Woven
David is such a prominent character in scripture. It doesn’t feel right to move on after only one day’s study. But, we have no choice. I believe we’ve adequately pointed out that David was very human and very fallible, yet God made him an important person in Israel’s history and Jesus’ lineage.
If you were to read through the remainder of 2 Samuel, you’d see even more evidence. David’s family was full of dysfunction. Angie told us that he had sons that turned against him. She left out the fact that they probably had reason. His son Amnon raped his sister, Tamar. Another son, Absalom, wanted Tamar avenged. From Scripture, it kind of appears that David turned a blind eye which led to Absalom hating his father.
Now listen, despite my best intentions, I’ve made terrible mistakes as a parent. I have no room to pass judgment. I’m only saying that David seemed to struggle as a husband and as a father but still got the title, “a man after God’s own heart.” That brings me great comfort and encouragement.
As we learned in Woven, Absalom set himself up against his father. That rivalry ended with Absalom getting caught in thick branches of a tree. He was left hanging by his hair until one of David’s men, Joab, put three spears through his heart (2 Samuel 18). The chapters remaining in 2 Samuel are full and definitely worth a read when you have a chance, because it’s time for us to move on to David and Bathsheba’s son, Solomon.
Read 1 Kings 2: 1-4. I love these verses for the same reason I love Deuteronomy. They are last words. In these four verses, we get to listen in on David’s last message to his son. He lived a full life with the Lord, and in four verses he shared what he wanted to pass on to Solomon. I can’t help but listen intently. Speaking of Moses and Deuteronomy, David’s message to Solomon sounds a lot like “Choose life so that you will live.” (Deuteronomy 30)
Read 1 Kings 3: 1-15. In your journal, take some notes. Describe Solomon’s heart and the choices that he made that seem right and good. Do you see any red flags in Solomon’s choices? What could lead to failure in the future.
Solomon could have asked God for anything. He chose to ask for wisdom and understanding. God gave it to him along with the things he didn’t ask for; riches and honor. God blessed Solomon abundantly.
We don’t have time to read through all of the Scripture about Solomon. However, we know or have heart that Solomon doesn’t handle the blessing well at all. Sovereign God gave Solomon more blessing than he was able to stand up under. He failed miserably. Solomon is responsible for it. He knew better. His father had warned him. Ultimately, though, God is the One that gave him the very things that would lead to his destruction.
I don’t mean to be disrespectful towards God, but these are the things that cause me to pause. If God knew that Solomon was going to use the blessing, he was given to make a HUGE mess, why didn’t he just give him wisdom and understanding? That’s all he asked for anyway.
I don’t have the answer. But, I wonder if it was because of the way Solomon would end. I wonder if the messes were allowed because of the lessons that would be taught afterward. I’m curious if God isn’t nearly as concerned with the messes we make as we are. I know He hates sin because sin hurts His children. We focus so much on the outcomes and the consequences, though, and it seems like God cares more about what we do with them. We wouldn’t have a lot of the lessons in Proverbs or Ecclesiastes without Solomon’s massive failures.
As you end today’s study, read Proverb 4. It’s only one of many. This is the way Solomon chose to end, and I’m just asking you to consider the fact that Solomon’s lessons mean more because he learned them the hard way. He wasn’t silenced because he failed. In many ways his voice carries even more authority because of failure.
Someone needs to hear me say that the same is true for you! You are not disqualified or unqualified. Your past, your failure, your lack of wisdom/good judgement do not take you out of an assignment. They quite likely have given you an assignment. Like David and Solomon, you get to teach transgressors God’s ways. What a joy! What a privilege.
In your journal, write out your thoughts about our king’s this week. What have you learned from them that will make a difference in the way you live?
Dear God, there’s so much more we could study, so much more in Your Word. I pray that you’ll take what we’ve read and spark a desire to learn more and more. Give us time in Your Word. Make us curious to know more and disciplined to go and find the answers. Thank you for the lessons that Saul, David, and Solomon have left for us. Make us women after Your heart that go and make more women after Your heart.
