Scriptures for Today: 1 Kings 1:28-53
1 Kings 1:28-53
Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king. 29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, 30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day. 31 Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever. 32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. 33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. 36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. 37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. 38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. 40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. 41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? 42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings. 43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. 44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule: 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard. 46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom. 47 And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it. 49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. 50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword. 52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. 53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.
Introduction — How We Got Here In The Bible
To understand 1 Kings 1:28–53, we must step back and trace God’s story up to this moment.
Genesis → God calls Abraham and promises a nation and a king. Through Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve tribes, God lays the foundation for a kingdom.
Exodus → God redeems Israel from Egypt and claims them as His people. He gives them His law, His presence, and His covenant.
Joshua → The land is conquered, divided, and established.
Judges → Chaos, rebellion, and instability. Israel cries out repeatedly for deliverance. They need a king.
1 Samuel → God raises up David. Saul fails. David is chosen. God promises David an everlasting kingdom.
2 Samuel → David’s reign is filled with victory, failure, judgment, and mercy. But God’s covenant remains: A son of David will sit on the throne forever.
1 Kings opens with David old, weak, and bedridden. His body is failing—but the promise of God is not.
Summary Of Last Time (1 Kings 1:1–27)
Last week’s sermon covered Adonijah’s rebellion. David is near death. Instead of seeking God, Adonijah exalts himself and declares, “I will be king.” He gathers: Joab (the military commander), Abiathar (the compromised priest), and royal guests. He holds a coronation feast. He invites everyone—except the men who actually walk with God.
Nathan the prophet warns Bathsheba. Together they approach David. They tell him: Adonijah has crowned himself, the kingdom is at stake, and God’s promise and David’s vow must be honored. David responds decisively: Solomon shall reign. Solomon shall sit on my throne. Solomon is God’s choice.
That brings us to today’s passage—David’s final official act: The true king is crowned.
Verses 28–31 — David Publicly Confirms Solomon
1 Kings 1:28–31
Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king. 29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, 30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day. 31 Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.
David is dying, but his faith is not. His body is weak, but his spirit is strong. He swears by the LORD who redeemed him “out of all distress.” David looks back over a lifetime of danger—Saul, Goliath, betrayal, enemies—and says: “God brought me through it all.”
He now acts with clarity and conviction: The throne is Solomon’s. Not Adonijah’s. Not Joab’s. Not by human politics—but by God’s decree. Bathsheba bows in honor and worship toward God’s faithfulness.
She says, “Let me lord king David live for ever.” She is blessing him. Submission. Respect. And she hopes for stability and continuity for king David. It’s like saying, “Long live the king.” Her words are a formal expression of loyalty and respect.
Verses 32–35 — David Orders the Anointing
1 Kings 1:32–35
And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. 33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
David chooses three men who truly walk with God: Zadok — the faithful priest. Nathan — the courageous prophet. Benaiah — the loyal warrior.
Solomon is to ride David’s own mule—a royal symbol of kingship. He is to be anointed at Gihon, a public location where no conspiracy can hide. This coronation will be: Public, Prophetic, Priestly, Authoritative, Undeniable.
Verses 36–37 — Benaiah’s Amen
1 Kings 1:36–37
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. 37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
Benaiah doesn’t flatter David. He calls for God to bless Solomon even more than He blessed David. A great leader wants the next generation to go further.
David isn’t jealous. David isn’t insecure. David isn’t holding on to power.
He wants Solomon to surpass him. This is humility. This is fatherhood. This is leadership. A good dad and mom wants their children to be better and to do better than them. They want them to learn from their own mistakes and be greater than them.
Verses 38–40 — Solomon’s True Coronation
1 Kings 1:38–40
So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah and his warriors that protect the king all went down. The Cherethites and the Pelethites were king David’s elite guardsmen. They were likely from the Philistines, but loyal to David. God values faithfulness no matter where you’re from. David relied on these faithful men.
This is not a quiet ceremony. This is not done behind closed doors. This is public, loud, joyful, visible, and Spirit-anointed.
- Solomon rides the king’s mule: God’s choice.
- Zadok anoints him: God’s blessing.
- Nathan speaks: God’s Word. He’s a prophet or a preacher.
- The trumpet sounds: God’s coronation.
- The people rejoice: God’s confirmation. “God save king Solomon.”
This wasn’t a quiet ceremony. Look at the last verse there. “So that the earth rent with the sound of them.” It was a huge celebration and a very loud celebration. Everyone could hear this happening. King David had this done this way purposely. Adonijah’s wasn’t backed by God.
Adonijah gathers a feast—noise, celebration, numbers, and self-promotion. It looks like a coronation, but it’s built on ambition and human approval. Solomon, by contrast, has what actually establishes a king before God: the fear of God (he submits to God’s will), the prophet of God (Nathan speaks and confirms it), the priest of God (Zadok anoints him), and the joy of God (the people rejoice because God’s choice brings peace, not panic).
So the point is this: One kingdom is announced with a party; the other is confirmed by God. Adonijah has celebration without calling; Solomon has God’s presence, authority, and joy—proof that true rule is established by God, not by a spectacle. The earth shook with the celebration for king Solomon.
Verses 41–46 — Adonijah’s Party Turns Into Panic
1 Kings 1:41–46
And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? 42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings. 43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. 44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule: 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard. 46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
Adonijah’s rebellion collapses in seconds. They had finished eating. Joab hears the trumpet and knows instantly: “Something is happening. We might be in trouble.” Jonathan brings news—not good news for all of them—but true news.
Solomon was crowned by: a prophet, a priest, a king, a multitude, and the LORD Himself. Adonijah’s guests are going to scatter like rats fleeing a sinking ship.
Verses 47–48 — David Worships God One Last Time
1 Kings 1:47–48
And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
Now they see that the Lord God of Israel put Solomon there on the throne of David to reign over the kingdom. And David worships God. He blesses God. He rejoices that God kept His promise.
He is content to see Solomon on the throne. “Mine eyes even seeing it.” He was happy to see this happen. He rejoices over this.
This is David’s final great act of leadership. He leaves Israel: a king, a throne, a legacy, a covenant, and a future.
Verses 49–53 — Solomon Shows Mercy and Strength
1 Kings 1:49–53
And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. 50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword. 52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. 53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.
All the guests of Adonijah are now afraid. They leave quickly. Adonijah now fears Solomon and flees to the altar. Why? He wants mercy—not repentance. He is appealing for mercy. He knows his life is now in danger. He fears judgment—not God.
Solomon makes the statement: “If he will shew himself a WORTHY MAN, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth. But, if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.” Adonijah is brought to king Solomon and he bows himself to king Solomon in submission.
Keep in mind that Solomon and Adonijah both share king David as their father. Haggith was Adonijah’s mom and Bathsheba was Solomon’s mom. Half brothers. Adonijah is older than Solomon so he might believe he had the right to the throne before Solomon. But he didn’t.
Here, you can see that Solomon shows:
- Strength → “If wickedness is found, he shall die.”
- Mercy → “If he behaves himself, he will live.”
- Wisdom → He recognizes the difference between fear and repentance.
He begins his reign with justice and self-control. A weak king kills everyone. A righteous king discerns everyone. Solomon demonstrates early wisdom, foreshadowing the great judgment God will later give him.
Practical Applications
1. God’s promises stand even when people fail. David was frail, bedridden, and near death—but God’s promise did not weaken. When you feel weak, God is still strong.
When you feel uncertain, God’s Word is still certain.
2. God chooses leaders—not popularity, politics, or position. Adonijah picked himself.
Solomon was picked by God. Never confuse: charisma for calling, talent for anointing, ambition for leadership. God raises up kings. God removes kings.
3. True authority comes from obedience to God’s Word. Solomon’s kingship was legitimate because: God said it, David declared it, The prophet confirmed it, The priest anointed it, The people rejoiced at it. When you build your life on God’s Word, no enemy can overthrow you.
4. Leaders must prepare the next generation. David wanted Solomon’s throne to be greater than his own. A real man of God wants the next generation to surpass him: in faith, in boldness, in holiness, in fruitfulness. Invest in your children. Invest in young believers. Invest in souls.
5. Mercy and judgment belong together. Solomon shows grace to Adonijah—but with conditions. Mercy does not mean: foolishness, blindness, tolerance of sin. Mercy means the door is open—but if wickedness continues, judgment comes. This is exactly how God deals with the world.
Conclusion — The True King Has Come
Solomon’s coronation points us ultimately to Jesus Christ.
- Solomon rode David’s mule. Jesus rode the colt of a donkey.
- Solomon was anointed with oil. Jesus was anointed by the Holy Ghost.
- The people shouted, “God save King Solomon.” The crowds shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
- Solomon sat on David’s throne. Jesus will sit on David’s throne forever.
This chapter is more than history—it’s prophecy in motion. The message today:
God keeps His promises. God installs His king. God defends His choice. God overturns every rebellion. And one day the earth will shake again—when the Greater Son of David appears in glory. Jesus Christ will come to reign over His kingdom.
Let’s pray.
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