Speaking Truth to Power

28Aug
Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance to the king, and the king said, ‘What do you wish?’ She said to him, ‘My lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, saying: Your son Solomon shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne. But now suddenly Adonijah has become king, though you, my lord the king, do not know it. He has sacrificed oxen, fatted cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the children of the king, the priest Abiathar, and Joab the commander of the army; but your servant Solomon he has not invited. But you, my lord the king—the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his ancestors, that my son Solomon and I will be counted offenders.’

-1 Kings 1:16-21


In his old age, King David apparently lost interest in events in his own kingdom. Adonijah, David’s fourth son, appointed himself David’s successor following the death of two of his older brothers. Believing David was close to death, he proceeded to make royal sacrifices and to wine and dine his constituents. Adonijah invited his brother princes and the court officials to a solemn sacrifice in order to announce his claim to the throne. He did not invite Solomon or any of his supporters. According to the Jewish Study Bible, by excluding Solomon, Adonijah demonstrated his awareness that he was in effect usurping the throne. The prophet Nathan warned Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and counseled her to remind the king of his promise to make Solomon his successor. She went to David and did so. Strategically, Nathan then came in and backed up Bathsheba’s message by cleverly asking David if he was aware that Adonijah was acting like the future king. Reminded by Bathsheba and Nathan, David stated firmly that Solomon would succeed him as king. Eventually, he had Adonijah put to death.


These days, I often hear the phrase, “speaking truth to power”. Fearing for her son’s future, Bathsheba summoned the courage of a mother and told David he needed to be true to his word. Nathan more diplomatically repeated Bathsheba’s message. Surely David could have shouted “Off with their heads!” and continued to let events proceed that would have resulted in another son of his gaining the throne. By speaking truth to power, Bathsheba and Nathan led David to be true to his own declaration and put Solomon, known through the ages as a man of great wisdom, in his rightful position as king.  


Musical Reflection - Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin - Prélude, fugue et variation en Si Mineur, Op. 18, FWV 30: I. Pr


Heavenly Father, Please give us the courage of Bathsheba and Nathan, the humility of David and the wisdom of Solomon. Let us be brave to speak to power, thoughtful to consider what those with less power say to us, and to make wise decisions. We ask in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who live and reign with you forever. Amen

Old TestamentAuthorityJusticeWisdomTruthPentecost

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