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SOLOMON’S THRONE ESTABLISHED

1 Kings 2:1-46

Key Verse 12

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

Introduction

One of the greatest joys a parent has is to see their children succeed. They buy bumper stickers that say, “Proud parent of an honor roll student.” We want to succeed, and we want to see our children succeed. This passage shows how David helped Solomon to be strong in the Lord. He first reminded him of God’s great and precious promises always. May the Lord help us to raise up many servants of God among our growing children so that they may shine Jesus’ light in this dark world. Above all God’s kingdom may be established through us and our spiritual descendants for God’s glory! Amen.

1. Read verses 1-12. What charge did David give Solomon? (1-4) Meditate on each of his charges. What advice did David give Solomon regarding certain people? (5-9) What brought about peace and stability to the nation? (10-12)

1-1, Read verses 1-12.

When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ 5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. 7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. 8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.” 10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

1-2, What charge did David give Solomon? (1-4)

1-3, Meditate on each of his charges.

“The Lord may keep his promise to me” indicates that David must have taken hold of God’s promise as God had spoken to him through the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 7.

“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”

David personally believed that although he had to die, God’s word will be fulfilled according to God’s promise.
He had a faith in the Lord that his son, Solomon will be the first king to fulfill the promise. So it is not from his own human will, but from God’s word and desire.
In the same way, when we hold to Jesus' promise, we will continue to encourage our children to be strong and be a source of blessing for God’s eternal kingdom.

So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

David knew that his son would face many challenges as a king. He could have encouraged him to accumulate wealth, horses or military power to defend his country against the enemies. But he did not mention it, rather he wanted him to be strong and act like a man in a biblical way like Deuteronomy 7:14-20.

14 “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. 18 “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by[a] the Levitical priests. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

He would not be strong unless he observed and walked in obedience to the Lord and His words. Without obedient fellowship, he would be basically weak.
This is an amazing promise in that no matter what superpower nations(Assyria, Egypt, Babylon) are coming down to rule Israel, as long as David’s sons were obedient and followed God with all their hearts, God would establish their kingdom and He would take care of the rest. For example, when Hezekiah relied on God, God protected him from Assyrian invasion with His mighty hands.
Thank God who granted us the same promise based on Matthews 6:33. When we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, all these things will be added to us to serve Him.
“If your descendants watch how they live” teaches us to live a life of faith and let our children see how we live by faith. Then they will see the God of living and they will have the same desire to live by faith, not by sight!

1-4, What advice did David give Solomon regarding certain people? (5-9)

5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. 7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. 8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

Joab and Shimei behaved horribly during David’s lifetime, but David chose to spare their lives, but now that Solomon was king, judgment was now in his hands.
Joab had murdered in cold blood two men who threatened his place as commander of Israel’s armies. David never really dealt with Joab, but he wanted to make sure that Joab would have justice for his actions.
Similarly, Shimei cursed David as he was fleeing from Absalom. David spared his life at that time because there was already too much death in the kingdom.
But Shimei cursed the ruler of the people, and the law of God prohibited anyone from cursing the ruler of the people (Exodus 22:28). So David asked Solomon to use his wisdom to deal with Shimei.
“Show kindness to the sons of Barzillari” indicates that David wanted Solomon to do justice by those who helped David in a time of great need.

1-4, What brought about peace and stability to the nation? (10-12)

10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

These 3 verses show us that it is a powerful fulfillment of the promise made to David in 2 Sam 7:12-16. That promise was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, but it also had an initial, definite, and partial fulfillment in Solomon for that God’s firm and eternal plan of salvation.
Colossians 3:15 reads, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
When Jesus’ rule is established, we may have peace and stability in Him no matter what happens daily.

2. Read verses 13-27. Why was Adonijah put to death? (13-25) How did King Solomon deal with Abiathar the priest? Why? (26-27)

2-1, Read verses 13-27.

Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked him, “Do you come peacefully?” He answered, “Yes, peacefully.” 14 Then he added, “I have something to say to you.” “You may say it,” she replied. 15 “As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord. 16 Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me.” “You may make it,” she said. 17 So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishagthe Shunammite as my wife.” 18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied, “I will speak to the king for you.” 19 When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand. 20 “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.” 21 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.” 22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother—yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! 24 And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died. 26 To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lordbefore my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.” 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.

2-2, Why was Adonijah put to death? (13-25)

Abishag was David’s concubine and she was bound to him. That bound was broken by his death. Now Adonijah wants to take her as his wife. As the previous case of Absalom who took David’s concubines, he deceptively wants to claim David’s throne again.
We wonder the reason why he made such a foolish request. Perhaps he felt that Solomon was too young, too inexperienced, or too timid to do the right thing.
But soon he found out that Solomon was courageous and acted like a man with wisdom and decisive action at the proper time.
Solomon understood the situation perfectly. Although he showed mercy on him (1 King 1:52) before, now he was commanded to be killed because of his evil scheme.

2-3, How did King Solomon deal with Abiathar the priest? Why? (26-27)

26 To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lordbefore my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.” 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.

Solomon shows mercy and wisdom to Abiathar. Although he deserved death, he was allowed to live. But he let him know that he would be executed like Adonijah.
He was removed from the priesthood of the Lord. In this way God’s word spoken to Eli was fulfilled at God’s time of judgment. (1 Sam 2:27-36, 1 Sam 3:11-14)

3. Read verses 28-46. How did Solomon deal with Joab? (28-35) Why was Shimei eventually put to death? (36-46a) How was the kingdom established after these national problems were resolved? (46b) In light of this, what must we do to firmly establish our families, church, and nation?

3-1, Read verses 28-46.

When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. 29 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!” 30 So Benaiah entered the tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But he answered, “No, I will die here.” Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.” 31 Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. 32 The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better men and more upright than he. 33 May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.” 34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country. 35 The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest. 36 Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. 37 The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley,you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head.” 38 Shimei answered the king, “What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time. 39 But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran off to Achish son of Maakah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.” 40 At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath. 41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,42 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 to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die’? At that time you said to me, ‘What you say is good. I will obey.’ 43 Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. 45 But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the Lord forever.” 46 Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and he died. The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.

3-2, How did Solomon deal with Joab? (28-35)

Joab supported Adonijah. He murdered two men. He did not know where to hide or flee. He had seldomly approached the altar before. But now he sought to make a refuge of that which he had neglected in his life. But Solomon was strong and courageous and ordered that he must be killed.

3-3, Why was Shimei eventually put to death? (36-46a)

36 Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. 37 The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley,you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head.” 38 Shimei answered the king, “What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time. 39 But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran off to Achish son of Maakah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.” 40 At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath. 41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,42 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 to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die’? At that time you said to me, ‘What you say is good. I will obey.’ 43 Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. 45 But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the Lord forever.” 46 Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and he died.

Solomon extended mercy to Shimei, but Shimei abused it and took advantage of it. It seems to have mainly been a matter of neglect or forgetfulness, but it is criminal to neglect or forget a royal covenant.
Our attitude toward the word of God should be absolute. Instead of making excuses, we must respect the absolute authority of God’s truth.

3-4, How was the kingdom established after these national problems were resolved? (46b)

The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.

This chapter reveals that Solomon’s throne was secure at an early stage, not like the reign of David. This initial implementation of justice was very important for him to perform.
While bad men remained unpunished, the nation could not establish firm and be prosperous. It was an act of justice which God required him to do so in order to establish his throne firmly. Be strong and act like a man!

3-5, In light of this, what must we do to firmly establish our families, church, and nation?

There are a lot of places throughout this passage where God’s promise is fulfilled. Promise is important because it is a strong component of trust. How can you trust someone who doesn’t keep their promises?
How could the world function if people were all a bunch of liars who never kept their word? People who live with tongues of deceit and constantly lie are not very pleasant to be around. Sure they say all the right things, but those words don’t mean anything. They are hollow and not trustworthy, and people don’t listen to those types of people.
But praise God who keeps His promise no matter what. This is the one and only way we have a secure position like 2 Peter 3:17. “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.”
We want to grow as a man of God who can live by His promises. Help us to be strong and act like a man and a woman of faith!

One word: Be a servant of faith and courage to fulfill God’s promises!