When Given A Second Chance, We Should Act in Repentance (Change of Mind and Heart) — 2 Kings 2:17-18, 22, 24-25
Adonijah’s life was spared from trying to take the throne from his brother Solomon. But he didn’t repent (change his mind). Rather, he thought he would try a clever way to take the throne by asking for King David’s last wife.
He knew he could not make this request directly, so he went to Solomon’s mother:
1 Kings 2:17–18 (NIV84) “So he continued, ‘Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.'”
“‘Very well,’ Bathsheba replied, ‘I will speak to the king for you.'”
And she went to Solomon:
1 Kings 2:22, 24-25 (NIV84) “King Solomon answered his mother, ‘Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother…'”
“And now, as surely as the Lord lives… Adonijah shall be put to death today!”
“So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah, and he died.”
Adonijah’s life had been spared the first time he tried to take the throne, but he didn’t repent (change how he thought).
He only dug in deeper and tried to trick Solomon into the throne by essentially marrying the former king’s wife. This act of treason cost him his life.
Father, help me repent. Help me change my mind and my heart about my sin: my envy, my jealousy, my desire for what is not mine to have. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Please help me not to misuse your grace by trying to take advantage of the grace of others in my life.
May we learn to repent and to live in righteousness with our second chances.
