FIVE SMOOTH STONES - The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherds Bag

FIVE SMOOTH STONES — The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherd’s Bag

wife, not to the next oldest son. This caused envy among his older brothers, who by some reckoning should have been in line before Joseph. Likewise, in the house of David, Amnon was his eldest son, and he was killed by Absalom. Absalom was killed in his attempt to overthrow his father David. Adonijah was next in line after Absalom. After the death of his elder brothers Adonijah considered himself to be the heir-apparent to the throne, again as Absalom, without his father’s council or blessing. Knowing that his father was close to death, and that his younger brother Solomon had been promised the throne, Adonijah made a play for the throne by inviting the other princes, except for Solomon, and gathering support with the army commander Joab, and the priest Abiathar, and others. The prophet Nathan and Bathsheba communicated to David what was transpiring and David had Solomon coronated in his stead while he was still living. Adonijah then ran to the altar and was given a pardon from Solomon so long as he would promise to remain loyal. It is worth noting that this act is the first act of Solomon’s rule and it may well have saved his reign. He was first merciful, yet decisive in judgment when that later became necessary. 1 Kings 1:48 "The king has also said thus, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has granted one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it.'" 49 Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way. 50 And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Now it was told Solomon, saying, "Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'" 52 Solomon said, "If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die." 53 So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house ." In nature the lion is called the king of the beasts. This is not only because the lion is regal, but also because there are some striking similarities between how lion prides are ruled and the way ancient kings ruled. For one thing when a lion supplants an older lion and

1