“Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility” (Prov 18:12).
Although “old, advanced in years” (1 Ki 1:1), David quickly responded to the two-pronged appeal by Bathsheba and Nathan to publicly place his seal of approval on Solomon (vv 15-27), thereby denouncing Adonijah’s spurious claim to the throne. He called for Zadok the priest, overseer of the work of God; Nathan the prophet, renowned for speaking the word of God; and Benaiah, chief of security, always ready to war for God. Together they were instructed to place Solomon on the king’s own mount and transport him to Gihon. This artesian spring is the freshwater source for David’s City. How illustrative it is of the principle that the way up is down. When David desired to claim Jerusalem from the Jebusites, his commander found the secret to taking the highly fortified stronghold. Joab went down through the camouflaged spring, traveled further down the underground channel, and then shimmied up the shaft and inside the city wall. The water, like God’s blessing in our lives, always fills the low place. David had seen the debacle in Saul’s life who, “when…little” in his own eyes, was “head” of Israel (1 Sam 15:17). Self-elevation always leads to decline because “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5; see Prov 3:34). As instructed, those with Solomon were to anoint him as king with oil, then “blow the horn, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’” (1 Ki 1:34). The people “rejoiced with great joy” (v 40), and the sound thundered down the Kidron Valley, coming to the ears of those celebrating Adonijah’s coronation. The message was obvious: “King David has made Solomon king” (v 43). The party dissolved like the morning dew (v 49). God’s king was now on the throne!