Approaching The King

In our text from 1 Kings 1:11-14 we see that David, now being old, was not aware of everything that was happening, and it was then that his son, Adonijah, a handsome young man, decided that he would become king.  He exalted himself.  Do you notice how he eliminated from his invitation list, all those that were not with him.  He ignored them; he passed them by. Solomon was remarkable in this, Solomon's action; Solomon did not do anything to defend himself.  He waited for GOD to vindicate him; and GOD had His man in the Prophet, Nathan.  Nathan, David's spiritual advisor; it was through Nathan that GOD had sent a message to David to say that it was Solomon that was going to be the next king, the successor of David.

Now Nathan perceived the danger that Solomon was in, and Bathsheba as well.  So by way of warning, and in behalf of GOD, he spoke to Bathsheba.  He warned her and he advised her to go to King David and apprise him, advise him of what was happening.  He said also, in verse 14: 'Then while you are still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.'  This is in keeping with the Law, 'In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.' That's why she needed someone to back up her testimony.

So she went in.  It was quite a different situation for Bathsheba than it was for Queen Esther many centuries later.  Queen Esther always had to wait to be called, or else she risked her life.  But with Bathsheba, there was free access to King David.  The king was very old.  Actually he was only about 70, but he was prematurely old because of all his trials, and because of all his conflict and his warfare.  And we find in verse 16, she bowed and did homage to the king.  She didn't do it because he was her husband; but because he was her king.  He stood in a two-fold relationship to her.

Some years ago, in the days of Queen Victoria; (sometimes my children used to tease me and ask me how it was in the days of Queen Victoria!)  In the days of Queen Victoria when she was still a young wife, she had a serious disagreement with her husband, Albert, who was the prince consort.  And he got so angry with her, he walked out of the room and into their bedroom, and he locked the door.  She, in anger, went after him and she banged on the door.  She said, 'Open the door!'  He said, 'Who's speaking?'  'The Queen of England!'  He said to her, 'The Queen of England has no access to my private quarters.'  She broke down into tears.  'Oh, Albert, it's your poor little wife, Victoria.'  That's when he opened the door.

Well, here's Bathsheba.  She's related to King David as his wife.  But he's also her sovereign.  And it was in that capacity that she bowed and did homage to him.  It shows the principle here that we must always respect someone else, even though we may be their friend.  Suppose you are a friend to someone who is a dignitary in the Country or in this Province.  That doesn't mean that you can forgo the mark of respect that you owe to them.  We must still remember, although they may be our personal friends, still, that person is a dignitary, and I must always remember that and carry myself in the way I would to any dignitary.  That's why she bowed to him; he was her husband and her king. 

In Psalm 45, we find that even the Bride of the Messiah is admonished to do this.  Psalm 45, verses 10 and 11.  The daughter that is spoken of here is the daughter of the King; she is the Bride of the Messiah.  That means, of course, you and me!  We are His Bride!  This is what the Bible says; Psalm 45, verse 10:   'Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also and your father's house.  So the king will greatly desire your beauty; because He is your LORD, worship Him.'

Our attitude towards Messiah is one of love and also of the deepest reverence.  He is, indeed, our Heavenly Bridegroom, but we must also never forget He is our LORD.  And, therefore, we must avoid this easy familiarity that we see so much of these days; and see that when we speak to Him, it is always with awareness of His greatness; His majesty; His holiness.  So that we serve the LORD with fear; we rejoice with trembling.  We are always reverent when we approach Messiah.

In the Temple, there is a table of shewbread.  The bread represented the Bread of Life; Messiah as the Bread of Life.  On that table there was an outer border and an inner border separated by the width of a hand; about four and a half inches - a double border to show the priests that there was to be at least some margin of respect when they came to handle the shewbread; that Bread which spoke of Messiah.  The same way we must always observe that margin of respect when we approach Messiah.

Well, going on with our account, we see here how Bathsheba reminded David of his oath, and of his promise; that's in verse 17: 'My lord, you swore by the LORD your GOD to your maidservant.'  She reminded him of that.  Also what he had said, 'Solomon shall sit on my throne.' It's interesting that here David calls it 'his throne'.  Elsewhere, it is called 'the throne of the LORD.'  At the end of 1^st Chronicles, we find Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD.  To remind us that it was David's throne, humanly speaking, but that it was a throne given to him by GOD.  And that, ultimately, it was the LORD's throne, and David was just the deputy.  He was the deputy of the One and True King, the Messiah.