52Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.”
These words were spoken by a new king to someone who attempted a coup. These words show wisdom and grace. Solomon had every right to kill his brother Adonijah. Adonijah knew that his father David had chosen Solomon to be the next king after his death. But, instead of honoring his father, he tried to seize power in a moment of his father’s weakness. His glory was short-lived. David was told of the plot and corrected it on the spot. He declared Solomon king in his place. Adonijah knows his life is in danger and he tries to hide out in the temple, thinking the altar will save his life. But the new king saves his life. He gives him a second chance. But this second life comes with conditions. Adonijah must walk the walk. If he is truly repentant, then his life must match his words. This is a good example of how we can treat those who betray us. We can let them back in with conditions of reentry. The sentence is suspended, unless there are further infractions. If the line is crossed again, the sentence gets executed. This sounds good on paper, doesn’t it! But in real life it can be very hard to carry out the sentence once the door has been opened again. I see this in couples when an affair has happened. I encourage very clear boundaries, and stiff penalties for infractions. If there is no clarity and the conviction to carry out the penalties, the offender is more prone to further offenses. But we have to be willing to execute the sentence!
The Arnold Journey 