Like 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings were
originally one book. We don’t really
know who wrote these books, but it is thought to have been Jeremiah, Ezra, or
Ezekiel.
1 Kings 1 describes the final days of David. 1
Kings 2 begins with Solomon as king and establishes himself as a strong
wise leader.
1 Kings 1 – Solomon Crowned
We
learned that David was not always the greatest father and we see this again in
this chapter the actions of his son Adonijah.
“His father had never interfered with him by
asking, ‘Why do you behave as you do?’
He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom” – 1 Kings 1:6 He failed to discipline Absalom who committed
treason, Amnon who raped his half sister Tamar, and Adonijah is now plotting to
take over the throne. This is very true
today. We’ve all heard, ‘spare the rod
and spoil the child’. This comes from Prov. 13:24,
“He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to
discipline him.” David and his
sons are perfect examples of this. Children
must be disciplined or there be bad consequences in the future.
Are you
disciplining your children because you love them or are you encouraging them to
be self-centered and disrespectful?
Adonijah
was the 4th son of David.
Absalom killed his brother Amnon and Joab, the captain of the army
killed Absalom. Now Adonijah was the
oldest and was in line to be king. So he
decided to make himself king since David was up in his years and didn’t have
long to live. Usually it was the custom
that the oldest son was considered the heir to the throne. This was not true for Israel. It was God who determined the next king, but
Adonijah exalted himself as king.
David
was about 70 years, but it seemed he was older than his years. He had a hard life of fighting many battles
and a history marked by treachery and murder.
He was weak and couldn’t seem to stay warm so his servants brought in a
beautiful young woman, Abishog to lay with him to keep him warm although they
were never intimate. In those times it
was believed by keeping a person warm was a good medical treatment.
Like
David and his brother Absalom, Adonijah was very handsome and appealing to the
people. He enlisted chariots, horses,
and men to make himself look good and powerful.
He enlisted the support important and influential people. Even Joab supported him. Joab had been loyal to David, but was always
selfish and cruel with strong ambitions.
None of Adonijah’s supporters consulted the Lord or David before giving
their support to Adonijah. Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and
David’s special guard Benaiah did not join Adonijah.
Adonijah
sacrificed sheep and cattle and had a party hoping to encourage others to
support him. He invited all his brothers
except Nathan, Benaiah and his brother Solomon.
By offering sacrifices he wanted people to think he wanted to serve God. Nathan warned Bathsheba what Adonijah was up
to and thought he might kill her and Solomon so they devised a plan to tell
David. She asked David to remember his
previous promise that Solomon would become the next king and to immediately
appoint him king without waiting for David’s death. David kept his promise and made Solomon king.
Do you
remember to keep your promises?
David
anointed Solomon as king before Adonijah and his guests finished their
meal. David had Solomon ride on the
king’s mule, be anointed by the priest. Then
the trumpet was blown and the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” Trumpets sounded and the people shouted with
joy. When Adonijah and his guests heard
the noise, they left quickly because they knew the people supported King Solomon
and they were afraid they would be punished.
Adonijah ran to the altar to seek God’s protection. When Solomon heard this he made a wise
decision, because he knew Adonijah was well liked. He decided not to punish Adonijah, but
commanded him to be loyal or he would die.
Do you
run to God when you know you’ve sinned?
Did you
truly repent or was it only out of fear?
Solomon
went against the custom of killing anyone who would tried to take over the
throne. He showed Adonijah mercy and
gave him the opportunity to avoid punishment.
Jesus gives us the opportunity to avoid the punishment we deserve. He offers us complete forgiveness and
mercy. All we have to do is ask
forgiveness for our sins and believe and trust in Him.
David
should have made it known to all his sons and the people that Solomon was to be
the next king. Then maybe all the threats
and deceptions of his sons trying to take the throne would have not happened.
Are you
like Adonijah and try to follow your own plans to get that you want?
Do you
gossip and slander others so you will look good?
Do you
push others out of the way to get to the place you want?
How are
you preparing your children for the future?
Are you
teaching them about Jesus, Savior of the world?
Principle: God wants His children to be strong, brave
and obey his Word.
1 Kings 2 – Solomon's Kingdom Established
Before
David died he gave advice to Solomon. David
knew Solomon would be tested as king and that it would require great strength
and courage. He told him to be strong
and to observe what the Lord requires.
He should walk in His ways and keep His commands so he would prosper in
all he does and wherever he goes.
Do you
teach your children to be strong, brave and obey God’s Word?
What is
the source or your strength?
Do you
tend to follow the crowd and the ways of the world?
Will
you ask God to give you the will and determination to obey His Word?
David
wanted Solomon to begin his reign with justice.
He should be wise in dealing with Joab, who killed 2 commanders of
Israel’s army. He didn’t mention that
Joab also killed his brother, Absalom.
David knew Joab had made sacrifices for David over the years, but he
also knew he was violent and ruthless.
David told him to be kind to those who had helped him.
Then
David died. He reigned for 40 years over
Israel, 7 years in Hebron and 33 in Jerusalem.
David started out as a shepherd and ended up as a king. He was a sinner. We can all identify with David. Even though he knew God and tried to obey His
commands he was only human and he sinned often, but always repented. He was buried in the City of David currently
known as Jerusalem.
Adonijah
went to Bathsheba and ask her to ask King Solomon to give Abishog the Shunammite
as his wife. Abishog was the concubine of
David’s who chosen to keep him warm in his old age and now that David was dead,
he wanted her as his wife. This was a
way for him to build a claim on Solomon’s throne. Bathsheba agreed and went to Solomon. Solomon knew exactly what he was trying to
do. Because of Adonijah request, he was
executed. Adonijah probably thought
Solomon was young and inexperienced and wouldn’t to kill him as previously
promised, but he found out that Solomon was a leader who did exactly what he
said he would do.
Abiathar
the priest deserve death because he supported Adonijah as the next king, but
Solomon showed mercy and wisdom to him by not putting him to death as this
time. He removed him from the priesthood
and exiled him. Joab heard of this and
like Adonijah fled to the tent of the Lord and held on to the altar. Joab would not leave the altar so Solomon had
him executed there.
Shimei
was associated with King Saul and was a threat to the house of David. David had instructed Solomon to allow Shimei
to live in peace so he was placed under house arrest. If he left, he would die. Shimei abused Solomon’s mercy. When 2 of his servants ran off to Gath, he
went to search for them. Solomon heard
of this, gave the order to kill him because he had broke their agreement. Now all the conspirators were dead and
Solomon’s kingdom was firmly established in his hands. This shows the fulfillment God made to David
in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and would be
ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.
Solomon
showed great wisdom by not killing these men immediately. He first tested them to see if they were
loyal. After they broke their promises,
then they were killed.
When
have you broken a promise that caused you consequences?
Would
others consider you wise?
1 Chronicles 22 and 29 – Solomon Builds the
Temple
David’s
desire was to have a permanent place to worship the Lord, but the Lord would
not let him build the temple. Instead
his son, Solomon was to build it. David
prayed for Solomon and encouraged him to trust God. He gave Solomon the plans the Lord had
revealed to him as to how to build the temple.
God’s work would be done according to His pattern in His way in His
perfect timing. David led by example by
giving gold, silver, iron, wood, onyx, all kinds of stones and marble to be
used in the temple. He asked his leaders
and the people to also give what they could.
The people gave joyfully and sacrificially.
Are you
so full of gratitude that it overflows in your giving to His work?
Do you
give of your time, talents, money, and energies?
David
praised the Lord saying He was the God of Israel from everlasting to
everlasting and for His greatness in heaven and earth. He is head over all and ruler of all
things. He has strength and power and
gives strength to all.
The 1st
time Solomon was anointed king by David to stop Adonijah. Now he was publicly acknowledged as King of
Israel. The people gave sacrifices and
offerings to the Lord. Solomon sat on
the throne of his father David. He
prospered and all Israel obeyed him. All
the officers and mighty men as well as all of David’s sons pledged their
submission to King Solomon. The Lord
exalted Solomon and bestowed royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever
had before.
Have
you pledged your submission to King Jesus?
If not,
what is keeping you from it?
Next
time we will continue our study of 1
Kings. Hope to see you here.
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