He who has the Bride has the Kingdom!

In 1 Kings 2:22 we read this, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him”, spoken by King Solomon in response to Bathsheba’s request.

Why was this request by Solomon’s mother Bathsheba on behalf of Adonijah so offensive to Solomon? And why did Solomon consider it to be equivalent to possessing the kingdom? It has a deep spiritual meaning but is considered by many to be a “small thing”. Before we go into its meaning let’s answer these questions and look back at the story between Adonijah and Solomon.

When King David had grown old he could no longer keep himself warm even with blankets. His servants therefore sought out a young beautiful virgin that would nurse him and lay in his bed to keep him warm. They found a young woman named Abishag a Shunammite from Shunem located in the region of Issachar. The Scriptures make it clear that David never had sexual relations with her nor does it allude us to believe that she became his wife; only that she took care of him and kept him warm, 1 Kings 1:4. One suggestion made by Jewish rabbis for the explanation of why David did not marry Abishag was that Israel’s kings were not to have more than eighteen wives, Sanhedrin 2.3. However, this doesn’t fit with King Solomon’s actions by marring three hundred women and taking seven hundred concubines for himself. The real evidence that David had not married Abishag can be found in the Torah that specifically says it is unlawful for a son to uncover his father’s nakedness by marring his father’s wife, Lev. 18:8, see also 1 Cor.5:1. If Abishag was David’s wife the very request by Adonijah to marry his father’s wife would have been detestable for all of Israel and to Bathsheba as well. The obligation to bare children for the deceased is handed down to the brothers of the deceased and not their own sons, Deuteronomy 25:5. Later we will see that Solomon did marry the Shulammite further suggesting that she was not David’s wife.

Before King David died his elder son, by succession of the death of his three older bothers, asserted to the throne of Israel, however this had not been prearranged by his father who had previously been informed by God that his successor would be Solomon, 1 Chronicles 22:9. When King David had been made aware of Adonijah’s self-proclamation to the throne he had Solomon ride on his mule to Gihon where Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king over all Israel. When they sounded the trumpet for the coronation of the King the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon”, 1 King 1:38-39, and the sound of the joy of the people shook the earth. Adonijah and his party, who had been celebrating his claim to the throne, were informed of Solomon’s coronation and became terrified. Adonijah who was full of fear went and took hold of the horns of the alter saying, “Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword” 1 King 2:49-51. On that day Solomon did not put Adonijah to death for asserting the throne of Israel nevertheless for asking Abishag’s hand in marriage, Solomon had him put to death, 1 Kings 2:23-25.

Solomon’s decision had to do with a spiritual truth not understood by many. Before delving into this spiritual matter lets examine both Abishag and Solomon. Abishag is believed to be the Shulammite in the Song of Songs 6:13; and the one Solomon truly loved. “There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number; but my dove, my perfect one, is unique” Song 6:8-9. Abishag by virtue of her name which translates “father of wondering” or “my father wonders”, suggest that Abishag had no father. That she had not experienced the love and nurturing of a father while growing up as a child. The Song of Songs also alludes to this truth when she said of Solomon, “I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room of the one who conceived me.” Song 3:4. If her father was still around she would have taken him to her father’s house. Growing up without a father would have instilled feelings of abandonment and rejection, a sense of not belonging, an orphan spirit if you will. Without a father she had no inheritance and life must have dealt her some hardships. She is a shadow of all of us who were born into this world without the knowledge and nurturing of God the Father. We grow up blaming God for all the wrong and injustice we have received in our lives. But now like Abishag we have found acceptance in the Father and are adopted into His family, Ephesians 1:5 & 2:13. Abishag is found at a young age while still a virgin and brought into the palace by David’s servants. It is here she begins to experience the heart of a father she never knew. She was able to climb into daddy’s bed cuddle up and feel secure, something she had never known. David never violated her but held her secure in his arms. Here she received healing and the knowledge of love that a father can have for his daughter. She came to known love, security, and acceptance. Missing this stage of development can cause insecurities and character problems in a relationship. We see this in the first chapter of the Song of Songs where Abishag says of herself, “Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I have neglected” Song 1:6. Some have suggested that she was aged by the hard labor and even I have believed this but considering that she was picked based upon her beauty, 1 Kings 1:4, I now tend to believe she is speaking of her insecurities from the absence of her father.

Solomon who the Lord named Jedidiah translates, “Beloved of the Lord”. God loved Solomon and so gave him the name, 2 Samuel 12:25. He also had promised that Solomon was to reign on the throne of Israel and would call Solomon His son and be his Father, 1 Chronicles 22:9. It’s easy to see the relationship between Solomon to that of Jesus Christ. Both are God’s beloved son and He is their Father. Just as Solomon established peace during his reign, so too will Christ establish peace during His millennial reign here on earth. Even though Solomon had inherited the kingdom and sat on his father’s throne he lacked one thing, a bride! Abishag was the final proof of Solomon’s claim to the throne and when his arch-enemy couldn’t over power him for the throne nor obtain it through deception he tried to declare it by possession of the bride.

Satan is Jesus’ arch-enemy. He too wants to posses the kingdom and Isaiah says of him, “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain” Isaiah 14:12-13. Ever since God created a bride to be in His own image, Satan has sought to take her away from God. He has seduced her with sexual immorality and spiritual idolatry. Even now he knows that Jesus has inherited the Throne, Rev. 3:21, yet he is still devising schemes to steal the bride! He will attempt to take the throne one last time when he walks into the Temple cease the sacrifices and claim to be God, Dan. 9:27 & 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. He will have those created to be God’s bride make covenant with him and receive his mark, Revelation 13:18. All who have missed the significance of the bride have missed the point of God’s creation!

Bathsheba asked Solomon, “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me. Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah. King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him…” 1 Kings 2:20-22. To give ourselves over to sin in immorality is equivalent to giving the kingdom over to Satan, its called adultery. Whoever possesses the bride is really King over the Kingdom. The bride is no small matter as many seem to think. It is safe to say that Bathsheba is symbolic of the church who has considered the bride to be a small thing but she is the focus of the King of kings, for He is coming for His bride without spot or wrinkle. He who has the bride has the Kingdom! This is one reason God has delayed.

Visit me at www.unveilingthebride.com