Clinging to the King's Promise

By Danny Saavedra

“Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king. ‘What is it you want?’ the king asked. She said to him, ‘My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: “Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.” But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated like criminals.’ While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. And the king was told, ‘Nathan the prophet is here.’ So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.”—1 Kings 1:16–23 (NIV)

If you’ve ever watched a courtroom drama, you know the intensity of a desperate plea. The lawyer rises and makes his or her closing statement . . . one last appeal to the judge and jury.

In today’s passage, Bathsheba knows what’s at stake. So she enters David’s chamber, not as a queen confident in her power, but as a woman whose life and son’s future are hanging by a thread.

David is old and frail, lying in bed while Abishag cares for him. Adonijah has already declared himself king, thrown a feast, and gathered supporters. From every angle, it looks like Bathsheba and Solomon are finished. If Adonijah secures the throne, they’ll be branded as traitors and treated like criminals. So, Bathsheba walks into the presence of the king and bows down before him—prostrate and desperate. She knows her only hope is in David remembering and acting on his promise.

That’s the center of her appeal: “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: Solomon your son shall be king after me.” She doesn’t come with a bargain. She doesn’t try to manipulate David. She doesn’t point to her own merits or Solomon’s worthiness. She simply clings to the king’s word. That’s all she has and, honestly, that’s all she needs as long as David remains faithful to it.

There’s a sense of urgency in Bathsheba here . . . and not just for herself or her son. “The eyes of all Israel are on you.” This isn’t just about her survival or Solomon’s future; it’s about the covenant itself. Who will sit on the throne of David? Will God’s Word stand, or will human ambition overturn it? The entire kingdom is waiting to see if David will keep his promise.

And then, while she’s still speaking, Nathan arrives. Two voices, two witnesses whom both affirm the truth and press the king to act. There’s something so powerful at work here in this moment. It’s not manipulation; it’s intercession. Together they stand in the gap, bear witness to the promise, and plead for its fulfillment.

This scene is a living picture of the gospel. We are Solomon: helpless and vulnerable. Like a young child whose destiny hangs in the balance, we can’t secure our future or save ourselves from the Adonijahs of sin, death, and hell. If left to ourselves, we’d be swept aside, condemned, and destroyed.

But here’s the good news: Like Bathsheba here, the Lord Jesus steps in to intercede for us before the King. He pleads His blood and His promises on our behalf. He doesn’t come pointing to our worthiness, but to His finished work, reminding the Father of His covenant sealed at the cross. And just as Bathsheba said, “My lord, you yourself swore,” so Jesus declares over us: “And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39 NLT).

And while He speaks, Nathan arrives to advocate . . . much like the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 tells us the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. So, we don’t have just one advocate. We have two divine witnesses testifying on our behalf before the Father: the Son at His right hand and the Spirit within us. Bathsheba and Nathan in David’s chamber are a faint shadow of that greater reality: Christ and the Spirit securing our place in the Kingdom of God.

So, what do we do when life feels like Adonijah’s rebellion . . . when it’s chaotic, threatening, and out of control? We don’t trust in our own strength or fight to seize the throne by ourselves. We rest like Solomon, letting the Son and the Spirit plead for us, defend us, and secure us. And we remember that our Father is greater than David.

God doesn’t grow weak or forgetful; He never needs to be reminded. He’s faithful and true. Every promise He’s made finds its “Yes!” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). This means your inheritance is safe, your condemnation is gone, and your place in His kingdom is secure—not because you fought for it, but because your Advocate and your Helper intercede continually on your behalf.

Pause: Where are you tempted to trust in your own strength rather than in God’s promise?

Practice: This week when you pray, frame your requests around God’s promises. Open His Word, cling to His oath, and let His faithfulness fuel your hope.

Pray: Father, I come before You with nothing but Your Word to stand on. Thank You that every promise is Yes in Jesus. Help me trust You when I feel weak, and remind me that Christ and the Spirit intercede for me even now. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.