Why study the books of Kings or Chronicles in the Old Testament? After all it is so complex with names, genealogies, intermixed with stories of good and bad. It is like trying to piece together a very complex puzzle and can leave me as confused as when trying to diagnose a complex set of patient’s symptoms. And that can be so confusing. Every piece must interlock. Furthermore, people’s names all seem confusing enough; yet are at times written a little different in each of the books. Yet, it is the same God who reigns over life who spoke the words that are included here through various writers. There were other books even alluded to, which are not here as His inspired word. In that, we must trust His wisdom concerning it all.
So, God’s provision of these text must have purpose in our own life, today. If we read and study with a desire to know their relevance to us we will find it. They bring us hope and peace even in the complex world we live it. After all it was Solomon with all his wisdom, who came to see the heart of humanity, even his own. Vanity of Vanities he wrote, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. He declared, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1: 9 (ESV).
There is no hope apart from the Grace of God and His promises. As we read the story of Israel, we may feel we are watching the scripts of our own world. So, the question is “Do we want wisdom?” Then Study to know He who gives of it freely and discover hope, joy, and peace.
God Reigns in the Affairs of Mankind and Governments
As the book of 1 Kings opens, we find David very ill on his death bed. He exemplified a life of faith. His heart truly loved God. Despite his faith, he had sinned against God at times. Yet, remained the man after God’s own heart. He passionately loved God and trusted God with all his heart. He suffered many sorrows. Some resulted from his own sins, which even brought devastating effects on his children and his nation. For these he wept bitterly. Other sorrows resulted from the sins of others. He saw the evil in this world and his own heart with clarity. That caused him to fall before God in deep repentance at times. And at other times he sang forth with such joyous worship, that some thought him crazy. Through it all, he learned to trust in God and rest in His grace.
He desired to build the temple of God; but God said no. There was too much blood on his hands for that. Yet, it was through the line of David that Jesus was born. God designated that David’s son build the temple. David gathered all the supplies, designated the plans, and taught them all to the one God had chosen to be his successor. Of all his children, God had declared Solomon to be King of Israel. You see, God sees the hearts of men and chooses His own by foreknowledge and design. And in His wisdom, He chose Solomon to build the temple
Solomon to be the King
As we open the book of Kings, there is laid out a beautiful, tender story of David’s frailty. It also tells us that his son Adonijah, seizing the opportunity, went out to create a feast where he would be declared the King. Afterall with Amnon and Absalom dead, he believed himself to be next in line. I am not certain what happened to David’s second son Daniel (also known as Chileab). Some speculate that he died in his youth, but this we do not know for certain. Whatever, the case, Adonijah was in a hurry to claim his position as King.
Meanwhile, when Bathsheba heard of this, she came very respectfully to advise David of what was happening. Nathan, the priest who had called David out for his sin with Bathsheba was also present. I was at first a bit confused, thinking God allowed all this to place whom He willed on the throne. Yet, I looked a little farther and found. God had declared this long before. She was the instrument to remind David.
Although, what an amazing act of grace and love by God. It was Bathsheba’s son who was the one to be in the line of Christ. My romantic side always believed David loved her above all the others. Furthermore, I believe that Proverbs 31 was a special song written for her. (It was an acrostic poem. Only David is recorded writing acrostic poems. And Solomon recorded it, albeit by a pseudonym).
God’s Reigns over the Affairs of Men
In I Chronicles, one may read of the sons of David. In order of birth they were Amnon, Daniel, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream all born in Hebron before he was with Bathsheba. Then in Jerusalem with Bathsheba were born Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and then Solomon. After them were 9 more born. I Chronicles 1:1-9. I point this out because in a societal order where the first born would have the right to the throne, Solomon was number 10. Even of Bathsheba’s children, he was the youngest.
The Power and Wisdom of God
Yet, God had already instructed David and encouraged him.
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[c] Your throne shall be established forever.’ 2 Samuel 7: (ESV)
As also recorded in Chronicles. Your throne shall be established forever—Jesus Christ is the one who will return in the line of David to establish His everlasting kingdom
11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’” 15 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. I Chronicles 17 (ESV)
Furthermore, He named the King
David painstakingly prepared for the temple to be built. Everything needed was prepared so it could be built quickly.
6 Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. 8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth.
9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’ I Chronicles 22 (ESV)
Not certain about any of you, but I had not noticed this before.
God’s Chosen Are Not Exempt from Sin
After David had died, Solomon made a treaty with Egypt. He married Pharoah’s daughter and brought her to the city of David because he had not yet built his house, the walls of Jerusalem, nor the temple. Although this was a way to maintain peace and a common custom, this practice of marrying pagan women and allowing them to practice idolatry led to the people of Israel sinning against God. I find it interesting that Solomon delayed at all in the building of the temple and continued to worship in the high places which later became pagan temples.
He had not forgotten God. Did he procrastinate or was all this just while the work was being done? We are not told, but we do know he was acting as King already before the encounter in which he asked for wisdom. We also know that Nehemiah later said,
25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?” Nehemiah 13 (ESV)
Solomon Asks for Wisdom
3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.
7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
God’s Response–Wisdom is Yours
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. I Kings 3 (ESV)
Concluding thoughts
- God is in Control, even when we do not understand
- Salvation is by Grace Alone
- The best of men are men at best
- Seek Wisdom, for God is Wisdom. He is our hope and joy
- As we watch the ups and downs of Israel, we watch the same unfolding of how men and women walk away from God.
- Be diligent
- Trust God and He will lead you home.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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