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His Father Never Displeased Him
His Father Never Displeased Him
In 1 Kings 1 we read that when David became old and feeble his son Adonijah made a move to become King. Adonijah had several things against him from the start. I know these things are normally seen as positives, yet they are the very things that cause the problems in life. He was good looking. He was popular. He was the son of the King. He had learned that HIS will was the only that mattered. The writer of 1 Kings said: "His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom" (1 Kings 1:6). With this we have the explanation of verse 5: "Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, 'I will be king.' And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him" (1 Kings 1:5).
Again we see God's wisdom in having fathers that will raise their sons. Makes you wonder if some of Solomon's proverbs were pointed at Adonijah! Notice a few teachings from God's word on father's responsibilities to their children:
19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” Genesis 18:19
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:7
19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 11:19
4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. Psalms 78:4
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. Proverbs 19:18
Prov. 22 6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. Proverbs 29:17
Such discipline INCLUDES displeasing children at times. Truly as Hebrews states: "…for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11). This would particularly be in times of severe correction - when a rod was laid upon the back of a rebellious man.
24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. Proverbs 13:24
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. Proverbs 19:18
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. Proverbs 22:15
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14 If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. Proverbs 23:13-14
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 29:15
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. Proverbs 29:17
The "rod" in these cases seems to me to be speaking of the rod used on grown children similarly to what we know as 'caning' today. Such was used on people who were old enough to have chosen wickedness. This was often connected with the next level of punishment - death. Obviously David didn't do this with Adonijah! Such use of a rod would have surely displeased Adonijah. It might also have saved him.
David in his personal life was a godly man. He did fail in his obligation to his children, at least as far as we know from Absalom and Adonijah. Even godly fathers need to teach their sons to be godly. Yet, each person is godly for himself. You don't inherit godliness but you can LEARN. Of course by the time a child is the age of Adonijah and already spoiled and self-centered it is too late.
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
