First Kings
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Leave “Well Enough” Alone!
(I Kings 2:10-25)
When we are the grateful recipients of another’s mercy, wisdom dictates a change in our course of actions, lest we repeat the previous mistake and offend our benefactor anew. Though Jesus commanded us to forgive an offender “seventy times seven,” we rarely receive unbridled mercy on the second offense. Presuming upon the mercy of another is dangerous business. Rather than risk again offending an appeased brother, it is best to change our actions and attitudes. Upon securing his mercy for the first offense, we should leave “well enough” alone by avoiding any possible repeat of the offending circumstances.
Adonijah simply didn’t know when to quit. Having failed in his overt attempt to seize David’s throne, he decided upon a more subtle course of action to gain standing in the royal court. He approached Bathsheba, the Queen Mother, with what appeared to her to be an innocuous request: He wanted to marry Abishag, David’s former nurse.
Apparently Bathsheba didn’t realize the implications of the request. Though David had not engaged in sexual relations with Abishag, she was still numbered among his concubines. In the culture of that day, a king’s harem was the sole property of the king and, following his death, of his rightful heir. Faithful readers will recall that Absalom’s consorting with his father’s concubines was, essentially, a claim to the throne (II Samuel 16:21, 22). Adonijah’s request was tantamount to the same.
Bathsheba, presumably in good faith, brought Adonijah’s request before Solomon. Solomon recognized the request for what it was: subtle sedition. And, in keeping his word to Adonijah, Solomon immediately had him slain (25 and 1:52).
Adonijah didn’t have to die. He could have simply left “well enough” alone. Because he didn’t know when to quit, he paid the ultimate price. Think before you act, and recognize when “well enough” is forever enough.
