Joel M Bradshaw

49At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’ ”

52Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”–1 Kings 1

1. David had finally proclaimed Solomon the next king by a public ceremony.
2. Adonijah ran for his life and pleaded with his little brother, Solomon.
3. The word for worthy in verse 52 is hayil. This word once described the noble character of Boaz in the famous story of Ruth.
4. So if Adonijah was going to be like Boaz, he would live.
5. The word for “wickedness” once described King Saul’s evil spirit in 1 Samuel 19.
6. So if Adonijah was going to be like Saul, he would die.
7. Which better describes you and your character? Boaz or Saul? Boaz was an example of a selfless leader. Saul was very selfish. What would other people say about you?–JMB