Pastor Rusty Milton
1 Kings 2:13-25 ESV

In 1 Kings, Adonijah is once again shown to have a hardened determination to accomplish his goals, self-pity for what he's lost, and a demand for others to take up and accomplish his desires for him. But, a hardened determination to win leads to destruction. 

Adonijah exposes his self-centered dreams: 

When he comes to Bathsheba (Vs. 17), he is full of self-pity and asks for Abishag to be his wife. In the East, to marry a king's wife after he died was a bid for the throne. It was a sign that one was taking the authority of the kingdom. Adonijah's goal was to show Solomon as being weak and to overthrow him. 

Adonijah's determination leads him to death: 

Bathsheba certainly understood this, and goes to Solomon and lays Adonijah's plans bare. It then becomes evident that Solomon and Bathsheba both understand Adonijah's plot. Not only this, he perceives that Adonijah is attempting to overthrow the promises of God in as much as his own right to the throne (vs. 22)

Application:

1) Don't let your disappointments harden your heart and control your will. At some point, we will all face a situation where we are faced with something unfair or unjust. What do we do with our broken dreams? Do we wallow in self-pity? No. We should grieve our disappointments, but not be controlled by them. 

2) Our grief can become excessive, however, when it darkens all areas of our lives.  The result is that we become focused solely on what we've lost, and not what God is still doing in powerful ways in our lives. 

3) Where are you with your broken dreams? Wallowing in self-pity? Or resting in all the goodness that God is working in your life presently.  Christ loves for you to come to him with all your broken dreams, especially when we feel self-pity. He then begins to heal our hardened hearts by giving us a greater dreams--those focused on God-centered worship and mission. 

1 Kings 2:13-25
Solomon's Reign Established

13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, “Do you come peacefully?” He said, “Peacefully.” 14 Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” 15 He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord. 16 And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said to him, “Speak.” 17 And he said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” 18 Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak for you to the king.”

19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. 20 Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” 21 She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife.” 22 King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar[a] the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! 24 Now therefore as the Lord lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.” 25 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.