The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-07-08

"The king is dead; long live the
king" Old and decrepit at seventy
years of age, successor must soon
take the shepherd kings seat of
power
David's record is wonderful one
as an empire builder, an organizer and
an accumulation of wealth. Read care
fully l Chron. 1928. Three characters
are the most outstanding for our con-
sideration in this lesson.
/. David. (a) He had to make a
selection wv. 20, 30 but God used Da-
vid to make his own choice of Solo
mon. Jedidiah, ''the beloved of Jeho-
vah," e Sam. 1929, was he whom
Jehovah desired to sit upon the throne.
| (b) David had a promise he must
needs fulfill (vv. II, 30). While his
second son, who sought to usurp his
throne, is engaged with his fellow con-
spirators (vv. 8, Al in feasting and
rejoicing in their supposedly easy vic
| tory over the aged father, David raj
lies and gives direction for the public
proclamation of Solomon as king,
thereby redeeming his promise. Many
professed Christians treat their prom
ises far too lightly. Bath-sheba en-
boldened by her need ". 16) enters
the kings chamber where now another
ministers in her stead, and lays the
facts of Adonijah's rebellion before
David, concluding her petition with the
dramatic words of verse twenty. Bath
sheba's petition is REINFORCED by the
words Of David's mentor, Nathan wv.
%, 27) Turning again to Bath-sheba
David emphatically reiterates his de-
termination to carry out to the full
Gods commandments relative to his
successor Even in the hour Of his de-
parture David remembers that it is
Jehovah that hath redeemed my soul
out of all distress" ". 29). (c) David
then gives careful command relative
to the public proclamation of the new
king wv. 80, 35). Calling to his help
his trusted and tried friends, Zadok
the priest, Nathan the prophet (see 2
Sam. 1924, 25) and Benaiah the SOL
der q Chron, 11:22-25), he directs
them to place Solomon upon his own
mule ". 33) and take him to Gihon
there to be anointed and proclaimed
king in David's stead. Contrast Da-
vid's scrupulous obedience regarding
the use of horses (Deut. 1910 with
that of Absalom g Sam. 15:D and
Adonijah (v. 81. Note also it was the
priest and the prophet alone who were
to anoint the king ". 3q. In this we
see a parable of the establishment OF
the everlasting kingdom of righteous
ness by the Prince of Peace and not
by means, or use, of the sword.
This amounting was symbol OF
dedication to God Oev. 8:19-12) and
the oil of our amounting by the Holy
Spirit which is all essential and suf-
ficient for the subjects of his king
dom duke 24:49, Acts 1853. But as
these were only outward form and
symbol, they must petition Jehovah to
keep the new king ". 34). (d) David
took no chances but steps aside fully,
while he yet lived, that all question OF
Solomon's right should be removed
(v 35).
II. Solomon. (a) God-chosen. q
Chron. 1915; 29:D. Solomon was the
first son of David and Bath-sheba after
their legal marriage. His name means
Peaceful" (see / Chron. 22:9) and
may suggest the fact that David had
found the peace of forgiveness. Solo,
mon inherited the strength OF Davids
maturity and Christening also, and
through his mother, the wisdom OF
Ahithophel, whose advice twas as II a
man had inquired at the oracle of God"
e Sam. 1929. (b) He was chosen be-
cause of intercession (ch. 1:lD. The
standing of the Christian is what 1t is
in the sight of God because of one who
intercedes on our behalf John I'D.
(c) He was chosen in the midst OF con-
troversy and as against antagonists
". 81. So the Christian, chosen be-
fore the foundation of the world in
Christ, also has great opposition and
a dangerous antagonist and, like Solo,
mon, he is secure in spite of the as
saults of the evil one Ct Cor. 1918,
Jude 24). Cd Solomon was chosen
for a definite work q Chron. 28:1O).
The sad spectacle presented today is
to see so many protested Christians
who seem to have no sense of respon-
sibiIity much less an appreciation OF
their privileges in Christ Jesus. (e)
Solomon was promised help q Chron.
28:9) so are we and according to each
days duty $50 shall thy strength be-"
'I can do all things through Christ
which strengthened me" (Phil. ALB.
III. Adonijah. (a) He was a self-se-
lected king ". 81 and as such lacked
not only the approval of God but the
ability to execute his designs He had
Joab the bloody soldier and Abiathar
the jealous priest as his conspirators
yet all combined could not set aside