So please turn again to 1 Kings and chapter 2. 1 Kings and chapter 2, I trust we have all read that. Remember, we have seen that in 1 Kings, we are given David's prophetic history. That is a history that is written from the standpoint of the promise that God made to David in 2 Samuel chapter 7, and there in verses 12 to 16, to establish his kingdom and to ensure that he always had a successor. And Solomon's birth, we noted, was the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise, which gave, if you like, spiritual meaning to the institution of royalty there in the kingdom of Israel. So in chapter one, We saw David appointing Solomon as king. We also saw Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, anoint Solomon as king over Israel. And David was still alive. But as we come to chapter two of One King, we stand by the deathbed of David. We hear his last instructions to his son and his successor, that is Solomon, his last instructions before he dies, and then some of the actions, the immediate actions that Solomon takes to secure the kingdom. So we're going to look this evening at David dies, but the kingdom is secured. David dies. But the kingdom is secured. And as we look at that, I would like us to consider, first of all, David's instruction on his death. David's instruction on his death. Secondly, we'll look at Adonijah executed. And then thirdly, we'll consider Abiepha exiled. Joab and Shimei executed. So those are the three things we'll consider this evening. And you have read it, and the Lord helping us will go through them then very quickly. So in the first place, David's instructions and death. Although Solomon refers to himself as a little child, in 1 Kings chapter 3, and there in verse 7, where Solomon prays and says, now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child, he says. Even though he refers to himself as a little child, we also know here in chapter 2 and in verse 9, his father David refers to him as a wise man. Now, therefore, he said, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. So he is a man, even though he calls himself a little child. And so it is known and believed that Solomon was very young when he became king. And it is believed that he could not have been more than 20 years of age when he became king. He was a very young man. So he became king at that age. David, remember, died at the age of 70. He had ruled for 40 years. That means he became king at the age of 30. Solomon was 10 years, at least, younger than his father when he became king. And things were not getting easier in Israel. Now, even though we have seen that David calls Solomon a wise man. However wise a young man may be, and however wise Solomon was at this point in time, and however well disposed he may have been, the temptations and the difficulties of his position awaken fears in the heart of his father, David. And naturally so, and genuinely so. And here in 1 Kings chapter 2, before David dies, he calls on Solomon, his son, to be strong. And he calls on him to be strong, therefore prove himself to be a man in verses 1 and 2. Now the days of David drew near that he should die. And he charged Solomon, his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. Be strong and prove yourself a man. And then in verse 3, Solomon is to be strong and prove himself a man through spiritual decidedness, through faithfulness to his God, and obedience to the true and the living God. Look at what he says in verse three, and keep the charge of the Lord your God to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his judgment, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn. Be a man and prove your authority, be strong and prove yourself a man. And how do you do that? By keeping the word of the Lord. You are to remember that is how to be a man, be spiritually decided, be faithful to the true and the living God and be obedient to his word. And this is what Solomon must do in order that he may prosper and inherit the promises that were made to his father, David, and to his household. At the end of verse three, David says to him that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, verse four, that the Lord may fulfill his word, which he spoke concerning me saying, if your sons take heed to their way to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, he said, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel. So be true, faithful, and obedient to the true and the living God. That is the way. But there are great political dangers, serious political dangers, which were before the young king. You must, says the father, if you are to inherit these promises of God, If you are to prosper in the ways of the Lord, then you have to be obedient. You have to be faithful. But there are serious dangers. There is an unscrupulous military faction, if you like, that was headed by Joab, the general. And that is what he speaks to him about in verses five and six. When he says to him, moreover, you know also what Joab, the son of Zeruah, did to me and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner, the son of Amasa, the son of Jepha, whom he killed and he shed the blood of war in peacetime and put the blood of war on his belt that was around his waist and on his sandals that were on his feet. But not only is there this military faction, if you like, but there was also a dissatisfied priestly party, which at this time was led by Zotop, the priest. And it was ready to join any rebellion at any time, just as they joined the rebellion of Adonijah. In addition, there was a tribal rivalry. in the land of Israel. And it had been shown to exist by the actions of Shimei. Shimei, the way he acted in 2 Samuel chapter 16, and there in verses 5 to 8. And King David speaks about that in verses 8 and 9 here. He says to his son Solomon, and see, you have with you Shimei. the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurin, who cursed me with a malicious curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword. Now, therefore, he said, do not hold him guiltless. So there were these heavyweights factions and parties that were there, which Solomon had to deal with or contend with at this point in time. And David brings them to his attention. You see, on the other hand, he reminds him and he says to him that gratitude was necessary and it was important. And it was both dictated by duty and policy to such families like the Basil family, who were very receptive. who were there for him, who received him when he needed people's support. In verse 7, David says to Solomon, but show kindness to the sons of Baselite, the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom, your brother. So even as he points to the dangers, he also points to the friends, those who were there. Those who were ready to support and to be with him in thick and thin, and they were there genuinely supportive of the king. Joab and Shimei had long forfeited their lives because their actions deserved the death penalty. They had long forfeited their lives. It was only the necessities of the time that prevented David from executing them for their conduct at those times. And David partly brought the necessities of the time upon himself. He weakened himself by his own actions in the presence of Job, for example. And because of what has happened in the way he brought up his children, Absalom was able to do what he did And Shimei had the opportunity to insult him to his face in the presence of his generals. But because of the necessities of the time, David could not act. He could not do much. But Job and Shimei had already, at this time, forfeited their lives because they had committed crimes that demanded the death penalty. And here, when David speaks to his son, when he instructs him and he advises him, David is not venting his feelings of revenge here. That's not what he's doing, as some may have us believe. David is not venting his feelings of revenge. No. David, an old statesman, an experienced king, is advising his inexperienced son and successor, Solomon, at this point in time of the powerful dangers that awaited him. This is what he is doing as an experienced king, also as a loving father to a son that is loved. This is what David is doing at this point in time. And it was only natural that David should give his son an heir such advice for future guidance, of course, out of the abundance of his experience. This is what he's doing. And it is important also to remember that here, David is also speaking not only as a king, but as a prophet. Remember, David was a prophet of the Lord. And this is something that some who come to this text forget. An experienced king, a loving father advising his son, guiding him as it were in the way of life, for he had no experience, Solomon had no experience, but also this is David speaking as a prophet. And the fact that Even before David's death, remember, even before David's death, an attempt was made to enthrone Adonijah, contrary to the revealed will of God and contrary to the appointment of David, who was the king. An attempt was made while he was still around anyway, in his very presence. So he knew of this danger. And it was only right for him to advise his son and to point out the dangers to him so that he will be careful in the way ahead. With Joab and Abieva as leaders, what I want you to remember is this. At that time when King David was still alive, This attempt was made to enthrone Adonijah. It was contrary to God's revealed will. It was contrary to David's appointment. Joab and Abither were there as leaders supporting Adonijah. Of course, that must have reminded David of the past. And it must have shown that the smoking flats, which had been smoking, for some time now was as it were ready to bust out into full flame. That had been shown to David, he'd seen it. And this was now the time to quench the fire completely. And he advises his son accordingly. And having given his son the advice that he needed, we read in verses 10 to 12 that David dies. having been king for 40 years, seven years in Hebron, 33 years in Jerusalem. He dies as king of Israel. His son Solomon sits upon his throne and we're told that the kingdom was firmly established. Or in verse 12, we read, then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David and his kingdom was firmly established. So David instructs Solomon and dies. David's instruction and death. Secondly, Adonijah executed. Now, events actually proved that David's concerns were legitimate and they were well grounded. Clearly, Adonijah had not given up all hope of ascending to the throne. When you look at Adonijah's scheme, when you look at his plot, you will see that the scheme lacked the courage of open rebellion, but it had the cunning and the trickery of Middle Eastern intrigue, if you like. For look at what he does. He goes to Solomon's mother. He knows that it would be difficult for Solomon to refuse his mother. So he goes to his mother. But what does he go for? He wants Abishag, that young woman that was brought to David. That is the woman he wants. to marry. Now, to marry any of the late king's wives or concubines, any of them, to marry them was seen in the East as publicly claiming the rights of the throne, the rights of the king. That's what it was all about. If you look at 2 Samuel, chapter 12, Just to remind us, we've seen it before. In 2 Samuel chapter 12, and there in verse 8, we read the Lord speaking through his prophet Nathan to David. He says to him in 2 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 8, I give you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping. and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been too little, I also will have given you much more. In other words, I have given you the throne. I gave you the throne. And look at chapter 16 of 2 Samuel. 2 Samuel 16, 21 and 22. in verses 21 and 22 of 2 Samuel 16. And Ahithophel said to Absalom, go into your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong. Because they will know that you are now in charge. You have taken over the concubines of the king. So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house. And Absalom went into his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. He was now claiming the throne. He was now publicly and openly claiming the kingdom. That was what was happening. And when that kind of thing is done by a rival, It was an insult which not even the weakest of kings could submit to without losing face in public opinion. And so in 2 Samuel chapter three, in 2 Samuel chapter three, and there in verse seven of 2 Samuel chapter three, we read, and Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rispa, the daughter of Aya. So Ishbosek, the crippled son of Sol, said to Abner, because as far as Abner was concerned, Ishbosek was a weak cripple who couldn't do anything, who couldn't say anything. And because of that, he felt he could go to Sol's concubine and take her for himself, because he had the real power. Even though Ishbosheth was supposedly the appointed king in that part of Israel. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, why have you gone into my father's concubine? Weak as he was, dependent upon Abner. That was too much for even him to take. And so he confronts Abner. even though he knew he was dependent of Abner for his powers. He couldn't take it. He had to complain. And he complains to Abner. Now, when it comes to Adonijah here, using the Queen Mother as an unconscious accomplice, because she was acting as an unconscious accomplice, whether she did not think through what was going on, or did not know about it, I do not know. But for Adonijah to use the Queen Mother as an unconscious accomplice, that was very dubious. It was very dubious. But for him, Adonijah, to think that Solomon, as a young, inexperienced king, either will not understand what he meant or will not think much about it, that was stupid. For Adonijah to think that Solomon will do nothing or will not understand what was going on, that was very foolish. It was very foolish. You see, although Abishag had not had any sexual intimacy with David, as we saw in 1 Kings chapter 1 and verse 4, she will have been considered generally as one of the late king's concubines. That's what she will have been considered as. That's how she will have been seen as. and for Adonijah to ask for her, and to ask the Queen Mother to go directly to King Solomon and ask for her. That was an insult. That was an insult. And to punish with death, so cunning and mean and intrigue, as here in verses 22 to 25, can scarcely be called excessive severity. Adonaija was asking for it. And Solomon had to do it. Otherwise, he will not only lose faith in the public, he will ultimately lose the throne. It was a necessary measure in order to maintain peace. Because by his own admission, Adonaija still fought the kingdom was his. Look at what he said in verse 15 while he was speaking to the queen mother. Then he said, you know that the kingdom was mine. There is a king on the throne. You don't say that. You don't say that, especially not to his mother. He says, you know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel has set their expectations on me, that I shall reign. So he was still harboring that interest. He still had that at the back of his mind. But he asked, however, the kingdom has been turned over and has become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord. But really, it is me that the people were looking up to. Really, it is me that should be there. So by his own admission, he condemned himself and had to go. There couldn't be two kings in one kingdom. So now, in the third place, Abiefa exiled. Joab and Shemai executed. Abiefa exiled Joab and Shemai executed. We're not told if Abiatha and Joab were involved in this new intrigue, this new cunning plan of Adonijah. But coming so soon after the plot to enthrone Adonijah, in which both Abiatha and Joab were involved, Every normal thinking person will suspect them. Every average person will suspect them. And that called for measures against them to prevent rebellion in the future. And it called for action to serve as a strong deterrent to any turbulent spirits, if you like, in the kingdom of Israel, so that they will know that the throne has been settled. A king is seated. It is not on the offer. Now, considering his office and his former services to King David, Abiepha the priest was only banished to his ancestral home at Annafort in verse 26. And to Abiepha, the priest, the king said, go to Annafort to your own fields, for you are deserving of death. but I will not put you to death at this time because you carried the ark of the Lord God before my father, David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted." So he was banished. He was exiled to Ann Arthur and he was to remain there. In verse 27, we read that Abiafa being deposed was also a fulfillment of the word that the Lord had spoken against the house of Eli in 1 Samuel chapter 2, verses 31 to 36. Because here in verse 27, it says, so Solomon removed Abiafa from being priest to the Lord that he might fulfill the word of the Lord which he spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh. And that word is found in 1 Samuel chapter 2, verses 31 to 36. Now the fact that on hearing of Adonijah's death, Joab sought refuge in the tabernacle. That in itself confirms that Joab knew that he deserved the same sentence. For in verse 28, it says, when news came to Joab, for Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. Clearly, he knew. He knew what he deserved. He knew that he deserved the death sentence. And the only way he fought to avoid it was to go to the altar and seek for refuge. And so he runs there. And it's important to note here that it was not for his part in Adonijah's schemes, actually, that Joab was executed. No. it was for his former unpunished crimes. The crimes that he committed with deserved the death penalty, but were not inflicted at the time by King David because of his situation. So from verse 31, we read, then the King said to him, go. as he has said, and strike him down and bury him, that you may take away from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed. So the Lord will return his blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword. Abner, the son of Ner, and commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, the son of Jepha, the commander of the army of Judah. Though my father David did not at the time know it, their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his descendants forever. But upon David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne, there shall be peace forever from the Lord. So Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, went up and stroked and killed him. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. And so Joab is executed because of his former crimes, which deserved a sentence. But his treason with Adonijah also equally deserved the death sentence. But that's not why he was eventually executed. So there was now only one other difficulty to deal with. And this person, in heart, in mind, and by popular opinion, It was known to belong to the party opposed to the ruling household. In verses 36 and 37, Solomon ordered Shammai to remain in Jerusalem, warning that any breach for any reason was punishable by death. So that was made very clear to Shemai. So that when you look at verses 36 and 37, it says, then the king sent and called for Shemai and said to him, build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there and do not go out from there anyway. For it shall be on the day you go out and cross the brook Kidron, No, for certain, you shall surely die. Your blood shall be on your own head. He was given very clear warning. And he was told exactly what he was to do. In verses 39 to 46, Shemai leaves. And he goes out of Jerusalem. And he goes to Gath. He says he goes looking for his runaway slaves, but he goes without the permission of the king. And of course, on his return, he suffers the penalty that was threatened to him. It was made very clear that any breach, for whatever reason, will result in the death penalty. And that was exactly what happened with Shemain. And we read at the end of this chapter, there in verse 46, thus it says, and when it says thus, that is at the end of verse 46, when it says thus, it means in this way or by such measures, So in this way, thus, the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. So let me make just one or two applications as I finish this evening. First of all, on the basis of 2 Samuel chapter 7, verses 12 to 16, the promise that the Lord made to David and to the household of David, we can say Fairly straightforward there. Unfaithfulness on the part of David's successors will never negate the promise that the Lord made to David. But in order to enjoy the blessings that are promised In order to enjoy the blessing that I promised, every succeeding king must remain faithful, as David makes clear in verse four, must remain faithful. Obedience is that internal means by which the kingdom is secured. If the king remains faithful and obedient to the Lord, in obedience, peace and security will be given to both the king and the kingdom. And whether it is the Davidic king, or it is the disciple of our Lord and our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, true stability and true and genuine peace comes through obedience to the commands of the Lord. What was true for Davidic kingdom holds true for the church of our Lord and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever your situation, whatever the circumstance, if we're true and faithful and obedient to the Lord and obedient to his commandments in the midst of everything, when we are obedient to the commands of the Lord, he gives us by the power of his Holy Spirit, genuine stability and peace so that when others are shaken and moved around, we stand firm and stable like the house that was built upon the solid rock because we are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and cannot be shaken by all that happens around us. But that requires faithfulness and obedience to the commandments of the Lord. When we are faithful and obedient to his command, then we know that stability, we know the peace that comes from looking to the Lord Jesus, the one who alone is the author and the finisher of our faith. When you look, secondly, at what has happened, however natural and however lawful David's feelings were, and in the instructions that he gave to his son, Solomon, it is very hard to read his patent instructions without a feeling of some sadness. Because you feel that a lot of the difficulties, a lot of the problems, a lot of the pains will have been avoided if only David, if only David had been a very good father, in the upbringing of his children, especially his sons. Especially his sons. We have seen that he was too indulgent when it came to his sons. And then his sons, many of them, literally turned against him. And so thinking of Adonijah at this time, Even if Adonijah's request through the Queen Mother, even if it was not sinister, let's assume there was nothing sinister about it. We know it was stupid. It was very stupid. She should not have done that. No matter how inexperienced Solomon was, he was a wise man. If his mother could not see it, he saw it. And remember his reaction. He said to the mother, you might as well give him the whole kingdom. Give him the throne then. If you want me to give him to Abishag, why? Because I know the implication. I know what that means. You might as well just ask me to leave the throne and let him come and take it. So that assuming we imagine that there was nothing sinister about it, it was very stupid. It was insensitive. Never have done that. Common sense will have told him that Solomon will be suspicious. Any man on the throne at that time will have been suspicious. If Adonijah wanted to leave, all he had to do was to sit tight. That was all he had to do. At the end of chapter 1 of 1 Kings, in verses 52 and 53, then Solomon said, If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth. But if wickedness is found in him, he shall die. So the king, King Solomon sent him and sent them to bring him down from the altar, and he came and fell down before King and before King Solomon. And Solomon said to him, go to your house. All he had to do was to sit tight, and there will have been no problem. Now the same goes for Shemai. The same goes for Shemai. If he wanted to leave, if he wanted to remain alive, all he had to do was to stay put and not to go gallivanting around in the name of looking for his runaway slaves. in gaff. He knew the times, he knew the consequences. He went. If Adonijah was stupid, then Shemai was clearly careless. He was very careless. He should have known better. Third, and finally, just before Adonijah's execution, just before he was executed. Solomon said in verse 24, he said, it was the Lord who had confirmed him and set him on the throne of David. Look at verse 24. Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has confirmed me, and set me on the throne of David, my father, and who has established a house for me as he promised." Solomon says, it is the Lord who has established me. It is the Lord who has set me upon the throne of my father, David. And then after the banishment of Abiathar and the execution of Joab and Shemai, the writer of one king tells us himself at the end of verse 46, he says, thus, the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. In this way, the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. If the kingdom, the kingdom of God, if the kingdom is to be secure, the threats against it must be neutralized. And that is what establishing the kingdom demands. And this is exactly what happened. The final Davidic king will be coming. And the final Davidic King, through whom the kingdom promised to David remains forever, we know is our Lord and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And this final Davidic King, our Lord Jesus Christ, will come and he will follow the same principle in the final analysis. For when he comes to establish his kingdom, He is going to follow this pattern that has been set out very clearly even here for us. If you look at Matthew chapter 13 with me and look at verses 40 to 43 of Matthew chapter 13, you'll see what we're told there by our Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew chapter 13 verses 40 to 43, the Lord Jesus Christ says, therefore, As the terrors are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness. and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." In 2 Thessalonians, and there in chapter one of 2 Thessalonians, and in verse six, 6 to 10 of 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. The apostle Paul writes and says, since it is a righteous thing, 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 from verse 6, since it is a righteous thing with God to repair with tribulation those who trouble you and to give you who are troubled rest with us. When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who believe because our testimony among you was believed. As our Lord Jesus Christ says here in Matthew chapter 13 and in verse 43, he makes it abundantly clear, says, he who has ears to hear, let him hear. Our ultimate and final and only safety then lies in submitting to the kingship of our Lord and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. To live in rebellion is to risk being destroyed and cast into that lake of fire when the Lord came, when the Lord Jesus comes to establish his kingdom forever and ever. May the Lord help us to be wise. and to hear what the Spirit is saying to his people at this time. For Christ's sake. Amen.