1 Kings 1:22

When Adonijah made the bold move of proclaiming himself king, Nathan the prophet took a wise course. He advised Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, to tell David at once that Adonijah had proclaimed himself king. Adonijah had done this even though David had sworn to Bathsheba that Solomon would be king (vv. 11-13). Then Nathan would come in with the same message to confirm it (v. 14). That would make the urgency of the situation clear to David.

On the day this great danger threatened Israel, no one had taken a single step to ward it off (vv. 11-31). The king, weakened by age and shut in his palace, did not know what was happening. Yet God, in His goodness, was keeping watch for him. God, who has the glory of His Son and His kingdom in view, does not allow the plans of the usurper to succeed. To this end He sends the prophet to Bathsheba with a word of wisdom. Be sure of this: in the Word of God we shall always find the means to glorify Christ and to keep ourselves safe from the traps of the enemy.

What a contrast between Nathan's mediation and that of Joab through the woman of Tekoa (2 Sam. 14)! There everything was trickery and lying. The aim was to work on the king's feelings, flatter his hidden leanings, and in the end put a deceitful and violent man on Israel's throne in David's place. Here prudence points to the right course, without wavering in the least from the truth.

No doubt Adonijah had counted on his father's failing powers to seize the kingdom. But he had not reckoned on God, on the prophet, or on the truthfulness of the king's heart. Bathsheba speaks with respect and boldness... Truth is in this woman's heart, and in the prophet's heart too. It is a lovely example of the spirit we should show one another.

She went to the one who, above all, could give the mind of God — to Nathan. He was the man who had rebuked the king at the height of his power. He was the man with courage to speak for God whatever the cost. She goes to Nathan. And let me say, dear friends, this is worth putting into practice: we always show where our heart is by whom we trust. Suppose a man is going wrong in his own will. He is sure to look for advice in the one place where he should not.

Notice that it was those willing to be at a distance from David who were moved to follow Adonijah. They were not near to David as Bathsheba and Nathan were. What a lesson for every believer! Only staying near to the Lord keeps us from that danger. Otherwise we risk dishonouring Him by following what looks appealing but is in fact disobedience.

The result was that the king, old as he was, proved wide awake to the seriousness of the moment. He saw and judged the crisis that was coming, and the only effect of Adonijah's conspiracy was not to hinder but to hurry Solomon to the throne of Israel. Without the conspiracy, Solomon would no doubt have waited for the king to die. Instead the plot secured the throne for him, and secured it at once. So it is that if we are only calm, God always accomplishes His purpose.