June 6: Of battles not fought and promises fulfilled

1 Kings 1:1-53

Acts 4:1-37

Psalm 124:1-8

Proverbs 16:24

God has yet to grant Solomon the gift of wisdom, but already there is a lot to learn.  Let's put ourselves in his shoes...his dad, the king, told him he would inherit the throne.  So he's living a good and upright life, but it would be unrealistic to think he didn't at all look forward to when he would ascend the throne.  I can't imagine he was unaware of the risk to siblings of a vindictive royal successor.  So he's happy, his dad is king, and he's waiting for the crown to pass to him.

And then his brother, Adonijah, sees David is ill, and takes matters into his own hands, hoping to present his father, his brother and all of Israel with a fait accompli.  He enlists chariots, horses and fifty men to run ahead of him, he solicits the support of important people, he acts as though he has been anointed king by offering sacrifices in abundance, and he holds a coronation party to which he invites various dignitaries and all his other brothers.  All his other brothers, that is, except Solomon.  Who is probably getting a bit worried by now that his brother is making a move, and his brother is unlikely to leave loose ends in his pursuit of the throne.  

So what does he do?  Does he confront his brother, pick a fight, defend his inheritance?  Nope - he turns to his father.  His mother, Bathsheba, entreats David, implores him to remember his promise.  She doesn't demand that David make Solomon king - she merely reminds David of his promise to Solomon.  And she gets others to do so as well - so Nathan goes in to remind David of the same thing.  Again, he doesn't demand...he merely reminds David of his promises.  

We know how it turns out.  David doesn't fight a battle with Adonijah - he merely confirms and effects his promise, and he proclaims Solomon king, demonstrating how powerless Adonijah was all along.  And all of Adonijah's posturing, all his sacrifices, all the support he had - all of it was worth nothing, for nothing.  And Solomon?  Well, he didn't have to do anything, he didn't have to fight for anything, for his father's promises to come to fruition.

We have a Father far greater than David.  And He has made us - each and every single one of us - many promises.  To prosper us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future, among other things.  He has promised us peace, because He has "overcome the world".  They are there, enumerated, in His Word.  And we don't have to fight to receive them - all we have to do is turn to Him and remind Him of these promises...and we can have even greater faith than Solomon did that our God will fulfill His promises.

Thank You, God, for Your faithfulness, that we need not worry nor fret, we need not struggle nor fight - that all we need to do is turn to You for the fulfillment of Your promises.