People of the World where are you going? Turn back to God! Back to your faithful principles!
SOLOMON’S PRAYER FOR WISDOM
Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom.Your servant is among Your people whom You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?”
PRESUMING AND PERISHING THEREFORE
Presuming And Perishing Therefore. So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck down Shimei, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.
A FOOLISH AND FATAL PETITION
A Foolish And Fatal Petition. So now I am making one request of you; do not refuse me.” And she said to him, “Speak.” He said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you; ask that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”
DAVID’S INSTRUCTIONS TO SOLOMON
David’s Instructions to Solomon. When David’s time to die approached, he gave instructions to Solomon his son, saying, “I am going the way of all the earth [as dust to dust]. Be strong and prove yourself a man.
JUSTICE AND BROTHERHOOD THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE STATE
Justice And Brotherhood The Foundations Of The State. Solomon said, “If he [proves he] is a worthy man, not even one of his hairs shall fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.
ANOINTING THE CHOSEN ONE SOLOMON ANOINTED KING
Anointing The Chosen One Solomon Anointed King. Zadok the priest took a horn of [olive] oil from the [sacred] tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”
NATHAN AND BATHSHEBA BEFORE DAVID
Nathan and Bathsheba Before David. While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
ADONIJAH SETS HIMSELF UP AS KING
Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King. Then Adonijah the son of [David’s wife] Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I [the eldest living son] will be king.” So [following Absalom’s example] he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
THE BIBLE BOOK OF 1 KINGS
National Development under the Monarchy
JUDGMENT STAYED BY SACRIFICE
Judgment Stayed By Sacrifice. When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he spoke to the LORD and said, “Behold, I [alone] am the one who has sinned and done wrong; but these sheep (people of Israel), what have they done [to deserve this]? Please let Your hand be [only] against me and my father’s house (family).”