And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.” vs52

This is the “if-then” covenant, and all who are under it will die. The “if-then” covenant states that if you do your part, then God will do His, but we’ve all broken this covenant since Adam!

For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice,

And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant;

There they have dealt treacherously against Me. [Hos 6:6-7]

We are covenant breakers, sinners to the core, and we must not trust our own righteousness or strength. Adam, Israel, you, and I have proved that we must be saved by grace, which is a covenant where God in Christ meets all the conditions.

He says,

For this is the covenant I will make

with the house of Israel

after those days,

declares the Lord.

I will put My laws in their minds

and inscribe them on their hearts.

And I will be their God,

and they will be My people. [Heb 8:10]

He says,

“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” [Ezek 36:27]

This carefulness to observe His statutes is because He puts fear in our hearts. He gives us attention to detail. My old football coach said, “Pay attention to details,” and he drilled it in us. My mother said, “Strive for excellence.” These messages stick, but God teaches us spiritual things - not only to the ear and mind, but He puts willingness and resolve in the heart. He teaches us to obey AND gives us obedience.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, [Titus 2:11-12]

There is no failure in the new covenant because all sins are forgiven and obedience is promised. Every other covenant fails because it depends on man.

Do you realize that YOU ARE A SINNER, and you can’t obey? Will you like Adonijah only last a little while, and then leave the gospel? If it is up to us, then you and I are both going to hell for sure. But, if it is up to God, 100%, then He will fulfill the promise. Our confidence is not in ourselves or our ability; it is not in our faithfulness and willpower; it is in the God who saves sinners, keeps saints, causes us to obey, and recovers us from falling. Our confidence is in God alone, and it is sure.

Secondly, God is going to punish us, if we are not in Christ! [1 Kings 2:5-9]

“Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.” vs4-6

It may linger, and it may take a long while, but justice will catch us if we are not in Christ. We will perish forever!

Joab committed his sins long ago. Maybe he thought David forgot. Nevertheless, it caught up to him. Learn this: God may seem to slumber, but He sees everything! He may let a man get away with sin seemingly, but He punishes in the end. There is NO REFUGE for us except Jesus Christ - no hiding place and no other remission [Col 1:23]!

In Christ, forgiveness reigns and conquers our sins. Outside of Christ, He will salt you with fire.

“For everyone will be salted with fire.” [Mark 9:49]

What the Son of God suffered… the awful fires of hell… you and I will suffer, if we do not believe Him.

Run to Christ while you can. The warnings will run out.

Finally, if we do not believe the gospel, it will come out. [1 Kings 2:13-25]

Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request [for Abishag to be his wife] at the expense of his life. And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!” So King Solomon sent the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck down Adonijah, and he died. vs23-25

Adonijah requested David’s wife/concubine Abishag, which was usurping authority! He died because he wanted what belonged to the king, when God established Solomon! Let this be a lesson to us: Christ is the rightful King, and we must serve Him. There is no way around it. No man can serve two masters.

No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. [Matt 6:24]

Let our hearts be full of Christ and our lives lived for Him. Let us believe the gospel, repent, and give Him glory.

Seek grace to be gracious and honor Him. You are bought with a price, so don’t be joined unto harlots.

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. [1 Cor 6]