King David’s Last Days
Open Your Bible
1 Kings 1:1-53, 1 Kings 2:1-46, 2 Samuel 7:12-13
BY Melanie Rainer
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.
68 thoughts on "King David’s Last Days"
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Thank you everyone!!!
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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!
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♥️♥️♥️
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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.
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Hi!!!
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Hi Kristina! Welcome
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Hi! I’m new here too, looking forward to learning and growing in my relationship with the lord… with this great community! ❤️
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So glad our here!
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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)
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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!
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This is Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest. Jonathan, Saul’s son, was killed back in 1 Samuel 31 when Saul also died.
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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
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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!
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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!
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I’m glad you found and posted the answer, too. I couldn’t understand why he was killed for asking for her to marry.
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Same! Thanks for posting this!
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Omg thank you! That was my first note while reading along.
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Thank you for posting the answer! I was wondering that too!
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