1 Kings

1 Kings 1: The LORD gives Solomon the throne

Begin in prayer

Before we read how David's kingdom passes to his son Solomon, let us bow before the Lord together. Ask Him to open our ears to His word, and to show us that He gives the throne to the king He has chosen.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds.

Psalm 145:13

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You give the throne to the king You choose, and help us to trust You and Your Son, Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

King David is old and cannot keep warm, so his servants search the land for a young woman named Abishag. Adonijah, another son of David, makes himself king with chariots, horsemen and fifty men to run before him. Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba remind David of his oath that Solomon would reign after him. David swears again, and Solomon rides his father's mule to Gihon, where Zadok the priest anoints him king. When Adonijah's guests hear the trumpet, they scatter, and Adonijah runs to the altar and holds its horns in fear.

As you read 1 Kings 1, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD gives the throne to Solomon, the son David swore would reign.

Moses had told Israel to set over them the king the LORD would choose (Deuteronomy 17 verse 15). Adonijah did the opposite, and he made himself king with chariots, horsemen and fifty men to run before him (verses 5 and 6). He held a feast for his supporters, and he did not invite Solomon, Nathan or Benaiah (verses 9 and 10). David was old and weak, yet he remembered his oath. He had sworn by the LORD that Solomon would reign after him, and he swore it again that day (verses 17, 29 and 30). Zadok anointed Solomon at Gihon, and the people cried out for their new king (verses 38 to 40). David then blessed the LORD, who had given one to sit on his throne (verse 48). The throne was given, and no one could take it by force. Jesus is the King on David's throne whose kingdom has no end (Luke 1 verses 32 and 33).

How does 1 Kings 1 show us that the LORD gives the throne to Solomon, the son David swore would reign?

David swears that Solomon will reign.

Bathsheba reminded David that he had sworn by the LORD that Solomon would reign after him (verse 17). Nathan told the king that Adonijah had made himself king without David knowing it (verses 11 and 18). David swore again by the LORD, who had redeemed his soul out of all adversity (verses 29 and 30). He ordered that Solomon be anointed that same day (verses 33 to 35).

Adonijah runs from Solomon to the altar.

Adonijah's guests heard the trumpet and the noise of the city, and they all went their own way (verses 41 and 49). Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he went and held the horns of the altar (verse 50). Solomon said that if Adonijah showed himself a worthy man, not a hair of him would fall to the earth (verse 52). Then Solomon sent him home (verse 53).

Jesus is the Son of David who reigns forever.

Solomon sat on his father's throne, and the people rejoiced until the earth split with their sound (verses 40 and 46). Solomon's reign had an end, because he died (1 Kings 11 verse 43). The angel told Mary that the Lord God would give Jesus the throne of His father David (Luke 1 verse 32). His kingdom would have no end (Luke 1 verse 33).

Memorise

Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing it.

1 Kings 1:48

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, will I bow to Jesus, the King the Father has set on David's throne?

Adonijah made himself king, and then he heard the trumpet blow for Solomon. His guests ran away, and Adonijah held the horns of the altar, afraid of the king. Jesus is the King the Father has set on David's throne, and none of us is worthy to stand before Him.

Jesus did not take His crown by force. He went to the cross and paid the debt of His people's sin with His own life. On the third day God raised Him, and He now sits at the Father's right hand. The whole debt is paid.

So come to Him, turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Adonijah ran to an altar for safety, but safety is found in the King who gave His life. He will not turn away a sinner who bows to Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD gives the throne to the king He chooses, and that Jesus reigns forever. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He gives the throne to the king He has chosen, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant.

Psalm 119:76

Father, thank You that You gave the throne to Solomon, the son David swore would reign. Thank You for Jesus, the Son of David, whose kingdom has no end. Help us, Lord, to turn from every sin and to trust Jesus. Give us hearts that bow to Your King this week, and keep us close to You. Amen.