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Home , 1 Kings 2, Abiathar, Anathoth, Benaiah

1 Kings 2:26-46 “Going Too Far”

• is about to deal with those his Father asked him to deal with – and sometimes those you show grace to will still “Go Too Far”. 26 And to the priest the king said, “Go to , to your own fields, for you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father , and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted.” 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the word of the LORD which He spoke concerning the house of at Shiloh. • ANATHOTH—the name of one of the cities of refuge, in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh. 21:18). The , as a rule, did not change the names of the towns they found in Palestine; hence this town may be regarded as deriving its name from the goddess Anat. It was the native place of Abiezer, one of David’s “thirty” (2 Sam. 23:27), and of Jehu, another of his mighty men (1 Chr. 12:3). It is chiefly notable, however, as the birth-place and usual residence of (Jer. 1:1; 11:21– 23; 29:27; 32:7–9). It suffered greatly from the army of Sennacherib, and only 128 men returned to it from the Exile (Neh. 7:27; Ezra 2:23). It lay about 3 miles north of . It has been identified with the small and poor village of ‘Anata, containing about 100 inhabitants. 1

• To the author of 1, 2 Kings, however, this decision marks a direct fulfillment of a prophecy made by Samuel against Eli’s descendants (cf. 1 Sam 2:27–36). 2

28 Then news came to , for Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab fled to the of the LORD, and took hold of the horns of the altar.

1 M. G. Easton, Easton’s Dictionary (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893). 2 Paul R. House, 1, 2 Kings, vol. 8, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 101. 1 Kings 2.26-46 1

• Joab believes there is a Almighty God – that can overrule any King • Perhaps Joab thinks God’s mercy and grace will protect him from the results of our sins? o Adonijah succeeded in receiving mercy when he hung on the horns. o Responsibility § Jesus’ blood pays the fine, closes the account – but does not remove our personal responsibility for the outcome of our sin here on earth. • You may still have to go to prison for your sins • You may still lose your family and marriage for your sins.

C.H. Spurgeon: “As far as we can judge, he had shown little respect to religion during his lifetime. He was a rough man of war, and cared little enough about God, or the tabernacle, or the priests, or the altar; but when he was in danger, he fled to that which he had avoided, and sought to make a refuge of that which he had neglected.” 3

Two good lessons here: 1. Religion has no effect upon our eternal outcome a. Nothing you can do, or ever have done can equal what Jesus has done for you Romans 3:9–26 9 . . . For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. (Those with great amounts of religion, and those with none) 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

3 “Horns of the Altar” - A Sermon (No. 1826) Delivered by C. H. SPURGEON, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, on March 23, 1884. 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the , 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

2. Relationship with Jesus is eternal a. Lay your hand upon Jesus today b. I will die here, and only here!

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

29 And King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to the tabernacle of the LORD; there he is, by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of , saying, “Go, strike him down.” 30 So Benaiah went to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said to him, “Thus says the king, ‘Come out!’ ” And he said, “No, but I will die here.” And Benaiah brought back word to the king, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” 31 Then the king said to him, “Do as he has said, and strike him down and bury him, that you may take away from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed. 32 So the LORD will return his blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword—Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of , and Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah—though my father David did not know it.

1 Kings 2.26-46 3

33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his descendants forever. But upon David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne, there shall be peace forever from the LORD.” 34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. • A life lost, wasted, blind and ignorant – while surrounded by the house of the Lord.

35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king put the priest in the place of Abiathar. • BENAIAH—built up by Jehovah. (1.) The son of Jehoiada, chief priest (1 Chr. 27:5). He was set by David over his body- guard of Cherethites and Pelethites (2 Sam. 8:18; :32; 1 Chr. 18:17).4 • JEHOIADA—Jehovah-known. (1.) The father of Benaiah, who was one of David’s chief warriors (2 Sam. 8:18; 20:23).5

36 Then the king sent and called for , and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere. 37 For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own head.” 38 And Shimei said to the king, “The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do.” So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. 39 Now it happened at the end of three years, that two slaves of Shimei ran away to Achish the son of Maachah, king of . And they told Shimei, saying, “Look, your slaves are in Gath!” 40 So Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath. • Shimei went Too Far o Poor Authority structure o Entitlement above and beyond others? o Solomon doesn’t need to know, right? § Your wife will never find out § Your Boss will never find out § This company owes me this extra income § James described it perfectly: James 1:13–15 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

4 M. G. Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893). 5 M. G. Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893). Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”

41 And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back. 42 Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and travel anywhere, you shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I have heard is good.’ 43 Why then have you not kept the oath of the LORD and the commandment that I gave you?” 44 The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know, as your heart acknowledges, all the wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore the LORD will return your wickedness on your own head. 45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever.” 46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. • How the Lord wants to establish each of us in His Kingdom • How the Lord desires you to be a new person leaning on HIM, never religion. o Religion establishes man’s kingdoms and thrones o Faith establishes Jesus’ Kingdom and Throne.

1 Kings 2.26-46 5