Protective Measures

733 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ki 1:9-14, And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel; he also invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon his brother. 11 So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 12 "Come, please, let me now give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 "Go immediately to King David and say to him, 'Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, "Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' 14 "Then, while you are still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words." (1 Kings 1:9-14) The drama continues to unfold. Adonijah throws a pretentious feast complete with sacrifices to the Lord in an attempt to show others that the people and the Lord are on his side. But Solomon would later write in Ps 127:1, “ Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;” Meanwhile, Nathan the true prophet of God, knows that it is Solomon whom God has chosen to be king, and as a true prophet is wont to do, takes action. Lives are at stake here! The business of kings is often not pretty as they will do whatever it takes to remove any rivals in the family. Bathsheba and Solomon are in great danger and Nathan knows it! And so he takes action! David is weak and restricted to bed rest, so Nathan suggests that Solomon's mother go to David and inform him of Adonijah's plan to take the crown. Then Nathan would come to David and confirm what Bathsheba was saying (this is the biblical procedure of a matter being settled by the testimony of two witnesses.) Nathan speaking up on behalf of Solomon and Bathsheba shows that he also understood the principle of Pr 24:11,12, “ Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? Bless you Nathan and when it comes to protecting others, may God give us your wisdom and courage!