Nathan Saved Bathsheba's Life

Nathan Saved Bathsheba's Life

Adonijah is a person that not many seem familiar with. He was actually the fourth son of David the king of Israel and the half brother of Solomon, born to Haggith - one of David’s wives.

King David vowed that Solomon the son of Bathsheba would be King in his place, but while David was still living his son Adonijah decided to claim the throne and hosted celebration in his own honor as king of Israel without his father’s knowledge and did not invite Solomon, King David, Zadok the priest, or Nathan the prophet to the party for obvious reasons, as he really had no business declaring himself anything. Since Solomon was supposed to be king this plan would put him and his mother in the bad position of being in rebellion against the new king if they tried to carry out the wishes of the last king in giving Solomon the throne.

“So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, ‘Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? Come, please, let me now give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go immediately to King David and say to him, “Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, ‘Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? Why then has Adonijah become king?’” Then, while you are still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.’” 1 Kings 1:11-14

Nathan, the same man who rebuked David for his sins against her family and referred to her as a lamb taken and feasted on out of selfishness rather than a willing participant in adultery for her own gain, stood up for her again. She didn’t push for her son to be king for her own honor but out of obedience to the man of God. After she followed his advice David made a decree for Solomon to be acknowledged as the rightful king of Israel. And the men of God Nathan and Jonathan the son of the priest went to the feast of Adonijah to give him the news. At first Adonijah thought his presence would be in his favor because of Jonathan’s position as son of the priest, but was not. When he said that Solomon had been made king Adonijah and those who were feasting with him freaked out. “So all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid, and arose, and each one went his way.” 1 Kings 1:49

And there is a very good lesson for us in this. David said Solomon would be king, yet Adonijah tried to make himself king and those who wanted to be in his favor attended the party but when that it was clear they were on the wrong side they abandoned him. Never connect yourself to others with the motive of personal gain or use the promise of such to attract people. When your situation changes their loyalty will also, and you cannot depend on people like that. Solomon said perhaps due to his own experience “Like one who ties his stone to the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.” Proverbs 26:8 “Like snow in summer or rain at harvest-time, so honor for a fool is out of place.” Proverbs 26:1

Another thing we can learn is the importance of listening to the man of God. We might not be friends with a prophet on Facebook but we can have access to many prophets by reading the Bible, and like Nathan looked out for and sympathized with Bathsheba, God gave us the words of the prophets because he cares for us. We should always listen to their counsel. And remember to never run ahead of others to promote yourself. “If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.” Proverbs 30:32 And if you are planning to do something you wouldn’t want to invite Moses, Nathan, or any other Godly person to join you in doing, it is probably wrong and as such you should reconsider doing it.

Picture originally found here

Related Articles

More From Articles

Belshazzar's Party Crasher

“King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.
Belshazzar's Party Crasher

Objections

What about this “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to…
Objections

Never Forgotten

“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the…
Never Forgotten

This Too

In the Torah is the amazing story of Joseph, a young, talented fellow who one day ended up…
This Too

Ichabod

During a war between the Philistines and Israel the Ark of God, with the 10 Commandments in it,…
Ichabod

The Forbidden Chapter: Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53 is banned literature in many synagogues and is often omitted from rabbinical training…
The Forbidden Chapter: Isaiah 53

About My Father's Business

We live in a world full of distractions. Dictionary.com defines distraction as that which…
About My Father's Business

Torah-Eve

I would say most people who have read the Torah probably know that Eve was the first person to…
Torah-Eve
Elisha

Elisha

God commanded Elijah, the prophet of the Lord, to go and anoint Elisha to be a prophet to…
Elisha

Manna

Inside the most Holy Place of God’s sanctuary God had Moses place an Ark covered with gold. Of…
Manna
Illustration: Job, covered with boils, sits listening to his friends.

What Does it Cost to be Faithful?

The ancient story of Job in the Bible has encouraged many men and women throughout the ages.…
What Does it Cost to be Faithful?
Elisah Oil

Elisha's Oil

A certain woman came to Elisha, the Hebrew prophet, and told him that her husband, who loved…
Elisha's Oil

Elijah

Around the year 900 BCE, when Israel was not following the Lord, God sent the Jewish prophet…
Elijah

Nehemiah’s Decision

My sister-in-law used to say, “I pray, but I just don’t hear that booming voice telling me what…
Nehemiah’s Decision

David

GOD told Samuel the prophet to anoint David to be the next king of Israel.
David

Who is a Jew?

Have you ever wondered where the term Jew comes from?
Who is a Jew?

Jehoshaphat

King Jehoshaphat was the 5th King after King David.
Jehoshaphat

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation