READING FOR JUNE 26, 2025: 1 KINGS 1, PHILIPPIANS 3, PSALM 59:11-17 1 KINGS 1 David apparently had a common ailment of old age: poor circulation. No matter how many covers were placed on him, he could not get warm. His servants had a novel solution that did not include taking more pills. They found a beautiful young girl to lie on his chest to keep him warm. She also performed other nursing tasks. According to the text, they did not have sexual relationships, but this writer does not prescribe such treatment. Perhaps try an electric blanket or eat some kimchee.
The above story does, however, give us some indication of David’s age and overall health. Taking advantage of David infirmities, David’s and Haggith’s son Adonijah, declared his intention to succeed David. The text says he “exalted himself.” People are still exalting themselves, but it is always unwise. Jesus taught, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). Adonijah was successful in winning over the influential Joab the army commander and Abiathar the priest to his side, but not David’s closest advisors: Nathan, Zadok, Benaiah and Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men.
Adonijah invited all his many allies to a location just outside of Jerusalem for ceremonial sacrifices connected with his quest for the throne. The prophet Nathan informed Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, of this development and plotted with her about how to stop this power grab. They concocted a sneaky scheme to alert David of the situation, remind him of his original promise to Solomon and Bathsheba, and nudge him into action. David rose to the occasion and barked out orders to put Solomon on David’s mule to travel to the place where Nathan and Zadok would anoint him as king. Then the trumpets would blow, the people would hail him as king, and Solomon would return to sit upon David’s throne. VOILA!
When this happened, the people rejoiced so that the “earth shook at their noise.“ This noise startled the rival ceremony for Adonijah. Eventually all their guests left in fear, leaving Adonijah to plead for mercy to Solomon. He granted this request on the condition that he engage in no wickedness. Once again, we see that the creativity of the prophet Nathan enabled David to see the bigger picture and take appropriate action. Nathan modeled the behavior Jesus desires for his disciples in times of challenge: “Be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves” (Matt 10:16).
PHILIPPIANS 3 Paul begins by telling us that intentionally rejoicing in God helps protect us from falling from faith. As counterintuitive as this might seem, Paul really means it because he repeats it. Remember, Paul is in prison, so he has credibility on this topic. Thus, it must be a vital spiritual discipline not just a feeling.
READING FOR JUNE 26, 2025 CONTINUED: PHILIPPIANS 3, PSALM 59:11-17 Then he warns against those same nemeses he called out in Galatians: those insisting that men be circumcised before becoming Christians. Here he civilly explains how he himself had reached the top of the heap in law-abiding Judaism. But compared with knowing Jesus as Lord, he counts those hard-won achievements as losses. Before receiving Jesus, Paul had a very limited righteous based on following the law. Now, he has the perfect righteous of Christ through faith. Now, he has the honor of sharing in the sufferings of Christ with the prospect of a Christlike resurrection from the dead.
Paul is focused on the future, which is pursuing the call of God. He does not waste time reliving his past so-called achievements. He confesses he has not obtained perfection, but he is still leaning into that goal. This passage from Paul is particularly important for those with a Wesleyan belief in entire sanctification, the belief that Christians can reach sinless perfection or total holiness. Here is Wesley’s definition of such perfection: “The word has various senses: here [Heb 6:1] it means perfect love. It is love excluding sin; love filling the heart, taking up the whole capacity of the soul. It is love rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, in everything giving thanks.”
In his commentary on Philippians 3, Wesley suggests that in verse 12 Paul has not reached teteleiōmai, meaning perfected to receive his crown, but in verse 15 his attitude is teleioi, perfectly fitted for running the race. Whether or not we can achieve this level of holiness on earth, it is a goal to which all believers can and should aspire in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul then again warns the Philippians about those enemies of the cross. They can be spotted by their preoccupation with earthly matters. Instead, he reminds us that our true home is heaven, including our transformed body and the complete and visible reign of Jesus. As pleasant as Yorktown is, as serviceable as our bodies used to be, HEAVEN WILL BE BETTER.
PSALM 59:11-17 David prays in verse 11 that the Lord will not kill his enemies but scatter them so his people will not forget their dependency upon God. Then later in verse 13, he prays to destroy his enemies so others will know God rules in Israel and throughout the world. This looks like a contradiction, but it could mean David is praying for a two-stage process: initial scattering and eventual killing. Also, it could also mean that, by simply scattering them, they would be destroyed or removed as a threat. Both verses point to the larger impact felt by the country, not just personal relief for David. Throughout this passage, David sings praises to God who is both powerful and loving. We all must sing (breathe deeply), and we all must praise God for His multiple attributes.
