| purging_for_power__1_.pdf |
PURGING FOR POWER
TEXT: I Kings 2
INTRO.:
A. Before the final curtain call on some stage productions all the actors make a combined appearance in the concluding scene.
David, the "old soldier" was fading away & before the final curtain call many were gathered in a final scene.
I Chr.28:1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
B. Also nearby were Bathsheba & Solomon, Zadok the H.P., Benaiah & Abishai, Nathan the prophet & Joab the general. David made a final public speech, lamenting the fact that he would not get to build or see the great Temple of God, but exhorting his son Solomon...
I Chr.28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.
TRANS.: In a more private scene, David imparts some detailed instructions to his son & successor...
I. ENTRUSTING THE TASK:
A. David's Directives: v.1-9
(NOTE: Unless you look up these bold verse references, this lesson will have little or no value to either you or your students.)
1. Personal & spiritual: v.1-4
ILLUS.: What instructions would you give your children if you were about to die? Would they include spiritual guidance?
2. Business & governmental: v.5-9
a. Justice to Joab & Shimei. v.5,6 & 8
NOTE: David is not being vengeful or vindictive here. He knows the principle that unless the cancer in his kindgom is purged Solomon will have no power. "PURGING FOR POWER" is a spiritual principle too. We need to put to death those things in our life which clog the conduit of spiritual power.
David reminds Solomon that he is not to let the "hoar" heads of these men temper the justice they deserve. We too must be merciless on the sins in our life no matter how innocuous they seem or how long they have been with us.
b. Graciousness to Barzillai's sons. v.7
B. David's Death: v.10-12
1. David was a man of war & had established the boundaries of the Kingdom.
2. Solomon would be a man of peace & would build a strong Kingdom w/in those boundaries.
II Sam.23:1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, These words taken from David's mouth could be his epitaph.
II. ELIMINATING THE THREATS:
A. Adonijah's Death: v.13-25
1. Adonijah the usurper makes another bid for the throne even though admitting that Solomon was God's choice. v.13-17
2. He uses Bathsheba as his mediator & "it was strange that she did not suspect the treason, but more strange that she did not abhor the incest, that was in the proposal." Mt.Henry v.18-21
NOTE: Abishag had become a part of David's harem. This is therefore a bold attempt reminiscent of Absalom's going in unto the David's concubines in his aborted bid for the throne.
3. Solomon in his wisdom sees thru the attempt & replies sharply to Bathsheba w/ "(why not) ask for him the Kingdom also...?" v.22
4. Solomon sees a conspiracy brewing which includes Abiathar the priest & Joab the general. v.22
5. Adonijah is executed. v.23-25
B. Abiathar's Dismissal: v.26,27
1. Abiathar is a priest so Solomon fires him instead of having him executed.
2. Solomon also showed mercy due to Abiathar's association w/David.
C. Joab's Execution: v.28-35
1. Joab hears of the foiled plot & runs to the tabernacle & grabs the horns of the altar. v.28-31
QUOTE: Matthew Henry: "Many that, in the day of their security, care not for the service of the altar, will be glad of the protection of it in the day of their distress...Joab resolved not to stir from the altar (v.30), hoping thereby either to secure himself or else to render Solomon odious to the people, as a profaner of the holy place, if he should put him to death there." But Solomon knew the law that the altar of god should give not protection to willful murderers.
Ex.21:14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
2. Solomon's act is judicial justice not vindictive vengeance. v.32-34
D. Shimei's Extermination: v.36-46a
1. Mercy is shown to Shimei. v.36-38
2. Shimei breaks his parole. v.39-41
3. Shimei's true nature is revealed & rewarded. v.42-44
ILLUS.: What are some threats to God's power in YOUR life?! How should you deal with them?
IV. ESTABLISHING THE THRONE: v.45,46
NOTE: Having eliminated internal threats to his throne he had the power to deal with external enemies. Solomon, a man of faith, quietly awaited God's timing. While others were claiming the throne, He claimed God's promise.
CONCL.: Without being distracted from internal enemies Solomon could concentrate his energies on exercising his authority over the Kingdom.
Solomon is now poised for the exercise of His God-given power. He has successfully demonstrated that "PURGING FOR POWER" is the only sure way to control his life & kingdom. What about YOU?!
TEXT: I Kings 2
INTRO.:
A. Before the final curtain call on some stage productions all the actors make a combined appearance in the concluding scene.
David, the "old soldier" was fading away & before the final curtain call many were gathered in a final scene.
I Chr.28:1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
B. Also nearby were Bathsheba & Solomon, Zadok the H.P., Benaiah & Abishai, Nathan the prophet & Joab the general. David made a final public speech, lamenting the fact that he would not get to build or see the great Temple of God, but exhorting his son Solomon...
I Chr.28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.
TRANS.: In a more private scene, David imparts some detailed instructions to his son & successor...
I. ENTRUSTING THE TASK:
A. David's Directives: v.1-9
(NOTE: Unless you look up these bold verse references, this lesson will have little or no value to either you or your students.)
1. Personal & spiritual: v.1-4
ILLUS.: What instructions would you give your children if you were about to die? Would they include spiritual guidance?
2. Business & governmental: v.5-9
a. Justice to Joab & Shimei. v.5,6 & 8
NOTE: David is not being vengeful or vindictive here. He knows the principle that unless the cancer in his kindgom is purged Solomon will have no power. "PURGING FOR POWER" is a spiritual principle too. We need to put to death those things in our life which clog the conduit of spiritual power.
David reminds Solomon that he is not to let the "hoar" heads of these men temper the justice they deserve. We too must be merciless on the sins in our life no matter how innocuous they seem or how long they have been with us.
b. Graciousness to Barzillai's sons. v.7
B. David's Death: v.10-12
1. David was a man of war & had established the boundaries of the Kingdom.
2. Solomon would be a man of peace & would build a strong Kingdom w/in those boundaries.
II Sam.23:1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, These words taken from David's mouth could be his epitaph.
II. ELIMINATING THE THREATS:
A. Adonijah's Death: v.13-25
1. Adonijah the usurper makes another bid for the throne even though admitting that Solomon was God's choice. v.13-17
2. He uses Bathsheba as his mediator & "it was strange that she did not suspect the treason, but more strange that she did not abhor the incest, that was in the proposal." Mt.Henry v.18-21
NOTE: Abishag had become a part of David's harem. This is therefore a bold attempt reminiscent of Absalom's going in unto the David's concubines in his aborted bid for the throne.
3. Solomon in his wisdom sees thru the attempt & replies sharply to Bathsheba w/ "(why not) ask for him the Kingdom also...?" v.22
4. Solomon sees a conspiracy brewing which includes Abiathar the priest & Joab the general. v.22
5. Adonijah is executed. v.23-25
B. Abiathar's Dismissal: v.26,27
1. Abiathar is a priest so Solomon fires him instead of having him executed.
2. Solomon also showed mercy due to Abiathar's association w/David.
C. Joab's Execution: v.28-35
1. Joab hears of the foiled plot & runs to the tabernacle & grabs the horns of the altar. v.28-31
QUOTE: Matthew Henry: "Many that, in the day of their security, care not for the service of the altar, will be glad of the protection of it in the day of their distress...Joab resolved not to stir from the altar (v.30), hoping thereby either to secure himself or else to render Solomon odious to the people, as a profaner of the holy place, if he should put him to death there." But Solomon knew the law that the altar of god should give not protection to willful murderers.
Ex.21:14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
2. Solomon's act is judicial justice not vindictive vengeance. v.32-34
D. Shimei's Extermination: v.36-46a
1. Mercy is shown to Shimei. v.36-38
2. Shimei breaks his parole. v.39-41
3. Shimei's true nature is revealed & rewarded. v.42-44
ILLUS.: What are some threats to God's power in YOUR life?! How should you deal with them?
IV. ESTABLISHING THE THRONE: v.45,46
NOTE: Having eliminated internal threats to his throne he had the power to deal with external enemies. Solomon, a man of faith, quietly awaited God's timing. While others were claiming the throne, He claimed God's promise.
CONCL.: Without being distracted from internal enemies Solomon could concentrate his energies on exercising his authority over the Kingdom.
Solomon is now poised for the exercise of His God-given power. He has successfully demonstrated that "PURGING FOR POWER" is the only sure way to control his life & kingdom. What about YOU?!
