By whatever stroke of chance or luck (or the-opposite-of-luck), I’ve never had to follow in anyone’s footsteps when starting a new job. I’ve always stepped into an unformed role and had the joy (and challenge) of shaping it to fit the opportunities before me.
But a few months ago, that changed. I took a job that someone had held previously, and the awkwardness of learning to walk in your own shoes on someone else’s tightrope has required more grace and patience than I ever could have expected. It’s like constantly looking in a mirror but the reflection isn’t you. I feel like I’m tipping over all the sacred cows, even as I try to tread lightly while I also prove myself. It’s a mess of idols and pride, and it’s hard.
David was the king. He was King David, a man after God’s own heart. He was King David, who brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. He was David, to whom God promised a descendant on his throne forever. The shepherd boy who became king, David was the standard against whom all other kings of Israel would be judged. Taking his place would have been daunting, but it would also lead to unprecedented power.
When David was on his deathbed, two men believed they held claim to his throne: Adonijah and Solomon. Both wanted to step into his shoes, lead his people, and claim his fame. Adonijah was David’s oldest surviving son, but David had promised Bathsheba that their son Solomon would be the next king (1 Kings 1:13). Chaos ensued, with back-room conversations and an attempted coup. But David, when told that “the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who will sit on the throne” (v.20), affirmed that Solomon was his choice.
Chapter 2 opens with David’s charge to Solomon. It is full of encouragement to “be strong and be a man” (v.2), and admonishes the soon-to-be king to walk in God’s “ways [and] keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees” (v.3). David then reminds his son of the covenant promise God made to him: “If your sons guard their way to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and all their soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel” (v.4).
Our privilege as those who hold the entire canon of the Bible is that we know how this story goes: Solomon didn’t always follow the Lord and His ways. His father David didn’t. Nor did the rest of Israel and Judah’s other kings.
But despite the failures of humankind, our God reigns. In Israel’s time of transition, God reigned. In every second before and every second after, God reigned, is reigning, and will reign forever. While our earthly leaders matter, our ultimate allegiance is to God’s Kingdom and to the perfect King of kings, Jesus. It means we can live lightly but intentionally, resting in the holy, sovereign kingship of the One who will make everything new as we advocate for His Kingdom to grow on earth here and now.
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69 thoughts on "King David’s Last Days"
I just got to this book and found this study I’m so excited to see where this goes ❣️
Leadership is so hard. Especially a transition. It’s nice to see the perspective of .. Humans can and will falter in it, so God should be your main focus through it all. Human leadership is expected to make mistakes, but God isn’t. So where do you put your trust?
Just got to this book today, I wanted to try a new way of reading and learning on this one, it’s pretty good so far!
I love how human the kings were. Reminds me of that saying, “God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.”
Such a timely study with everything going on in the US.
This was so good to read and drama filled. I googled a few times to understand Solomon and the hard decisions he had to make. It’s so interesting to know the same betrayals happen today in family, work, and relationships.
God keeps his promises even when we don’t.
I’m learning a lot from this story it’s my second time reading it and I wanted to get a new Perspective on it and that’s why I bought this devotional what God was showing me was that we have be Patient and willing to trust him because if he said something is going to be for filled he will do it
A quote that reminded me of the summary is “God is large and in charge.”
loved all of this
I love this platform it will help me study the word of God more I have been struggling with my devotion and I hope this platform will help draw me closer to him
Hello. I am new here. Finding my way back home to God.
Welcome to your greasiest Journey!
I love how the author of today’s devotional summarized the passage by reminding us that every earthly leader will fail, but God won’t. He is in charge and His will, will be done. He uses us, but ultimately he is in charge and will accomplish what he has chosen to accomplish. I’m so glad that God is in charge and not our earthly leaders.
Hi everyone! I am new on this platform but so excited to be here.
Also, I have a prayer request. I need a breakthrough to get a job. Its been quite a long wait for me and sometimes I am unable to pray. Am still trusting God though.
Bless Up
Praying for you now Elizabeth – I’m with you. Read this today and it helped me “Exert your faith to ask for big things, and watch in hope for God to work.”
I love it thank u
Praying for you Sarah! You will make it through!
Prayer request for strength and divine justice. I have to testify against the man that killed my 5 year old grandson on October 28th.
I pray for peace and strength as well as divine justice for this terrible event. I pray that this is a stepping stone for healing for you and your family as well as a opportunity to remember and mourn for your loss. I pray that God continues to heal and give you his strength in the upcoming weeks. I pray that God may also give you the right words to say during your testimony.
Also praying for healing for you through this process! Praying for God’s strength, peace, grace, and love to show through you as you have to do this really hard thing. Forgiving, even if you have, doesn’t mean there are not consequences.
Praying for you and your family!
Wow! Prayers for strength for you Lorena!
Hi everyone I’m new here
Welcome!
God’s will always pans out no matter what man decides to do. As God’s children we have to prayerfully make decisions, He will always order our steps
Hey people am new here.. Can someone guide me
One thing that came to mind while reading is ‘Man proposes, God disposes’. Adonijah went on with his own plans but God had HIS plan that will still be fulfilled. Adonijah self proclaimed himself king that was not in accordance of what God had planned and went on to celebrate about the city but somehow the celebration of Solomon still interrupted theirs at the sound of the horn. God’s plans > Man’s plans.
Yes I love this. Amen!
Amen!
Thank you for finding this answer
I love in times of my season of transition God rules over it all. When things seem uncertain I have Jesus who is my firm foundation. When others (or myself) make plans that will hurt instead of help Jesus doesn’t let it harm me. I need Him to be the King in my life. And I pray Jesus shows me how to live my life fully submitted to Him.
Does anyone else think there might be some foreshadowing of Jesus when David requests Solomon to rise his mule/donkey?
Also, I think it is quite interesting the differences in preparation to announce kingship between Adonijah and Solomon.
I felt that too!
Thank you everyone!!!
The only constant in our lives is God! He has made the plans, and we are trying to stay on course. Like these leaders of old, we falter, but our faltering doesn’t change God’s promise. His will be done!
♥️♥️♥️
Hello, ladies! I’m knew to the community and just wanted to reach out & say hi. (: Blessed to live in a time where we have these amazing studies at our fingertips! I’m looking forward to reading thru this series with all of you.
Hi!!!
Hi Kristina! Welcome
Hi! I’m new here too, looking forward to learning and growing in my relationship with the lord… with this great community! ❤️
So glad our here!
Jonathon,close friend of King David, died before David so this Jonathon would have been someone else by the same name. When we studied the OT men and women, we talked about how David honored Saul & Jonathon by welcoming their lame and crippled descendant to his table for his entire life, to honor, show mercy & kindness to their family. (Mephibosheth)
So true, Churchmouse! Nothing IS new under the sun. Everything goes on as before, but with modern weapons, cyber attacks, etc. I think many more people have minds bent on fairness and humanitarianism, but so many just as bent on evil. God is still on His throne and all will end well for His people!
This is Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest. Jonathan, Saul’s son, was killed back in 1 Samuel 31 when Saul also died.
So interesting and humbling. It’s Canadian Thanksgiving today and as I see the historical picture of how the throne was passed on , we are in the midst of our federal elections. Oh that God’s chosen will take the reigns of our country.
Bringing it closer to home, am I living and preparing my children to be Kingdom torch bearers? My children are young men and not living for the Lord. How then shall I live?
Here’s my question , why did Solomon have adonijah killed? David did request him killed and he only wanted a woman to marry? Just confused
I found the answer on my own! The woman he wanted to marry was a royal harem and marrying her was a sign of kingship so he was trying to use that to try and gain the throne again!
I’m so glad you posted this answer! Was racking my brain trying to understand why it was such a big deal at that time. Makes sense though based on what you said!
I’m glad you found and posted the answer, too. I couldn’t understand why he was killed for asking for her to marry.
Same! Thanks for posting this!
Omg thank you! That was my first note while reading along.
Thank you for posting the answer! I was wondering that too!
Sarah, praying for you!
Yes. Today, yesterday, tomorrow, OUR GOD REIGNS!
When I hear it and see the news (I rarely watch it because it’s horrible most of the time) I know one thing for sure, MY God reigns forever!
Yes! He is on the throne amidst the crisis of this world.♥️
Jill – this is from GotQuestions.com “In those days of royal harems, taking possession of a king’s concubines was a declaration of one’s right to the throne. This had been one of Absalom’s methods when he led a coup against David (2 Samuel 16:22). Since Abishag was considered part of David’s harem, her marriage to Adonijah would have strengthened the usurper’s claim to the throne.”
Hi everyone, prayer request. This week is going to be really busy for me…I have a lab report due tomorrow, a big presentation on Friday (which I still need to practice for), working a couple days during the week, volunteering over the weekend, and a test next Tuesday. Please pray for peace and strength, that I would do well in my assignments and be productive over this next week. After this week it should get better, it’s just going to be a little crazy and I’m definitely feeling stressed, even though it’s already Monday. Even as I was reading my Bible, I just kept thinking about all that I need to get done. I know I just need to relax and do the best that I can. Thank you all!
Praying for you Sarah!
Praying for you!
May God give you peace Sarah and wisdom to get it all done.
Worry not Sarah, you got this.
God is in control.
David is about to exit this world and the world he is leaving behind is in tumult. His own household is divided. The nation of Israel is in danger from competing factions within. Yet, and most importantly, God’s covenant promise stands firm and overrides all man’s plans.
How like our own world! There is indeed “nothing new under the sun.” Tumult. Division. Fighting factions. Then. And now. Yet, and most importantly, God reigns over all. His promises stand firm and His plans will succeed. What comfort and reassurance this provides. When I read today’s news reports, I overlay them with the Word of God and I do not fear. God, good and gracious,strong and mighty, faithful and true, reigns over all. Then. Now. Forever. Amen!
Amen and Amen! Thank you Churchmouse for your constant encouragement surrounding the truth of God’s Word. Your insight is a blessing to me!
Jill –
It’s likely a different Jonathan. It was a common name then as it is now.
The whole Abishag thing is outrageous because Absalom – the brother of Adonijah – asserted his rebellious claim on David’s throne by taking David’s concubines unto himself. Adonijah wants to declare or build a claim to Solomon’s throne by taking David’s widowed concubine as his wife.
This idea also has historical examples. Among the ancient Persians and Arabs the new king took the harem of the previous king.
Jimmy, thank you for that explanation of why asking for Abishag was such a terrible thing.
Kimmy
I had to look that up! I wrote WHAT? In my notes. What do you think Adonijah was thinking? Seems like a fool’s errand…
Question: in v 43, Jonathon comes on the scene. Why was he not with David? Were they not friends anymore?
I’m 1 King’s 2:22 why was Adonijah requesting Abishag as a wife worthy of death? What was the big deal?