1 Kings 2:25-29: a reflection

25King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died. 26To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are worthy of death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the Lord GOD’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.” 27So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the LORD’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. 28This news came to Joab; for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he didn’t follow Absalom. Joab fled to the LORD’s Tent, and held onto the horns of the altar. 29King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to the LORD’s Tent; and behold, he is by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, fall on him.”

As Solomon establishes his kingdom, he deals with those who had opposed him; but notice how he treats Abiathar the priest, who had supported his rival. Though Abiathar was worthy of death for his part in the rebellion, Solomon does not execute him; instead he spares his life, sending him home, and he gives his reasons: because you bore the ark of God before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's afflictions. Solomon's mercy toward Abiathar was grounded in remembering his past faithful service, his years of bearing the ark and sharing David's hardships.

Notice the ground of Solomon's mercy toward Abiathar: the remembrance of his past faithful service. Abiathar had done wrong, deserving death; but Solomon remembered his long past faithfulness, his bearing of the ark, his sharing of David's afflictions, and out of regard for that past service, spared his life. The remembrance of past faithful service moved Solomon to mercy where justice might have demanded death. He did not forget Abiathar's years of faithfulness in dealing with his present fault, but let the memory of past service temper his judgment with mercy.

That is worth taking to heart, for the remembrance of others' past faithfulness can rightly temper how we deal with their present faults. When someone who has served us or been faithful to us in the past does wrong, we can deal with them harshly, forgetting all their past faithfulness; but Solomon remembered Abiathar's past service and spared him. Do not forget the past faithfulness of those who have served or stood by you when they later fail; let the memory of their past faithful service temper your dealing with their present fault, as Solomon spared Abiathar for his years of bearing the ark. Remember the past faithfulness of others in how you treat them, letting it move you to mercy where you can, rather than forgetting all their past service in dealing with a present fault, as Solomon remembered Abiathar's faithful service and spared his life, tempering judgment with mercy grounded in the memory of past faithfulness.

Lord, as Solomon establishes his kingdom, he deals with those who had opposed him; but notice how he treats Abiathar the priest, who had supported his rival. Though Abiathar was worthy of death, Solomon does not execute him; instead he spares his life, and gives his reasons: because you bore the ark of God before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's afflictions. Solomon's mercy toward Abiathar was grounded in remembering his past faithful service. Show me the ground of Solomon's mercy toward Abiathar: the remembrance of his past faithful service. Abiathar had done wrong; but Solomon remembered his long past faithfulness, and out of regard for that past service, spared his life. The remembrance of past faithful service moved Solomon to mercy. He did not forget Abiathar's years of faithfulness in dealing with his present fault. Take that to my heart, for the remembrance of others' past faithfulness can rightly temper how I deal with their present faults. When someone who has served me or been faithful to me does wrong, I can deal with them harshly, forgetting all their past faithfulness; but Solomon remembered Abiathar's past service and spared him. Keep me from forgetting the past faithfulness of those who have served or stood by me when they later fail; let the memory of their past faithful service temper my dealing with their present fault, Lord. Help me remember the past faithfulness of others in how I treat them, letting it move me to mercy where I can.