A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

his sons. Adonijah conferred with Joab and Abiathar the priest and, with their support, presented,
himself as heir to his dying father’s throne.
David had earlier promised Bathsheba their son Solomon would be the heir. When she
learned of Adonijah’s actions, she and Nathan approached David with the problem. David
responded by ordering an immediate coronation of his son Solomon. Zadok the priest took oil
from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon as king. The action on the part of David led to
widespread rejoicing as the people celebrated their new king. As part of the coronation
celebration, David wrote what would be his final psalm (Ps. 72).
Soon Adonijah and his followers heard the noise of the coronation and learned what it
meant. “And all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid, and arose, and each one went
his way” (1 Kings 1:49). Solomon chose not to mar the celebration of that day by killing his
adversaries but rather decided to give them a second chance to prove themselves.
As David came to the end of his life, he called his son Solomon aside one last time. He
charged Solomon to be faithful to the Lord and His commandments, stressing this as a key to the
blessing of God on the kingdom. He warned him of individuals he thought might be a threat to
the security of the throne and should not, therefore, be trusted. He also advised his son of
individuals who should be honored and rewarded by the new king because of the way they had
treated David. It was the last opportunity David would have to advise his wise son. “So David
rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David” (2:10).
PERSPECTIVE
Even the man after God’s own heart was not exempt from falling to human passion and
becoming involved in immorality. His initial response to a guilty conscience was not too unlike
those who today attempt to hide and cover their sin. God finally had to expose David publicly to
bring him to repentance and the place of blessing again.
But even when David finally did repent, there were still consequences of that sin to be
faced in the remaining days of his life. His family and children paid part of the price associated
with those consequences. Even today, David’s affair with Bathsheba is among the best known
events in the life of David.
But God forgives sin thoroughly. While others might remember David for his failings,
the New Testament commentary on David is summed up in the words, “David ... served his own
generation by the will of God” (Acts 13:36).
THIRTY-NINE
SOLOMON:
The Greatness of the Kingdom
(1 Kings 2:12-11:43; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon)
David built a great kingdom during his forty-year reign as king, and then at the end of his
life turned it over to his son Solomon. The reign of Solomon was unique in the history of Israel
in that it was characterized by an extended period in which the nation was at peace with other
nations and had no serious internal threat of a rebellion or coup. Two reasons for this period of
rest from war are suggested in Scripture. First, David had done his job well and destroyed the