BAD TRADES PART ONE

1Kings 2: 13-27 

INTRODUCTION:

• Last time David spoke his last publicly recorded words to his son Solomon.
• We were left with an emphatic statement.

Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingship was firmly established. — 1 Kings 2:12 (CSB)

• We see this world constantly offering things that are designed to steal the affections of our hearts. These counterfeits are designed to deceive us.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. — Matthew 7:13-14 (CSB)

• This week we will examine two of the four men who made very bad trades. They traded God’s perfect plan for counterfeits. Each man different deceptions, but devastating consequences.

SCENE 1: I need . (13-25)

• Adonijah starts off with what he took, the kingdom. He describes the kingship as belonging to himself, not God.

All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built to be a royal residence by my vast power and for my majestic glory?”

While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you. You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals, and you will feed on grass like cattle for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.”

At that moment the message against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws. — Daniel 4:28-33 (CSB)

Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared ​— ​whose will they be?’

“That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” — Luke 12:16-21 (CSB)

• It was not “all Israel”, but just the tribe of Judah.

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, goats, cattle, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king, but he did not invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the royal guard, or his brother Solomon. — 1 Kings 1:9-10 (CSB)

• “for the LORD gave it to him.” This should have been the end of it, but for Adonijah it was not. He wanted compensation.
• He wanted David’s most recent concubine. Where did he learn this?

Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. — 2 Samuel 16:21-22 (CSB)

• “By contentment we come to give God the worship that is due to him. It is a special part of the divine worship that we owe to God, to be content in a Christian way, as has been shown to you. I say it is a special part of the divine worship that the creature owes to the infinite Creator, in that I tender the respect that is due from me to the Creator.” The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs

I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content ​— ​whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. — Philippians 4:11-13 (CSB)

SCENE 2: I lost my . (26-27)

• He deserved death because he rebelled against king.

He conspired with Joab son of Zeruiah and with the priest Abiathar. They supported Adonijah, but the priest Zadok, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the prophet Nathan, Shimei, Rei, and David’s royal guard did not side with Adonijah. — 1 Kings 1:7-8 (CSB)

• He stood by David at Nob.

So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests! ” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed eighty-five men who wore linen ephods. He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword ​— ​both men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep. However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David. Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s family. Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life. You will be safe with me.” — 1 Samuel 22:18-23 (CSB)

• His great-great grandfather was Eli.

“Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever. But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced. 31 Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age. You will see distress in the place of worship, in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age. Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently. This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: both of them will die on the same day.

“ ‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time. Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’ — 1 Samuel 2:30-36 (CSB)

• “We need to be careful not to draw parallels to closely between Abiathar’s particular circumstances and the Christian experience today, but servants of the LORD Jesus Christ should note how a lifetime of faithful service through great difficulties did not make Abiathar immune from bitterness, disillusionment, and even rebellion in the end.” 1KINGS Power, Politics, and the Hope of the World, John Woodhouse

For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? — Hebrews 2:1-3 (CSB) 

EMERALD CITY:

1.   Jesus’s Kingdom is always centered is sacrifice not .

2.  The key to not losing your way is found in losing your .

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. — Matthew 16:24 (CSB)