Day 24: 2 Samuel 22:19-1 Kings 7:37 - 90 Day Challenge

Wise in His Young Age 

God Is Placed Back in the Front Seat

2 Samuel 22:29

A quick summary of the remainder of the book of 2 Samuel:

David finishes his song of praise, and sings many wonderful things to the Lord. If you haven't been reading the Bible, just the summaries, I highly recommend reading 2 Samuel 22:1-51. It's worth it. Then we are presented with David's last words (he doesn't die, though, until 1 Kings Chapter 2) and a list of the mightiest men, without whom, David would not have been as successful.

We are then brought to 2 Samuel 24. This can get confusing, but David was guilty after taking a census that was apparently ordered by God. However, later on in the Bible (1 Chronicles 21:1), it's revealed that it was not God who commanded the census. It was Satan, and David's prideful nature caused him to take the census. Joab even tries to talk David out of taking the census. 

Anyway, after the census is taken and David realizes what he's done, he prays to God, and God punishes Israel with a plague that is supposed to last three days, but the Lord was so grieved from the devastation, He commands the plague to stop, and David takes full blame for the census, and begs God to spare the Israelites. 

Was David the best king? Probably not. He messed up quite a bit. However, David always gave all the glory to God. He knew that none of his kingship would have been possible had the hand of God not been involved. Because David wasn't born into royalty! He was placed into kingship, he was chosen by God to rule His chosen people, from the time David was a boy. 

Onto 1 Kings: 

One of David's sons, Adonijah, sets himself up to be king as David is lying in his deathbed (but is still alive). About half of David's inner circle join Adonijah, but the other half do not. David had already promised that Solomon, his second son by Bathsheba (who lived) would be king over Israel. When this is brought to David's attention, David makes Solomon King. 

David takes the time to explain to Solomon how important it is to follow in the Lord's ways, to be a fair and honest ruler, not only over Israel, but also when dealing with other nations, then David dies. 

After Solomon has established his throne, and he vowed to spare Adonijah as long as he was not evil, Adonijah asked Solomon for permission to marry a virgin girl who took care of David while he was on his deathbed. By asking this, it intrudes on Solomon's throne (somehow, I'm not too sure how ancient royalty works), and Solomon tells Adonijah that what he's asked is evil, and so he has Adonijah killed. 

Solomon went to the Lord, and asked for wisdom, for a discerning heart to make fair rulings. The Lord was so pleased that Solomon asked for this, rather than wealth, power, or a long life, He granted Solomon such a wise and discerning heart that there has never, and would never, be anyone like him again.

David's discernment is put to the test fairly quick, two women, who had each had a baby, came to Solomon. One woman slept on her baby and accidentally killed it, so she swapped her baby out with the other woman's, who was alive. Saul said that if neither of them would admit to lying, the baby would be cut in half, and then each of them could have a part. (He did this knowing that the true mother would give up her half of the baby to spare it). The woman who gave up her half of the baby so it would live was the true mother, and took her baby home. 

Solomon then began Israel's mission of building a temple for the Lord, and he asked for help from a neighboring nation, who was skilled at building. He offered to pay them whatever wages  they asked. Because he did this, Solomon and Hiram (the King of the other nation) had built a good relationship. 

It is only AFTER the Temple to the Lord is built that Solomon finally begins to build his own home (this is about a decade after the start of his reign). Why is this important? Because to Solomon, GOD CAME FIRST. 

How often is it that we ask for the ability to think clearly, and to use wisdom to make decisions, rather than relief from our suffering, or for things we want? God rewarded Solomon, because he put what was best for God before what might have been best for himself. As a result, God not only blessed Solomon with a wise and discerning heart, but He also blessed him with both riches, honor, and a long life--so long as Solomon continued to walk in the ways of the Lord. (1 Kings 3:9-14).

What are your thoughts on today's reading? I'd love to hear about them!

Tomorrow's reading will be 1 Kings 7:38-1 Kings 16:20

Have a wonderful day!

Jill Jafarace

Director of Student Ministries

New Leaf UMC