Who helps you stay the course?

Our last few weeks focused on how Absalom, King David’s son, tried to force succession by dethroning David. Now, Absalom’s younger brother Adonijah, wants to become king. King David is very old and feeble, so Adonijah attempts, through publicity and political alliances, to claim he is the heir to the throne. Bathsheba and several of David’s advisors prevent the power grab by reminding David that he intends for his and Bathsheba’s son, Solomon, to be king:

[Bathsheba] said to him, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ And now, behold, Adonijah is king, although you, my lord the king, do not know it.” (1 Kings 1:17-18)

David then proclaims Solomon as King:

King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’”(1 Kings 1:32-34)

Recall from earlier reflections that Solomon, the child born after David and Bathsheba were punished for David’s affair, was “beloved by God.” If not for Bathsheba, Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and a few others, Adonijah, instead of Solomon, would have assumed the throne. Thankfully, King David had people around him that reminded him of his intentions.

Implementing the senior generation’s wishes can sometimes cause family conflict, particularly when it involves difficult choices around business leadership or asset distribution. We all know families which have wasted financial resources and been torn apart by fights and legal challenges. Clarity in goals, direct communication with family members, and support from business partners and key advisors are critical components of effective transitions.

Are your intentions for management succession and estate planning clear to you, and to the people who will be affected by your decisions? Who will you trust and rely on to help carry out your plans?