never be shaken but will endure for all eternity. You belong to the kingdom of God.

If so, then sway her ongoing allegiance to Jesus Christ as your king and believe that one day you will see all his kingdom promises come true believe this, even when the progress of the gospel seem slow or when things seem to be getting worse instead of better. When the world seems tired out and broken down when you suffer grief and loss and physical pain when God seems far away evenly and believe the kingdom promise of the eternal God, taken by faith in Jesus Christ, which you cannot see until he comes again .3 working for the kingdom's progress. Verse 17 through 18, and in verses 29 to 30. She said to him, Lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, saying, Solomon, your son shall right after me. They shall sit on my throne. Now, behold, Adonijah's king. Although you my lord the king do not know what verse 29 and the king swore sand as the Lord lives with his redeemed my soul of every adversity as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel say, and Solomon.

Your son shall reign after me, and shall sit on my throne in my place. Even so, I will do this day when times are hard.

People say well what can one person do those thoughts surely must've gone through the minds of Nathan and Bathsheba. Here's Adonijah proclaimed himself to be the king is already throwing this big coronation party invited all the, the, the big marketing mucks from all over Israel to that to that coronation party, the people of Israel already screaming out longingly of Adonijah.

I think it would've been very easy for Nathan and Bathsheba to have said, well, we're just a day late and a dollar short. There's not going do about it. We may as well just forget it. None of us know what they did.

They said we plus God or a majority and Bathsheba pours her heart out to her husband. She appeals to his spiritual side. She says what David while you been cuddling up with Miss universe over here wit. We had some problems and Adonijah has proclaimed himself to be the king and he is trying to take over from the real anointed one who is Solomon we gotta do something about it David, you got to realize that this is gotta be finished up before you die, you gotta tell the nation what you told me Solomon is to be king. This is important for our nation. Now David is important for the kingdom of God for all of eternity. So David was stirred up on a man he comes out of that lethargy that that middle fogginess comes right out of that and does everything he has to do to it to make sure that God's will is accomplished. Believe in the sovereignty of God. I believe that there is not one maverick molecule in this universe. I believe that God is in total control. I am what you called up just a Bluenose Calvinist.

I believe that with all my heart. But having said that, I'm not a fatalist. I am not a fatalist I don't shrug my shoulders and say what will be will be.

I believe that God calls his people to stand strongly for truth. I believe that oftentimes we must push back against ungodliness, even if it means persecution. I believe that we should not be deterred by criticism or public opinion, I believe we should stand strong that we should put on the whole armor of God that we should forge ahead for the kingdom and trust the results to God, that's exactly what Bathsheba and Nathan did did God honor that. Oh yeah, God woke David up from his deathbed and stop Adonijah from becoming the king lay close with a short statement from Philip Reich and he said Jesus Christ is the king, then we should do whatever we can do for his kingdom. After all, Jesus himself has done everything he could do for this kingdom. He is even done what no other king would dare to do is offer his own blood to save his people.

Given what he has done for us is only right for us to do whatever we can for him and for his kingdom is pray. Heavenly father. What was it that what David up from his deathbed was in a family struggle, no was an arrogant son.

No was a godly son was being cheated. No, it was the promise of everlasting kingdom.

It was a promise of the coming Messiah a thousand years before Jesus would be born to the virgin Mary, God woke up David and called him to deal with Adonijah's rebellion so the Messiah's royal bloodline would stand, Lord God. Nothing can thwart your proper purposes. Nothing can stay your hand, may we live out our lives with that truth burning in our hearts. You had a plan for David. You had a plan for Nathan and Bathsheba. You had a plan for Solomon and you have a plan for every child of God in this building show was your plan Jesus to your glory for what is in the precious holy name of Jesus that we pray. Amen