In the margin of my study bible next to this chapter I have written “For Funerals.” I’m sure that was the suggestion of a professor. And verses 2-3 would probably be an appropriate text to read at a funeral. But as I look at the rest of the chapter I think I may erase my marginal note. There are indeed a lot of funerals in this chapter. Most of them are not very positive.

The most memorable passing is that of King David who we have been reading about for nearly 3 months. The first 9 verses of the chapter are his final instructions to Solomon. David basically gives him a list of loose ends that need to be tied up.

The sons of good old Barzillai are honored. Joab finally sees justice for murder. (I find it interesting that David does not mention the killing of Absalom so I wonder if ever knew that Joab had done it). Shimei the dirt-kicking, rock throwing cuss got his comeuppance.

I feel like it would be appropriate to pause for a moment out of respect for King David. I’ll make a spot for that in just a moment. Let’s reflect first…

Was he perfect? No. Was he willing to be Yahweh’s servant to the best of his ability and humble himself and own it when he failed? Yes. Yes he was. He gave us dozens of songs that we are still singing 3000 years later. He was as much a founding father of Israel as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He taught humanity to know and love our Creator and Redeemer with both boldness and sensitivity. We are blessed to be able to read the story of his life and the inspired words given through him.

There is no mention of how the nation observed mourning for David, but I’m sure they must have. He was buried with great state and (as we saw last week) a vast amount of treasure that might still lie hidden beneath Jerusalem.

While we’re talking about funerals…

Did you know that when a color guard folds the American flag into its distinctive triangular shape, the 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David in honor of the God of Abraham?

I can imagine David taking his final raspy breaths as he instructs Solomon. Then as he relaxes his grip on this world he says,

“David, the son of Jesse, speaks— David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me; his words are upon my tongue. The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.’ Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.

But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away, for they tear the hand that touches them. One must use iron tools to chop them down; they will be totally consumed by fire.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Take a moment…

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Remember how I said you needed to remember Abishag the Shunamite? She was the virgin girl brought into David’s harem to lie in his arms and help him get warm.

Adonijah, David’s 4th son who has already made one attempt to seize the throne, asks to marry her.

🥰 Aww… isn’t that sweet?

🤨 No. No it isn’t.

😒 You too?

🤨 Me too what?

🤔 You and Solomon both seem to have a problem with Adonijah marrying Abishag. Why does it matter? David is gone.

🤨 Do you remember what Absalom did to David’s concubines on the rooftop?

😒 Uh.. unfortunately, yes.

🤨 That wasn’t lust. It was an act to claim the throne. When a man wanted to show that he had conquered another man and taken possession of all that was his, he would take the man’s wife or wives and… well… make them his.

All Adonijah had to do was behave himself and submit to the revealed will of Yahweh. But he doesn’t. Look what he said to Bathsheba:

“As you know, the kingdom was rightfully mine; all Israel wanted me to be the next king. But the tables were turned, and the kingdom went to my brother instead; for that is the way the Lord wanted it.” 1 Kings‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬

He knows that little brother is chosen to be king but he can’t come into agreement with it. When Bathsheba makes the request for Adonijah, Solomon recognizes the move for what it is. If he gets Abishag, it’s a way to say he has taken over what belonged to his father – including his throne. And he responds to it as a very real threat to his barely-established reign because it IS.

“‘How can you possibly ask me to give Abishag to Adonijah?’ King Solomon demanded. ‘You might as well ask me to give him the kingdom! You know that he is my older brother, and that he has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side.’”
‭1 Kings 2:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is one more coup attempt that will not end well. Benaiah goes and kills Adonijah swiftly on Solomon’s order. Then Benaiah proves his loyalty to David and Solomon when he has to go and execute his former commander, Joab – who had done the same thing Adonijah did at the first coup attempt: he went to the Tabernacle and grabbed the horns of the altar. So Joab dies in the Tabernacle.

Abiathar is stripped of his role as high priest and sent home. The only thing that saves his neck is the fact that he once carried the ark and that he shared David’s early hardships. Then the text reminds us that this end for Abiathar was the final conclusion of the prophecy on the house of Eli given by Samuel when he was a boy (1 Sam. 3).

It’s been somewhere around 150 years since the Word of Yahweh visited the boy Samuel with that prophecy. And it has finally come to pass. It reminds me of this verse from Habakkuk:

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hurries toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it delays, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay long.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

And this passage too…

“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.’

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭9‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

The promises of God will NEVER FAIL. EVERY last one will come to pass. And some may take much longer than 150 years.

On a more personal scale, I encourage us all to hold on the good promises of God – the promises of His faithfulness and provision. I’m inspired by saints who spent 20 or 30 or 50 years praying for an unsaved spouse or child or family member, and they did NOT quit. And the Lord answered their prayers. I love the stories of ministers who labored and prayed and kept obeying what the LORD called them to do for many years- even when there was little fruit for a long time. And then, after decades of faithful and determined holding on to the promise, the Word of the Lord finally came to pass.

The Lord hasn’t lost track of your prayer as if it was a piece of misdirected mail in a dead letter office. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. And His time table is certainly not our time table. Keep praying and trusting.

I’d like to leave you with some song options today. May they bless you!

Listen to all of ‘em if you have time and you’re eclectic like me. Tissues might be handy. And/or dancin’ room and a hanky if ya go old school. 😏

Four Days Late by Karen Peck & New River

On Time God by Dottie Peoples (old school)

On Time God with Abbie Gamboa and Chandler Moore (new school)