History – 1 Kings 1-4

Shalom! We are going to start to read another recorded history of Israel today, the 1st book of Kings.

Peace is what we need and want in our lives, peace from the world is but temporal, so our Lord Jesus promises us, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Indeed our God wants to give us the kind of peace that is out of this world. But how can we receive peace that is out of this world if we carry on doing the things of the world?

How can the people of God have divine peace if they continue to disobey the Laws of God?

From the early part of history recorded in the Book of Judges to the Book of Samuel, we have read of heart rending records of how the children of Israel went against the will and guidance of the Heavenly Father, and thus resulting in facing humiliation and oppressions from the uncircumcised, and many other sufferings. But time and again, due to the love and mercy of God, He delivered them out of their torments.

It is heart rending because we can see the disobedience of the people, while we can also feel how God felt being rejected by the people whom God desires to be their God and Savior. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10: 11-12,

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall

Yes indeed this is a passage that tells us why was these histories recorded, even though they recorded of the shameful past of the nation of Israel. Because they serve as an admonition, as warnings for the generations in the End Times, so that those who think they stand, may take heed lest they fall.

Bible Passage:  1 Kings 1-4

The flow of events from chapter 1 through 4 is as follows:

King David was old and sick, so the servants sought for a young woman to care for the old king. So they found a lovely young woman, Abishag the Shunamite.

In the mean time, Adonijah, the fourth son of David proclaimed himself as the successor to the throne, but was later annulled by David and he commanded the anointing of Solomon as the next king of Israel. Before David died, he commanded Solomon to keep the Laws of God faithfully, and also instructed Solomon to deal with those who had done harm to him in the past, and he did all according to his father’s will.

Solomon was humble and wise, but God was pleased and added abundantly to his wisdom when he prayed for wisdom to lead the people of Israel. Chapter 4 recorded the prosperity and wisdom of Solomon’s reign, his wisdom was very impressive among all the nations that many came to admire and to listen to his wisdom.

The king of a nation is above everyone, he has all the freedom to do whatever he pleases, he has all the things in his country under his authority, he has the power to do many things according to his likings, all these are the dreams of man.

In 1 Samuel chapter 8, we read that the people rejected God as their king and asked for a human king to lead them, since God knew all things, He warned the people about the bad tendencies of human kings, so as history unfolded, we see what God had warned them came to pass. Right from the first king, Saul, to the last two kings of Israel and Judah, we can see a lot of struggle for power, idolatry and murders.

In chapter 1, Adonijah tried to declare himself as king without the knowledge of his father, King David. This shows how desperate Adonijah was to be king of Israel. But did he know that he had to lead a nation that belonged to God? Or did he just want to be someone great and high above everyone to enjoy the power and luxury as a king? But as we read on, we know that Adonijah was not chosen by God to succeed David on the throne, but He had chosen Solomon.

At this point, I think we can ponder over our roles in church. When we want to do the works of God, are we doing to show off what we can really accomplish, and be praised by people when we have accomplished some works? If we want to be a leader of the church, do we think of being respected and be served by others? On the contrary, our Lord reminded the His disciples who had been arguing among themselves who would be the greatest,

But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

Luke 22: 26 – 27

This passage came out from the mouth of our Servant King, Jesus Christ our Lord. I really am very touched by His words; He taught and led us by examples.

Solomon was indeed a wise king when he succeeded the throne. His prayer, a classic example to all of us concerning the contents of our prayers,

Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

1 Kings 3:7-9

Solomon’s prayer was filled with humility and the right attitude as a leader of God’s people.  God granted His prayers and bestowed him with wisdom to rule the nation of Israel.

The above pictures depict the wise judgment of King Solomon recorded in 1Kings 3: 16 – 28.

But in chapter 3: 1, we see that he made a treaty with Pharaoh of Egypt and also married the Pharaoh’s daughter. This could be a political move for some reasons.

Was this a wise move? We shall see as we read through the book of 1st Kings.