1 Kings 3-4

1 Kings 3:1-15 – Wise Request

Solomon made a treaty with the king of Egypt and married his daughter.  Solomon had many foreign wives which would turn his heart after other gods and make his heart not loyal to the Lord, which we will learn in 1 Kings 11.  He did love the Lord, but he also loved foreign wives who helped turn his heart away.  His marriage to the Egyptian princess was the beginning of his moving in the wrong direction.

Solomon brought his Egyptian wife to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord.  Solomon and the people were offering sacrifices in the high places.  These high places were known for worship of foreign gods.  They were not offering sacrifices to the wrong gods, but offering them to the Lord in the wrong places.  Solomon was in Gibeon, which was the most important high place where God appeared to Solomon in a dream.  Instead of rebuking Solomon, God offered anything he wished.  Solomon asked for a discerning heart to govern and to distinguish between right and wrong.

God was pleased with Solomon’s wish, because he didn’t ask for a long life or wealth for himself.  Solomon was young and knew he lacked wisdom so that’s what he asked God for.  God gave him wisdom and also riches and honor.  If Solomon walked in the Lord’s ways, he would also be given a long life, but we know he didn’t and died at 60 years old.  Solomon woke up and realized it was all a dream.  He returned to Jerusalem and offered sacrifices and offerings.  Then he gave a feast for all his court. 

What kinds of things do you pray for?

Do you pray for material things or for a mind and spirit to discern God’s way to live?

We know that Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived.  His wealth and power were known by all.  So we know that Solomon received his dream.  Scripture doesn’t say that the Spirit came upon on him like He did David when he was anointed king, which tells me that we need not have a spectacular experience in order to be empowered by the Spirit.

Solomon showed wisdom in handling a dispute between two women who claimed the same child as their own.  These two women came to Solomon to settle their dispute.  Both had a child, but one accidentally suffocated in the night.  He settled it by threatening to cut the child in half and give each half to each woman.  The mother of the dead child was willing to accept Solomon’s judgment.  The mother of the living child was willing to give him up in order to save him.  Then Solomon knew that the boy was her child and gave him to his true mother.  When the people heard the verdict, they were in awe of such a wise ruling.

1 Kings 3:16 – 4:1-34 – Wise Reign

We see Solomon’s administrative wisdom as he chose his governors and officials.  Israel prospered and grew in number.  Solomon was rich and during his lifetime the people lived in safety.  God gave Solomon wisdom and great insight and understanding.  He was given many gifts and abilities.  He wrote 3,000 proverbs and over 1,000 songs.  He taught about animals, birds, reptiles and fish.  All nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.  We will see in the next chapter that he had great wisdom as a builder.

Solomon’s reign hinted at the Messiah’s glorious kingdom:

   Solomon was wise; Jesus embodied divine wisdom.

   Solomon reigned in peace; Jesus guarantees eternal peace.

   Solomon’s people enjoyed satisfaction; Jesus promises to satisfy 

   us forever.

Principle:  True wisdom loves and desires God above everything.

Do you seek God’s wisdom?

Will you seek His ways over your life?

How are you using the gifts God has given you?

We all wish we had everything we dreamed of.  The Bible says:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” – Matt. 7:7.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” – John 15:7

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” – 1 John 5:14.

Principle:  Seek God before anything or anyone and trust Him to provide.

God loved Solomon and chose him as king.  Solomon loved God and desired to obey Him.  God wanted to bless Solomon, because He knew his heart.  God gave him great wisdom and wealth, but Solomon made choices that would set his course away from God.  It started with his marriage to a foreign princess of Egypt.  Sin would weaken his kingdom, but God continued to use him to bless His people.

How do the pleasures of life distract you from God and His goodness?

When have you dishonored God through partial obedience?

Next time we will continue our study of 1 Kings.  Hope to see you here.

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1 Kings 1-2

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 4^th 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 1^st 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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2 Samuel 19-24

In our last study we saw in David’s family rape, murder, bitterness, unforgiveness, death and also rebellion as Absalom tried to take the throne.  Absalom was killed and David and the wholly army mourned.

2 Samuel 19-20 – God Restores

David mourned over the death of his son, Absalom.  The whole army mourned.  They had won the battle for Israel and for the glory of God, but they felt bad because of David’s excessive weeping and mourning.  Actually excessive mourning is rooted in unbelief.  David forgot that God was in control and that He had showed him grace and mercy in the victory.  Joab gave him a good talking to and told him to snap out of it.  He said that David was being selfish and that it wasn’t all about him.  He told him to go out and encourage the people or he would lose most of them.  David didn’t feel like doing this, but he did.

When have you be wise enough to accept the counsel or others?

David encouraged the people, but he wouldn’t force his reign on Israel.  He would only be king if the people who rejected him for Absalom agreed to bring him back.  David agreed to replace his commander, Joab with Amasa, who was the captain of Absalom’s army.  This was a gesture of reconciliation.  Amasa helped David to win the people’s hearts.  David probably took pleasure in replacing Joab, because he was the one who was responsible for killing Absalom.

Like David, God will not force His reign on us.  We have to welcome Him in our hearts.  We have the choice to reject Him or received Him as our Savior.

The northern tribes were ready to accept David as king once more, but Judah showed some hesitation.  David forgave his enemies like Shimei and rewarded those who were loyal to him like Barzillai.  Mephibosheth, who hadn’t cut his beard or washed his clothes since David left, met David.  Mephibosheth told him that Ziba had deceived him and now Mephibosheth’s land was his.  To solve the problem David had them split the land, but Mephibosheth said Ziba could have it all.  Friction between the northern tribes and Judah resulted in another revolt against David led by Sheba, which ended without a battle.

Joab was jealous of Amasa .  When Amasa was returning to Jerusalem, Joab pretended to greet him, but Joab caught him off guard and kill him.  Amasa and Joab were cousins and David was their uncle so Nathan’s prophecy in 2 Samuel 12:10 happened again.  Joab became the leader of the army again.  He removed Amasa’s body and didn’t bury it or show him any honor.  This showed Joab’s cruel character again.  He cared only about himself.  Remember he was the one who helped David kill Uriah and he was the one who killed Absalom.

Do you recognize “Joabs” in your workplace or church?

Joab pursued Sheba, son of Bicri and took the city until a woman challenged him.  Her wisdom resulted in Sheba’s death, but gave life and peace for her city and nation.

Principle:  God alone can make new what sin has torn apart.

2 Samuel 21-23 – God Rescues

Gibeonites Avenged

During David’s reign there was a 3 year famine so David sought the Lord.  He asked if the famine was because of what Saul had done.  Remember during the conquest of Canaan, Israel committed to protect the Gibeonites who were living in the land.  But Saul tried to kill all the Gibeonites.  David wanted to right this wrong so he summoned the Gibeonites and asked how he could make amends.  They wanted 7 of Saul’s male descendants to be killed.  David did as they asked, but spared Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson and Jonathan’s son.  Rizpah was Saul’s concubine who had a son also named Mephibosheth.  David gave the Gibeonites Rizpah’s 2 sons Mephibosheth and Armoni.  He also gave them 5 more sons of Saul’s daughter.  All 7 were killed.  Rizpah covered their bodies to protect them from the birds.  David then brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan and with the other bones buried them in Saul’s tomb.  After that , God answered David’s prayer.

What do you need to make right for God to answer your prayer?

David’s Song of Praise

David sings a song of praise to the Lord.  In it he says that the Lord is his rock, deliverer, refuge, shield, salvation, stronghold, and savior.  He is worthy of praise.  His enemies threatened repeatedly, but he could always call upon the Lord and was rescued.  David knew his sinfulness and God required righteousness.  None of us are righteous.  It’s only through faith in Jesus on our behalf can we be made righteous.  God saves the humble.  In other words pride has no place in God’s kingdom.

Do you recognize God’s blessings in your life and do you give Him the praise He deserves?

David was aware that God’s promise didn’t include every member of his family, but he remembered the covenant that God promised that through him there would always be a righteous ruler.  Jesus would come through the line of David.

Principle:  Only God can make new what sin has ruined.

David names his mighty men.  Some were:

Josheb-Besshebeth – killed 800 at one time

Eleazar – fought until Lord brought victory over the Philistines

Shammah – fought Philistines alone and Lord brought victory

Abishai – killed 300

Benaiah – commanded David’s bodyguard and defeated the strongest warriors and lions

Uriah the Hittite – a loyal and committed warrior

Do you recognize the efforts of others?

2 Samuel 24 – God Brings Repentance

The Lord’s anger burned against David and “he” incited David to take a census.  The “he” here can be confusing, but In 1 Chronicles 21:1 the “he” is Satan.  Satan prompted him to take a census.  God allowed this to happen.  It was wrong to take a census because Israel belonged to God and it was up to Him to command a counting. 

David was very powerful and his kingdom had grown.  He was tempted to take some of the glory for himself.  By taking the count was a way to take credit for himself.

David commanded Joab and the army to do the census.  Joab spoke up and ask why, but he and the army did as their king commanded.  It took 9 months and 20 days to do the count.  1 Chronicles 21 tells us there were 1,300,000 fighting men which estimates as 6,000,000 total people in Israel. 

After the census was taken David’s conscience began to bother him and he saw that it was his pride that caused him to do this foolish thing.  He was not sinless, but he had a heart sensitive to sin when it was committed.  He told the Lord he had sinned and asked Him to take away his guilt.  The next morning the Lord sent the prophet Gad to David and gave him 3 options to choose as his consequence – 7 years of famine, flee for 3 months from his enemies, or 3 days of plague.  David chose 3 days of plague. 

When has guilt caused you to repent and ask God for forgiveness?

A devastating plague stuck the land and 70,000 people died.  When David saw the people struck by the plague, he said that he was the one who had sinned and asked the Lord to let His hand fall upon him and this family.   He acted like a true leader by taking the responsibility and wanting the punishment to be on him and his household.  God didn’t accept David’s offer.

Gad went to David telling him that God said to build an altar to the Lord.  David built the altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.  The Lord withdrew the plague from Israel.  Burnt offerings were to atone for sin.  Peace offerings were to enjoy fellowship with God.  1 Chronicles 21:26 tell us that God accepted David’s sacrifice by consuming it with fire from heaven.

Principle:  Only God can rescue His people from sin and give new life.

This finishes the book of 2 Samuel.  Our study next time will in 1 Kings.  Hope to see you here.

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