Cleaning up the house… (3 things)

• 1^st – The final advice of David to Solomon…vs. 1-12 Read: I Kings 2:1-12
  • 1^st – David knew he was about to die… vs. 1-2
    • ‘Just like everyone else’ – he was not an exception – because no one lives forever…
    • People do not like to think about death – they pretend like they will never die…
    • They go to parties / drink / have a great time with no thought for tomorrow…
    • Ecclesiastes 7:2 – “It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time.”
    • Rather than a party – go to a funeral – because that is where we will all end up!
    • We are all going to die – and it is important we think about it while there is still time…
    • Make sure we have a relationship with God – be certain heaven is our destination!
  • 2^nd – David commanded Solomon to keep the Word of God… vs. 3-4
    • There are a lot of temptations when you are King – Solomon could have ANYTHING!
      • In fact Solomon was not going to listen to the advice of his father…
      • Instead he was going to try EVERYTHING – to see what made him happy…
      • Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 – “Anything I wanted, I took. I did not restrain myself from any joy… But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless… There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.”
      • When we chase after the things of this world – it brings momentary happiness…
      • But it is a shallow fulfillment – things here can never really satisfy us…
      • Chasing the pleasures of the world will only leave us empty – a hollow life!
    • There is only one thing that can bring you a truly happy life – knowing Jesus…
      • Ever noticed how the things of this world only seem to satisfy for a moment…
      • How many times have we said – ‘if I could only have ____________ I would be happy’…
      • And when we get what we wanted – happy for a moment – then we want more…
      • Only when we live our lives for Jesus – can we be truly satisfied!
      • John 10:10 – “I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.”
    • If Solomon had followed the instructions of his Father – II Samuel 7:16…
      • Then a descendent of David would have always sat on the throne of Israel…
      • But because Solomon ran after the things of this world – he ran away from God…
      • And in the end the Kingdom was taken away from the decedents of David!
      • But Solomon did come back to God at the end of his life – yet he had wasted years!
      • Ecclesiastes 12:1-4 – “Do not let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living…  when your teeth are gone, keep your lips tightly closed when you eat! Even the chirping of birds will wake you up. But you yourself will be deaf and tuneless…”
      • Do not waste your life on things that do not matter – chasing the world / money…
      • What we need to chase after – spend our whole lives pursing – is Jesus!
      • Matthew 6:19-20 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”
  • 3^rd – Cleaning up the mess… vs. 5-9
    • Before David died – he had some scores he wanted Solomon to settle…
      • Joab – who had murdered Abner and Amasa – needed to die!
        • And Shimei – who had thrown stones at David when he fled from Absalom…
        • He let him live – he begged for his life – but Solomon was to finish him off!
      • David never forgave these men – because he never confronted them…
        • Instead he had bitterness towards both men – to the very end of his life!

• Too often our response when we are hurt is to just ignore a person…
• We do not want to confront – its uncomfortable – maybe it will make it worse…
• But when we have our feelings hurt – we only have two choices…
• We can say nothing – stay hurt – which leads to bitterness and anger…
• Or we can confront and allow Jesus to do the work of healing the relationship!
• David fondly remembered the kindness of Barzillai – II Samuel 19…
  • He had taken David and his men in when they had to flee from Absalom…
  • He told Solomon to always be kind to the sons of Barzillai – take care of them…
  • Proverbs 16:24 – “Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul / healthy for the body.”
  • When we show someone an act of kindness – the impact can last a lifetime!
• 4^th – David died – and was buried in the City of David… vs. 10-12
  • David reigned over Israel for 40 years in all – 7 from Hebron / 33 from Jerusalem…
  • His tomb remained in Jerusalem until after the time of the New Testament – Acts 2:29
  • To this day there is a traditional ‘Tomb of David’ located on Mt. Zion…
  • Commemorating the greatest – but far from perfect – King of Israel!
  • After his death Solomon sat on the throne of David – his rule firmly established!

The only safe place in life to be – is as close to Jesus as we can get!

2^nd – The rebellion of Adonijah…vs. 13-35 Read: I Kings 2:19-35

1^st – Adonijah came to Bathsheba with a request… vs. 13-25

Bathsheba was wary of the ‘want-to-be king’ – and asked if he came in peace…

Adonijah assured her that he did – he had accepted God made Solomon King…

But he did want a favor – he wanted to marry ‘Abishag’ the young wife of David…

If Bathsheba asked Solomon – he certainly would not refuse!

I am certain the relationship between Adonijah and Solomon was strained…

Perhaps desiring peace between the brothers – Bathsheba went to see Solomon…

Sometimes when we have hurt feelings – it is hard to be reconciled…

There needs to be a 3^rd party who step in to help mend the relationship…

Someone with wisdom who can reach out to both sides – I Corinthians 6:5

When Solomon found out Adonijah wanted Abishag – he was furious…

He thought this was a devious trick by Adonijah…

It seemed very innocent – Abishag was a beautiful young widow…

And Adonijah to all appearances had accepted Solomon as the King…

But there was an accepted custom among the people of Israel…

To marry a former queen – meant you got to be the next king!

Solomon believed this was attempt by Adonijah / Joab / Abiathar to take the Throne

Solomon vowed Adonijah would pay with his life for his request!

He had Benaiah – the captain of the bodyguard – execute his brother…

The bible does not say if Adonijah had ulterior motives or not…

Maybe Solomon was right / or just an excuse to remove an untrusted rival! 

We never know what someone else is thinking – but we tend to assume…

Making assumptions simply means believing things are a certain way…

With little or no evidence that shows you are correct…

But assumptions are like bombs – one mistake and they can blow up on us!

It is dangerous to make assumptions – especially if you have been hurt…

If we are not careful we will end up doing and saying things we will regret!

Luke 6:27 – “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”

2^nd – Next Solomon banished Abiathar the priest… vs. 26-27

He had supported Adonijah – so he should have shared his fate…

But he was the High Priest – and had suffered with King David…

When Saul killed all the priests – Abiathar alone had escaped – I Samuel 22:20

From that day on he had stood with David – even through the rebellion of Absalom…

So instead Solomon chose to banish him – never to serve as a priest again!

Abiathar was the last of the descendants of Eli…

With his removal as Priest – the Word of God concerning Eli was fulfilled…

The sons of Eli were evil men – steal the best of the meat of the sacrifices…

And Eli knew his sons were doing evil – and yet did nothing to correct them…

The result was they were terrible representatives of God to the people…

So a prophet of God came and predicted the end of their priestly line – I Samuel 2:31

Like Eli and his sons – Adonijah had not represented the Lord…

Rather than stand with God’s choice for King – Solomon – he followed Adonijah!

A pastor needs to be VERY careful about the example he gives – he represents God…

A pastor needs to make sure he is listening to the Lord – and not his own ideas…

Because when a pastor or leader stops following the Lord – God will remove him!

3^rd – The death of Joab… vs. 28-35

When Joab heard Adonijah was dead / and Abiathar was banished…

He knew he was next – so ran to the Tabernacle and grabbed onto the Altar…

Solomon sent Benaiah to execute Joab – but he refused to let go!

Joab was a murder – and it was time for him to pay the price for his crime…

Deuteronomy 19:13 – “Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with you.”

So Solomon gave Benaiah the command to kill Joab at the Altar!

Joab thought somehow the Altar had the power to save him from his sins…

The Altar was where sacrifices for sins were offered to the Lord…

But the power was not in the Altar – it was in coming to the Lord for forgiveness!

I lot of people put their trust in pictures / crucifixes / statues – to save them…

But when the Day of Judgment comes – they can no do anything to help!

Revelation 20:11-12 – “I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it…  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God…”

All will stand before the throne of God to be judged for our sins…

And there is nothing we can hold onto – nothing we can take with us to help us…

We will be judged according to our works – written in ‘The Books’…

Every thing we did – every word we said – every thought we thought…

Not to see if we will go to heaven or hell – but to show us why we will go to hell…

Unless our name is written in the Book of Life – because we believed in Jesus!

3^rd – The ultimatum to Shimei…vs. 36-46 Read: I Kings 2:36-44

1^st – Solomon sent for Shimei… vs. 36-40

Solomon could have put him to death on the spot – but instead gave him a choice…

He was to build a house in Jerusalem – where Solomon could keep an eye on him…

But if he ever left the city – he would forfeit his own life – be put to death…

Shimei agreed that was a fare sentence – and settled in Jerusalem

2^nd – Three years later – two of the slaves of Shimei ran away… vs. 41-46

Chances are he was not a very nice guy – which is why his servants ran away!

He was told they were hiding in the city of Gaza – so he went to get them…

But when he came back – Solomon found out Shimei had left the city

Solomon reminded him of his sentence – forbidden to leave the city…

Solomon realized God was judging Shimei – for what he did to David…

He got away with one sin – but in the end he was still put to death!

God gives us a choice – stay close to him – or we will end up spiritually dead…

The problem is like Shimei – we get away with one sin – and think we can do it again

Just because we get away with one sin – does not mean we will not get caught…