Fr. Mike looks into David's last words to his son Solomon and explains why it could have been hard for him to take David's advice. He also points out the important role of the mother of the king, and how this will foreshadow the role of Mary in the New Testament. Today's readings are 1 Kings 2, 2 Chronicles 2-3, and Psalm 62. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Chapter 1: What are David's last words to Solomon?
how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he murdered, avenging in time of peace blood which had been shed in war and putting innocent blood upon the belt about my loins and upon the sandals on my feet. Act therefore according to your wisdom."
But do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace, but deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai, the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom, your brother. And there is also with you Shimei, the son of Gerah, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim.
But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword. Now therefore, hold him not guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol. death and burial of David. Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.
And the time that David reigned over Israel was 40 years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat upon the throne of David, his father, and his kingdom was firmly established. Adonijah's intrigue. Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, came to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, and she said, Do you come peaceably? He said, Peaceably.
Then he said, I have something to say to you. She said, Say on. He said, You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord. And now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me. She said to him, say on. And he said, please ask King Solomon.
He will not refuse you to give me Abishag, the Shunammite, as my wife. Bathsheba said, very well, I will speak for you to the king. So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right.
Then she said, I have one small request to make of you. Do not refuse me. And the king said to her, Make a request, my mother, for I will not refuse you. She said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah, your brother, as his wife. King Solomon answered his mother, And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah?
Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah. Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if this word does not cost Adonijah his life.
Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day. So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died. Solomon consolidates his reign.
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Chapter 2: How does David's advice reflect on Solomon's leadership?
Yes, to you, Lord God, belongs steadfast love. To you belongs power. You love us with a love that doesn't change. You love us with a love that is constantly dynamic and constantly activated. Lord God, you're not a God of potency. You're a God of actuality. You're not a God of dreams. You're a God of reality. And in all things, we trust you. In all things, we praise you.
And this day, as you speak to us, once again, we continue to trust in you. Please hear our prayer, and please make yourself known by every one of us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Okay, so here we are at the end of David's life.
Now, yesterday, in 1 Kings chapter 1, at the end of his life, but these are David's final words that he gives to his son Solomon. And gosh, there's a couple of things to pay attention to. One is that David's last words are, hey, make sure you kill these people or make sure that you show some kind of leniency, some kind of clemency to others. But what is David doing?
David is imparting his hard words. earned wisdom, his hard earned knowledge of, um, yeah, Adonijah. He had turned against you. He turned against me and he had gathered a number of people to himself. Some of the people who will get, they will want to get close to you, King Solomon. People like Joab, like Shimei, who had cursed David when he was on the run from Absalom. These kinds of people.
Here is David who says, okay, it's your job, Solomon, when I'm gone to deal with these people, to deal with these men in a way that is just. So there's that. And so then the rest of this chapter, chapter 2 in 1 Kings, is spent with Solomon trying to essentially mete out the justice that his father advised him to do. But here's something I think is so important.
On the last day of David's life or last day where he's talking to King Solomon, he gives him some advice. And I've heard it said that when it comes to parenting, Children, pay more attention to the example that we give than the advice that we offer. If that makes any sense. That children, pay more attention to the example that we set rather than the advice that we offer.
And so here is David's last word saying, okay, make sure you keep God's ways and his statutes and his commandments and his judgments and his testimonies. That is great advice. That is great advice. And yet David's life was, yeah, he kept God's commandments in many ways. Yes, he broke God's commandments as well. He repented of those times, which is why he is a man after God's own heart.
But what Solomon could see in his father, David, was that his father, as I mentioned yesterday and a couple of times before this, is that his father was distant. His father was not engaged in the affairs of the family. That his father's heart, although it in many ways belonged to the Lord, was divided when it came to the Lord. And so, yeah, great advice.
Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul. He's taking him so, so important. His last words and be strong and courageous. Prove yourself a man. All these things. So good. And yet. David's example was a divided heart. Yes, again, we have a sense that David belonged to the Lord, yes. But also that David didn't necessarily witness to that to his family.
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