Burunche’s Blog

1 Kings 4:20 – 34 “The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

Solomon’s provisions for a single day were thirty cors of fine flour, (30 cors is approximately 187 bushels or 6,600 liters (probably about 5.5 tons or 5 metric tons of flour).  sixty cors of meal, 60 cors is approximately 375 bushels or 13,200 liters (probably about 11 tons or 10 metric tons of meal). ten fat oxen, twenty range oxen, and a hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened poultry. For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates —over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides. Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.

Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. Each month the governors in turn provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. Each one also brought to the required place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and other horses.

 And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.

Solomon composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing in the wall, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

So, men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.”

Now we know just why Solomon had to have all that administrative staff. The challenges of providing logistics for this kingdom are staggering. Obviously, Solomon has a huge number of people living at the palace, as well as maintaining the army and all those horses and chariots. Some sources believe that Solomon may have controlled at least 60,000 square miles of territory. Part of that land might have included nations who were semi – autonomous but who still paid tribute to Solomon, leaving 34,000 square miles directly under Solomon’s control. At any rate, administering such a kingdom called for a great deal of organization.

One of the most comforting phrases in the Bible is the description of Israel in the days of Solomon. “Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.” Recently, we celebrated the anniversary of the landings on Normandy Beach known as D Day. If you are familiar with the music of that era, you realize that the situation described by this verse was the dream of most of those fighting on both sides. All that most people want is to have peace and to dwell securely in their own homes, enjoying the fruits of their labors. The mention of vines and fig trees would imply that the Israelites were enjoying small gardens with grapes and figs, not to mention other fruits as well. Today Israel produces wonderful fruit of all kinds.    

One worrisome thing is the large number of horses and chariots Solomon possessed. Later on, we learn that Solomon was also sending to Egypt for horses and trading in horses throughout the Middle East. In light of the instructions to the kings of Israel in Deuteronomy 17, was this expansion of the cavalry something God approved of or merely something that Solomon did on his own? Who knows? At any rate, Solomon became extremely rich.

God also kept his promise to Solomon concerning wisdom. In an era in which wise men were prized, Solomon stood out above all the rest. “He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.”  Although none of these men’s names mean anything to us today, they were famous at that time for their sagacity, and Solomon exceeded them all.

APPLICATION: God has always kept his promises, including his promises to Solomon. But should we be asking for the same things that Solomon did? Proverbs 29:7 – 9 says, “Two things I ask of You— do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion. Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.”

Very few of us can actually handle wealth in a holy fashion. The temptation to indulge ourselves is too great for most of us. As we will learn later, Solomon was not immune to these temptations either.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to appreciate the blessings You have already given us and to trust You for Your provision for our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen. 

1 Kings 4:1 – 19 “So King Solomon ruled over Israel, and these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; Bnaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king; Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.

Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan; Ben-hesed in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him); Ben-abinadab in Naphath-dor (Taphath, a daughter of Solomon, was his wife); Baana son of Ahilud in Taanach, in Megiddo, and in all of Beth-shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and on past Jokmeam; Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead (the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead belonged to him, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan with its sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); Ahinadab son of Iddo in Mahanaim; Ahimaaz in Naphtali (he had married Basemath, a daughter of Solomon); Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth; Jehoshaphat son of Paruah in Issachar; Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin; Geber son of Uri in the land of Gilead, including the territories of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. There was also one governor in the land of Judah.“

Looking at these names, you might think, “Oh dear! Another list of incomprehensible names!” But look at what these people were doing. Secretaries, recorders, high priests, army commanders, heads of the governors, governors, an advisor to the king and the man in charge of forced labor. Each one of these men had massive responsibilities that increased as Solomon’s kingdom grew. Then there were the twelve governors responsible for supplying the palace, no mean feat in itself. Centuries later, we know about these men because God made sure that their names were preserved. These men performed excellently and God has recognized that fact.

Later on, we will read the descriptions of the responsibilities of these men, and those responsibilities were enormous. Before Solomon’s reign was over, his kingdom was one of the richest in the entire Middle East, and these were the men who made things possible. Without the efforts of these men, none of God’s promises would have come true for Solomon.

APPLICATION: So many times, we may feel that we are merely cogs in a machine. We get so caught up in the demands of our job that we fail to remember the big picture. There is a story about two stone masons who were working on small carvings in one of the medieval cathedrals. A passer – by asked the first mason, “What are you doing?” “I’m carving one small item that will be on the roof of this building. Once my carving is in place, nobody will ever see it,” the man grumbled. Then the passer – by asked the second man the same question. “I am helping build a place of worship to the glory of God,” the second mason answered. “But your carving will be in an obscure place,” the passer – by observed. “Yes, but God will see it!” answered the mason.

When we see these lists of names in the Bible, we should be encouraged. These men have done outstanding work, and God continues to honor them long after their work is over. God sees our efforts and knows our struggles. God knows the temptation to slack off and to do as little as possible when nobody is looking. God knows the times we have come to work when we were sick or when our family was in turmoil. And God knows the times we have put forth extra effort, even though it has cost us a great deal.

Take heart! Just as God has preserved the names and reputations of these men, God will also remember you. Your struggles have not been in vain and someday God will reward you.

Isaiah 43:2 – 3 tells us, ““Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.”

Comfort yourself with the thought that God sees all your trials and all your hard work! You are precious to God, and He is with you, both now and forever!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all those who read this to be encouraged and to trust that You are fully aware of their struggles and their needs. Help them to rely on You for their strength and inspiration. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

2 Kings 3:16 – 28 “At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth while she was in the house. On the third day after I gave birth, this woman also had a baby. We were alone, with no one in the house but the two of us. During the night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on him. So, she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She laid him in her bosom and put her dead son at my bosom. The next morning, when I got up to nurse my son, I discovered he was dead. But when I examined him, I realized that he was not the son I had borne.”

 “No,” said the other woman, “the living one is my son and the dead one is your son.”

But the first woman insisted, “No, the dead one is yours and the living one is mine.” So, they argued before the king.

Then the king replied, “This woman says, ‘My son is alive and yours is dead,’ but that woman says, ‘No, your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

The king continued, “Bring me a sword.” So, they brought him a sword, and the king declared, “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!”

But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!”  Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. By no means should you kill him; she is his mother.”

When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”

There is a phrase “a Solomon come to judgement,” and this story is the origin of that phrase. Until now, Solomon hasn’t done anything that a pagan king would not have done, apart from sacrificing to the Lord. But pagan kings will also sacrifice to their gods. In the handling of this incident, Solomon begins to demonstrate God’s gift of divine wisdom. Two prostitutes give birth 3 days apart, but one of them rolls over on her child at night as they sleep on a mat together. Realizing that she has smothered her child, this woman swiftly exchanges her dead baby for her colleague’s live one and lies down again. The other prostitute wakes and realizes that there is a dead baby lying next to her and that this baby is not hers. The two women come to Solomon, and Solomon settles the matter in a dramatic fashion by threatening to cut the baby in half. The mother of the dead baby agrees to this division; why should she care? But the actual mother of the child longs for the life of the child and is willing to give it up rather than see the child put to death.    

APPLICATION: This story seems so simple but it is really profound. God has given Solomon His wisdom. Without the wisdom of God, Solomon might have descended into a morass of arguments between the two women, culminating in a hair – pulling match right there in the throne room!

Which of us does not need divine wisdom? We are parents and workers, students and teachers. We may be supervisors or we may be in the ranks of those who are supervised. No matter our situation, we need the perfect wisdom that only God can give.

James 3:117 tells us, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” The name “Solomon” means “man of peace.” God gave Solomon wisdom so that he could truly be a man of peace. Today, let us ask God to give us His wisdom, so that we too will be able to become people of peace.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help each of us to ask You for Your wisdom so that Your peace will pervade our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 3:1 – 15 “Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.
The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet been built. And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there.
One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day. And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.
Therefore, give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. So, God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you.
Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal. So, if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”
Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. So, he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he held a feast for all his servants.

Solomon is beginning his reign and trying to put things on a firm foundation. The first wife Solomon chooses is Pharaoh’s daughter. Many commentators believe that while this woman is not an Israelite, she likely becomes a proselyte, believing in the God of Israel. This marriage evidently takes place at a time when Egypt is not as strong as it was formerly, and Pharaoh is anxious to ally himself with a strong nation that controls several of the major trade routes. Solomon brings his new wife to Jerusalem.
At this point, Gibeon is still the primary site for sacrifices to the God of Israel. Solomon personally offers 1,000 burnt offerings on the altar at Gibeon. It is while Solomon is at Gibeon that God speaks to him one night.
God makes Solomon an incredible offer. “Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon makes a wonderful reply. “Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day. And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.
Therefore, give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. So, God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you.
Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal. So, if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”

APPLICATION: Solomon makes a very hopeful beginning, and God honors that. There is one small comment that niggles at our consciousness. “And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” Was Solomon always sacrificing to the God of Israel, or was he also burning incense and sacrificing to other gods, even at this point? We don’t know. We do know that Solomon asks only for wisdom to rule properly, and this pleases God immensely. God makes fantastic promises to Solomon, assuring him of wisdom, riches, honor, and long life if he will walk in God’s ways and keep His statutes.

God keeps His promises, and here at the dawning of Solomon’s reign, everything is full of hope. Solomon has eliminated those who might have betrayed him and is making a great start with God. So far, Solomon only has taken one wife and is doing well.

What would we ask for if God made the same offer to us that He made to Solomon? Would we be as humble as Solomon, or would we ask for something baser and less worthy? We fail to realize that we can ask God for things. We have the same opportunity to ask God for wisdom that Solomon did. What are we doing with our divine opportunities? Are we asking for things that will glorify God or are we asking for something less?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to thoroughly love You and worthily magnify Your Holy Name. Thank You for the privilege of prayer. Help us to pray for those things that will glorify You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 1:28 – 46 “When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.

It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.”

So, Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!”

And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’”

But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.”

So, Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.”

And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed. The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he killed with the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”

So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness. And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

“The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.” So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

When it was reported to Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, ‘On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for sure that you will die’? And you told me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will comply.’ So why have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the command that I gave you?”

The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore, the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head. But King Solomon will be blessed and David’s throne will remain secure before the LORD forever.”

Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus, the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.”

As King David was dying, he charged Solomon to eliminate Joab for having murdered two military commanders more righteous than he in his bid to maintain power. Joab supported Adonijah in his abortive bid to seize the throne; who knows what Joab might decide to do in the future? There are still many in the army who are loyal to Joab. When Joab seeks sanctuary in the temple, he assumes that he will be safe; however, Solomon sends Benaiah to kill Joab anyway. Remember that sanctuary can only be granted if someone who has shed blood has done so accidentally. There was nothing accidental about Joab’s murders of Abner and Amasa.  

Joab’s treachery of three men proved his undoing. Although initially, Joab was loyal to David, Joab’s loyalty was tested during the incident with Bathsheba when David ordered Joab to send Uriah to the hottest part of the battle. Joab betrayed three men: Abner, Amasa, and David. To remain commander of the military, Joab assassinated both Abner and Amasa. Joab supported Adonijah’s bid for the throne, ignoring the fact that David intended to make Solomon king. By murdering Abner and Amasa in peacetime, Joab brought blood – guilt on David. Not once did Joab ever display any signs of remorse over his actions; meanwhile, David repented of his sins with Bathsheba and Uriah.

Solomon handles Shimei very wisely, ordering him to build a house, to remain in Jerusalem, and not to cross the Kidron Valley. Were Shimei to cross the Kidron Valley east of Jerusalem and pass over the Mount of Olives, he would soon reach a major north – south route that would connect with the road to Gath. But when some of Shimei’s slaves escape to Gath, Shimei takes off after them, forgetting Solomon’s warning. Why can’t Shimei send someone else to collect the slaves? Perhaps Shimei feels that Solomon is not nearly as strong as his father David or perhaps Shimei thinks he will rush down to Gath, about 30 km. from Jerusalem, and return before Solomon hears about it. But Solomon learns about Shimei’s trip, and this is the excuse he needs to put Shimei to death.

APPLICATION: This part of Solomon’s story makes grim reading, but Solomon is a political realist. Now that the proven conspirators are out of the picture, Solomon can proceed to establish his kingdom. Abiathar, Joab, Adonijah, and Shimei all had one thing in common: they were double – minded. James 1:8 tells us that” a double – minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

While it is important to have colleagues who are intelligent and skillful, such colleagues are worthless if you cannot trust them. Trust is something that is easily destroyed and difficult to rebuild. If you have workers who are eager to learn, you can do a great deal with training. Before we had very many trained nurses at our mission hospital, we used ward assistants who were trained on the job. Those people were compassionate about their care and diligent, and our patients got excellent care. Many of those people have gone on to become nurses or even specialists such as physician assistants and nurse anesthetists, and they are still doing well.  

There are men in the kingdom whom Solomon can trust: Zadok, the high priest, and Benaiah, who now is military commander. As time goes on, Solomon will assemble others. But the One in whom Solomon will need to trust the most is the God who has chosen him to become king.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please guide all leaders as they handle those under them. Help leaders to make wise decisions according to Your Word. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 2:1 – “As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn, and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around my waist and the sandals on my feet. So, act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never kill you with the sword.’ Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

So, Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.

Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, who asked, “Do you come in peace?”

“Yes, in peace,” he replied. Then he said, “I have something to tell you.”

“Say it,” she answered.

“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD. So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me.”

“State your request,” she told him. Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

“Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”

So, Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.

“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.”

“Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

So, Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”

King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah.”

Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life. And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!”

So, King Solomon sent the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck down Adonijah, and he died.

Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.” So, Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli. (Abiathar was the final descendant of Eli to serve as high priest. None of his sons succeeded him. This fulfilled God’s prophecy against Eli.)  

David is dying, giving Solomon his last advice and commissioning Solomon to settle old scores for David. In Proverbs 4:4, Solomon mentions David having taught him God’s commandments. Perhaps David focused only on Solomon because he planned to make Solomon king after him; however, this means that David failed to teach his other sons in the same fashion.

David’s advice to Solomon is excellent: “And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn, and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me.” David also asks Solomon to treat the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite as his own relatives for the kindness their father showed to David when he fled from Absalom to Mahanaim.

If David were to stop here, he would have done admirably; however, David has a few scores to settle, and now he wants Solomon to handle them for him. Joab has been David’s military commander for years; however, Joab has also murdered two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner and Amasa, so that he would remain in power. Since Joab was under David’s authority, it is as if David himself has murdered these men. “He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around my waist and the sandals on my feet.” David does not mention that Joab has supported Adonijah; however, Solomon fully realizes Joab’s potential as an enemy. David tells Solomon that it’s time to eliminate Joab.

Shimei – this relative of King Saul cursed David when David was fleeing from Absalom; however, once the tide of war had turned, Shimei rushed to the Jordan with 1,000 men to help David and his followers return to Jerusalem. Shimei prostrated himself before David, and David promised that he, David, would never kill Shimei. David has kept that promise, but has no compunction about ordering Solomon to have Shimei killed. Shimei has been a turncoat once; there is nothing to prevent him from supporting Adonijah in the future.

What about Adonijah? All this time, Adonijah has been cooling his heels at home; however, this guy has incredible nerve! Somehow, Adonijah is still clinging to the idea that the kingship was his and that all Israel expected him to reign, even though he acknowledges that the kingship has come to Solomon from the Lord.  Now Adonijah gets Bathsheba to ask Solomon to give Adonijah Abishag, David’s former nurse, as his wife. Solomon swiftly recognizes this as another ploy to seize power. Solomon replies to his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah.” Adonijah’s arrogance costs him his life; Solomon has him killed that very day.

Abiathar the priest has supported Adonijah, even though it was David who saved his life and who sheltered him. Now Solomon banishes Abiathar from the priesthood, ordering him to go home to his farm at Anathoth. Solomon does not have Abiathar killed out of respect because Abiathar carried the ark before King David, and Solomon honors that service. But by banishing Abiathar, Solomon has now eliminated another potential threat to his kingship. (Side note: generations later, the prophet Jeremiah comes from Anathoth.)

APPLICATION: Personally, I have always had a few problems with David’s orders to Solomon. Is David correct in advising Solomon to eliminate these people? David promised Shimei that he would not kill him. By ordering Solomon to have Shimei killed, David has fulfilled the letter of his promise but has left Shimei thinking that he is safe when he is not. On the other hand, Shimei is a dangerous rabble rouser who might pose a threat to Solomon. While Shimei has sworn allegiance to David, he might yet attempt to undermine Solomon.    

It’s hard to feel sympathy for Adonijah. There’s a word in Yiddish, “chutzpah,” meaning extreme audacity. It is said that a man with chutzpah would shoot his parents and then try to throw himself on the mercy of the court because he was an orphan. Adonijah has plenty of chutzpah but very little wisdom! Adonijah is still a very attractive man and can marry any number of lovely well – born maidens. But no, Adonijah has to request David’s former nurse and bed warmer as a wife, citing his royal prerogative. As if that weren’t enough, Adonijah tries to use Bathsheba to make his request for him.

 Somehow, Adonijah has overlooked the fact that it was Bathsheba who helped arrange for Solomon’s emergency coronation while Adonijah and his co – conspirators were feasting a few hundred meters away. Bathsheba is a savvy lady; she agrees to put Adonijah’s request before Solomon, knowing full well what Solomon’s reaction will be. All that we have recorded are Bathsheba’s words; however, what we cannot know is Bathsheba’s facial expressions as she is making this request. For all we know, Bathsheba might be shaking her head “no” all the time she is speaking! Solomon quickly recognizes Adonijah’s request as a threat and Adonijah pays for his chutzpah with his life.

What can we learn from the story of Solomon as he consolidates his power? There are two sides to each of these stories. Once Solomon has been anointed as king over all Israel, each of the major conspirators has a window of opportunity during which he can potentially come to Solomon to beg forgiveness and to swear allegiance. Shimei, Joab, Adonijah, and Abiathar all are aware that God has anointed Solomon as king; yet, not a single one of them comes to swear allegiance to Solomon. This causes us to wonder if these men are really accepting Solomon as king, or are they merely waiting for another opportunity to stage an uprising? The silence is deafening, and Solomon rightly assumes that these men remain his enemies.

It is tough to be a leader when those below you are continuing to hatch plots to overthrow you. Countering those plots sucks up time, energy, and resources that would be better applied elsewhere. While Solomon’s methods are extreme, those in leadership must assess their subordinates wisely. It is far better to recommend an unhappy subordinate for a position elsewhere than to keep that person around so that he or she can foment rebellion. May God help all in leadership positions to handle those working under them wisely!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all those in leadership positions to make wise decisions when faced with subordinates who are trying to undermine them. You are a God of peace and you bless peace makers. Let leaders seek Your peace in all situations, particularly in managerial ones. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 1:28 – 53 “Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So, she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

Bathsheba bowed face down in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So, they came before the king.

“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”

Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”

All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound. (The Gihon Spring is only 800 meters, or a few minutes’ walk from Ein Rogel.)

 Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab. As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”

“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule. Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.

Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’

And the king has bowed in worship on his bed, saying, ‘May the LORD God of Israel be praised! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”

At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered. But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’” And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”

So, King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”

Just as Adonijah is beginning to think that this coup is going to work, everything falls apart. David might be in failing health, but there’s nothing wrong with his brain. When Bathsheba and Nathan inform David of what Adonijah is attempting, David immediately issues the orders necessary to elevate Solomon to the throne. Zadok the high priest and Benaiah, the head of the mighty men, set Solomon on the king’s mule and go to the Gihon spring, accompanied by the Cherethites and Pelethites who have formed David’s body guard for years. Using the anointing oil from the temple, Zadok anoints Solomon and blows the shofar, the ram’s horn. All the people who have accompanied Solomon begin shouting and playing instruments. There is so much noise that the earth shakes. Then Solomon returns to the palace and sits on David’s throne. King David himself hails Solomon as his successor, saying,” May the LORD God of Israel be praised! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”

Fearing the wrath of Solomon, Adonijah rushes to the temple and grasps the horns of the altar, seeking refuge from Solomon. After all, if Adonijah’s takeover had succeeded, Adonijah would have gleefully murdered Solomon without a qualm. Solomon makes an interesting pronouncement concerning Adonijah, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.” Solomon knows Adonijah is not a man of good character, and when ordered to go home and stay there, Adonijah will find it difficult to stay home.

APPLICATION: The chorus from the country western song “The Gambler” says, “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.” For every ruler or every head of an organization, the time comes when he or she must hand over authority. David has delayed in acknowledging Solomon as his successor. Now Adonijah’s attempted takeover has given David the necessary impetus to anoint Solomon as king and fulfill his promise to Bathsheba. Blessedly, there are still righteous men surrounding David in the persons of Nathan the prophet, Zadok the high priest and Benaiah, as well as David’s body guard. Once David has set things in motion, these men move swiftly and decisively. The noise of Solomon’s celebration drowns out Adonijah’s little party.

If David anointed Solomon earlier, would the mess with Adonijah have been averted? Tough to call. Even though David knows that his health is failing, it is tough to give over power to someone else. Adonijah’s attempt to seize power provides the strong nudge that David needs to let go and allow Solomon to become king. David is really not losing anything; his health no longer allows him to be the strong leader that Israel needs. And nobody is going to deny David the honor he richly deserves. There has been, is, and always will be only one King David.

May God help those of us who are leaders to know when it’s time to hand over. And may God supply capable and diligent successors so that we may hand over without regrets.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help each of us to know when it is time to relinquish control. Please give us competent people to whom we can hand over leadership. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings:1 – 27 “Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. So, his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”

Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. The girl was unsurpassed in beauty, and she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him. (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, (literally, “the serpent’s stone) which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king. But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it? Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

So, Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it. And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon. And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”

And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. So, the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went before the king and bowed facedown to him.

“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’? For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ But me your servant he did not invite, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”

It’s difficult to keep track of David’s sons; however, if Absalom was born just after Amnon, then Adonijah is son #3. Adonijah is a spoiled brat; not once has David ever disciplined him for any reason. Although David has been a great king and military leader, he has failed as a father. Consider the facts: Amnon raped his half – sister, Tamar. Absalom assassinated Amnon and then fomented rebellion. Now both Amnon and Absalom are dead; in the natural scheme of things, Adonijah as the next son would be in line for the throne, and Adonijah is ready to seize this opportunity.

David is now in his seventies and his heart is failing, making it impossible for him to maintain his body temperature. The family employs Abishag, a lovely young maiden, to nurse David and to lie in the bed next to him to keep him warm. This relationship is completely asexual; Abishag is acting as a human heating pad. Adonijah makes a major mistake by assuming that his father is senile as well as in poor health and begins to pave the way for his usurpation of the throne.

 Adonijah is following exactly in the steps of Absalom and has even enticed Joab the military commander, and Abiathar the priest to join him. Now, Joab has good reasons to be fed up with David. Not only has David put Joab in very difficult positions many times, but at one point, David attempted to oust Joab as head of the armies and put Amasa, a traitor, in Joab’s place. Joab has an eye to the main chance, and he figures that David may soon die. Even if Joab knows about David’s promise to Bathsheba, he may resent Bathsheba for having sex with David in the first place and for any part she has played in the death of her husband Uriah. Joab also may be a staunch traditionalist who believes in following the order of succession of sons.

The puzzler here is Abiathar. When Saul massacred the priests at Nob, Abiathar was the only one who escaped, and he immediately fled to David at the Cave of Adullam and became David’s high priest and counselor. But according to some sources, (The Jewish Encyclopedia) eventually the Holy Spirit left Abiathar, making it impossible for him to consult the Urim and Thummim. David appointed Zadok high priest in the place of Abiathar. So now David has his military commander and his former high priest both conspiring with his spoiled third son.

The site of Adonijah’s sacrifices is at En – Rogel, at the junction of the Hinnom and Kidron valleys, 500 meters south of the Old City of Jerusalem. Adonijah doesn’t dare enter the city quite yet; however, he is within easy walking distance. As Adonijah and his co – conspirators are feasting, Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan swiftly go to David, reminding him of his promise to make Bathsheba’s son Solomon king.

APPLICATION: The book of Proverbs tells us that “If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him; for if you love him, you will be prompt to punish him.” (The Living Bible) Unfortunately, David has made the same mistake as so many other busy important fathers; he has left the rearing of his sons to their mothers and has withheld correction. Adonijah may have grown up viewing David as some semi – mythical being who appears periodically to issue edicts and father more children and who then withdraws back into the throne room.

As a young man, Adonijah has absorbed all the palace gossip and frankly believes that David is a straw man who can easily be deposed. More than that, Adonijah has found willing co – conspirators in two disgruntled leaders, Joab and Abiathar. Apart from Solomon, Adonijah’s other brothers are also willing to enter into the conspiracy. Who knows what crumbs of power and wealth might be lying there for the taking when Adonijah makes his move? So Adonijah and his band of traitors weave their plans, unaware that Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan are aware of everything. Pure – hearted Zadok and Benaiah and the other mighty men have also been left out, a fatal mistake by Adonijah.

In the movie “The Lion King,” the little lion sings a song about “Oh, I just can’t wait to be king!” The song amply illustrates the fact that this youngster has no understanding whatsoever of what it means to be a compassionate and effective ruler. Were this young lion to gain power now, it would be a disaster. Adonijah is in a similar position.

Here is what C.S. Lewis said about kingship in The Chronicles of Narnia. “For this is what it means to be a king: to be first in every desperate attack and last in every desperate retreat, and when there’s hunger in the land (as must be now and then in bad years) to wear finer clothes and laugh louder over a scantier meal than any man in your land.” –C.S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy in The Chronicles of Narnia (New York: HarperCollins, 1954/1994), 309-310.)

King David is prepared to fulfill those conditions of royalty while Adonijah is not. David might be old, but he is not senile, and his heart is pure. David has promised Bathsheba to make Solomon king. Now that is about to happen. Adonijah is headed for disaster because he has never learned self – discipline or self – sacrifice. All Adonijah knows is self – interest.  

What can we learn from this sad story? Children need standards and when we refuse to teach them godly ones, the world will teach them something else. We can succeed in every other sphere of life, but if we fail to teach and discipline our children, we are unleashing untold evil on the world.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all those of us who are parents in any fashion to teach our children, to guide our children, to discipline them, and to set good examples so that if they stray, they will have a standard to which to return. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 24:1 – 25 “Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

So, the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.” But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So, Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to count the troops of Israel.

They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer, south of the town in the middle of the valley, and proceeded toward Gad and Jazer. Then they went to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi and continued on to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon. They went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to the Negev of Judah, to Beersheba.

At the end of nine months and twenty days, having gone through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem. And Joab reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah there were 500,000.

After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

When David got up in the morning, a revelation from the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: “Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’”

So, Gad went and said to David, “Shall you endure three years of famine in your land, or three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”

David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

So, the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and of the people from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men died. But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely, I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So, David went up at the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded.

When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” Araunah said.

“To buy your threshing floor,” David replied, “that I may build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”

Araunah said to David, “My lord the king may take whatever seems good and offer it up. Here are the oxen for a burnt offering and the threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all these to the king.” He also said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.”

“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

So, David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. (1.26 lbs. or 569.8 gm. Of silver) And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague upon Israel was halted.”

When the story opens, God is not happy with Israel. Perhaps the Israelites have wandered off into idol worship and have forgotten the God Who has helped them all these years. At any rate, God moves David to take a census. The Israelites have taken censuses at other times, and God has never said anything about it, so why is this census so wrong?

Rick Phillips from Tenth Presbyterian Church gives us an excellent answer. (https://www.tenth.org/resource-library/articles/why-was-davids-census-a-great-sin/)

“What makes this more interesting is that the chapter begins by saying that the LORD incited David to do this, apparently by giving Satan permission to tempt him. The parallel account in 1 Chronicles 21 says, “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.” The record in Chronicles places this right after a great victory over the Philistines, so the sin was probably related to a problem with pride and self-reliance. A census was preliminary to a draft of soldiers and a levying of taxes. It seems, therefore, that David’s intent was to increase the royal power in a way that contrasted with humble reliance on God. As Deuteronomy chapter 17 so strongly insists, the human kingship of Israel was to be noticeably dependent on God’s divine kingship. For Israel’s king to build up the same kind of power common to pagan kings was tantamount to repudiating God’s over-kingship. This seems to have been the nature of David’s sin so that God was angered and acted to nip it in the bud.”

Just because David worshiped God did now mean that David could not make big mistakes. Deuteronomy 17 advises that a king of Israel should do 4 things: 1. But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ 2. He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. 3. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold. 4. When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.  It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.“

The only one of these commands that David followed was the one regarding acquiring lots of horses. David had many wives and at least ten concubines. David was a very wealthy man. And David never made a copy of the Law or studied it for himself.

God gave David three choices: Israel could suffer famine for three years, David could flee from his enemies for three months, or Israel could suffer three days of plague. David chose the plague, and seventy thousand men died. Just as the angel of death was approaching Jerusalem, God relented. David saw the angel at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. “When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely, I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”

God granted David’s request and ordered David to build an altar on the threshing floor. Araunah realized what was happening and offered the threshing floor and the oxen with their yokes for the sacrifice; however, David insisted on paying full price. David’s words echo down the centuries. “I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David paid full price for the threshing floor and the oxen and their yokes and built the altar. God honored this sacrifice and the plague was stopped.

APPLICATION: Even though David was a man after God’s own heart, David was sorely tempted by his kingly power. What might things have been like, had David carried out God’s command and had he made a copy of the Law for himself and then studied it? Had David made a thorough study of the Law in the first place, he might never have called for that census and he might have handled many other issues far more wisely.  In many respects, David was a very good man and he did worship God; however, David was also driven by his passions, something that might not have happened had he been better versed in God’s Law.

There is nothing more important to one’s spiritual life than regular Bible study. The Bible is an amazing book, for the longer you study it, the more you learn from it, and the more it shapes your life and your personality. I began reading the Bible through in a year when I was nine years old; since then, I have read it through innumerable times. No matter how many times I have read a passage or even memorized it, I always find new insights and new meaning. When computers first became popular, there was a saying “GIGO.” This acronym stands for “garbage in, garbage out.” If you enter garbage data, you will get garbage results. Our minds work the same way.

“But,” you say, “don’t I need to be trained before I can understand the Bible?” No. Really, the Holy Spirit will gladly train you. The prayer you need for Bible study is from Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I might see wonderful things in your law.” If you ask God for guidance and help, He will give it.

David never really studied God’s law and his people and he suffered as a result. But we can learn from David’s mistake. Find a quiet place and ask God to show you where to begin. You will find God ready to meet you in His Word.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to realize that studying Your Word will rejuvenate us and will bring us hope. Thank You for so many versions that there is one that will speak to each of us. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.    

2 Samuel 23:8 – 39 “These are the names of David’s mighty men:

Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.

And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So, the LORD brought about a great victory.

At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

So, the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men. He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

Now these were members of the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Hele son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.”

Sometimes when reading the Bible, we are faced with long lists of names. There’s a temptation to just skip over an entire list; however, if you do this, you are missing superhero stories! People make jokes about Chuck Norris, an American actor and he – man, being able to do incredible stuff. But these men really are heroes, even though their deeds sound like the exaggerated tales people make up about Chuck Norris.

First of all, look at that painting. If those guys walked into a biker bar, all the tough guys would get up and leave quickly! These men are battle – hardened and ready to fight at any moment. When faced with overwhelming numbers of the enemy, these guys have just plowed through them!

Next, notice that thousands of years after these men lived, we still know their names, their fathers’ names, and their home towns. We know details for some of the most outstanding exploits these men have accomplished. Such careful records are no accident. God has arranged for these records. God knows the valor these men have exhibited, and God continues to honor them in His Word.

When David was thirsty and longed for water from the well at Bethlehem, the three mighty men broke through the Philistine guard to bring back water from that well. David was so touched that he refused to drink it, declaring that this water represented the life blood of those men. Instead, David poured the water out as an offering in much the same way that blood from an offering would be poured out. This story says as much about David and why men were willing to follow him as it does about the men themselves.

APPLICATION: On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied forces stormed the beaches at Normandy. Nearly 10,000 of those men died that day, with 2400 of them dying on Omaha Beach. The Allied troops disembarked from their ships under heavy German artillery fire. In some places, Allied soldiers had to climb steep cliffs to make it past the beaches. Allied paratroopers met with varying successes and failures, with some of them being captured. But D Day marked a major turning point in World War II; the exploits of those mighty men paved the way for victory over German forces and liberation for those in Nazi concentration camps. The French people who were liberated were so grateful that they erected monuments and established cemeteries for those who had freed them from Nazi oppression.

What can we learn from the exploits of David’s mighty men? The great lesson is that God knows our names and where we come from. God sees us, our struggles, our feeble efforts to do the right thing. Even if we feel we have failed, God still gives us credit for trying. Perhaps you are stuck in a losing situation, one from which you feel there is no way out. You have taken a stand for righteousness and you have been smacked down hard! Now your job may be in jeopardy, and you may even be getting threats from those around you. Take heart! God knows what you are going through!

The Bible only records this list of mighty men; however, God keeps His own lists. Someday, your heavenly Father may remind you of these times of struggle and of how He has brought you through. God knows the names of all those who were involved in D Day on all sides. God knows those who performed bravely and those who accomplished wonders. Take heart! You are known! You are appreciated! You are celebrated! You are loved!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Thank You for brave men and women in every generation. You know our names and our particulars just as You know theirs. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Help us to be willing to do exploits when You lead us to do so. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.