Bible Reading Plan

Author: Jon Green

  • 1 Kings 5

    1 Kings 5

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    Preparations for Building the Temple

    5 When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. 2 Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:

    3 “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. 5 I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’

    6 “So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians.”

    7 When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was greatly pleased and said, “Praise be to the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.”

    8 So Hiram sent word to Solomon:

    “I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs. 9 My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household.”

    10 In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, 11 and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year. 12 The Lordgave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

    13 King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel—thirty thousand men.14 He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. 15 Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills, 16 as well as thirty-three hundredforemen who supervised the project and directed the workers. 17 At the king’s command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple. 18 The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.

    Go Deeper

    Much of King David’s time on the throne was spent cultivating relationships with adjacent kingdoms and in combat with his enemies, both of which obstructed his ability and desire to build a large temple for the Lord. Following his ascension to the throne, King Solomon receives condolences and congratulatory messages from King Hiram of Tyre, resulting in Solomon’s proposition for Hiram to assist in the temple construction. 

    Tyre was a land well known for its abundant agriculture trade, especially its cedar and juniper trees, both resources that King Solomon desired for the project. Solomon proposes an opportunity for both kingdoms to be of mutual benefit (both in this current project and in a kingdom alliance moving forward). King Hiram is deeply enthused by the proposal (and the humility that King Solomon expresses) and both parties share reciprocal support during the operation. Hiram provides Solomon with copious amounts of his world-renowned cedar trees and his sharpest ax-men, and Solomon compensates both kingdom’s workers well, in both wages and nourishment.  

    King Solomon hires Adoniram as the modern-day equivalent of a general contractor to oversee the operation. Adoniram provides expertise over the logistical and manpower aspects, ensuring proper coordination of raw material shipments to Israel and influencing the labor schedule to ensure his workers were properly rested and cared for. The Lord provided King Solomon wisdom, resulting in peaceful relations with King Hiram, a well-executed temple, and his faithfulness resulted in a fruitful endeavor. 

    There is much we can learn from Solomon’s (and David’s) relationship with Hiram. Hiram, because of David’s kindness toward him, respected Israel and their God. Because of years of David treating him fairly and with dignity, King Hiram had a similar trust and appreciation for King Solomon once he took the throne. The shared trust in this project resulted in years of stability and fruit for both kingdoms. Let this serve as a reminder to us today that regardless of the industry you work in or the neighborhood where you live, loving the people around you and treating them with respect and kindness ultimately points them to Jesus. God has you here on earth as an ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20) to a world that needs to see what it looks like to live differently. May the world see God’s goodness through you, much like Hiram did through David and Solomon.

    1. What long-term relationships have most impacted your life? Can you think of one that has pointed you to Jesus?
    2. Who is God calling you to strengthen a relationship with?
    3. How can you be an ambassador of Jesus to the world around you today?

    Questions

    1. What long-term relationships have most impacted your life? Can you think of one that has pointed you to Jesus?
    2. Who is God calling you to strengthen a relationship with?
    3. How can you be an ambassador of Jesus to the world around you today?

    By the Way

    While there’s no way for us to know if he was specifically referencing Hiram or not, Solomon’s reflection in Proverbs 16:7 speaks to what we saw in this chapter:

    “When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,

        he causes their enemies to make peace with them.”

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  • 1 Kings 4

    1 Kings 4

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    Solomon’s Officials and Governors

    4 So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 2 And these were his chief officials:

    Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;

    3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;

    Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—recorder;

    4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander in chief;

    Zadok and Abiathar—priests;

    5 Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors;

    Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and adviser to the king;

    6 Ahishar—palace administrator;

    Adoniram son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.

    7 Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. 8 These are their names:

    Ben-Hur—in the hill country of Ephraim;

    9 Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan;

    10 Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Sokoh and all the land of Hepher were his);

    11 Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);

    12 Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam;

    13 Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars);

    14 Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim;

    15 Ahimaaz—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);

    16 Baana son of Hushai—in Asher and in Aloth;

    17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah—in Issachar;

    18 Shimei son of Ela—in Benjamin;

    19 Geber son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.

    Solomon’s Daily Provisions

    20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. 21 And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.

    22 Solomon’s daily provisions were thirty cors of the finest flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. 24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. 25 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.

    26 Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.

    27 The district governors, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. 28 They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.

    Solomon’s Wisdom

    29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

    Go Deeper

    In 1 Kings 4, we get a glimpse of King Solomon at the beginning of his reign; many Christians are familiar with it. But the contributors to 1 Kings were crafty storytellers who subtly critique this reign in the details. Let’s begin in verses 6b-7:

    “…Adoniram son of Abda—in charge of forced labor. Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household.” 

    This is an easy detail to pass over, but it is the first of two brilliant literary moves found here. We see in this one description the impending split of the kingdom looming large in having twelve district governors who would be mostly in charge of this forced labor and taxation. The split among them is coming, and Solomon isn’t helping.  

    Let’s look now to verse 26: “Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.” Why do we care about Solomon’s horses? In Deuteronomy 17, we’re given the description of what a truly biblical king should be. Here is just the section to be concerned with: 

    “The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, ‘You are not to go back that way again.” (Deut. 17:16) 

    Israel’s kings were supposed to follow the Deuteronomic Law to the letter. Solomon, however, did the exact opposite. It can even be argued that he caused Israel to “return to Egypt,” in a way. Enslavement and heavy taxation were the way in Egypt, and here he is bringing them back.  

    The point here is not to simply critique Solomon, but to talk about biblical kingship. We can see in 1 Kings that kingship is not necessarily accumulating wealth, status, and power. The authors clarify that this is one place Solomon got it wrong. Instead, Deuteronomy 17 calls for another way, where a biblical king is better understood as the “Chief Servant.” What does this mean for Christians today? Well, we serve King Jesus, the only biblical king to ever truly be a biblical king, “by taking the very nature of a servant” (Phil 2:7). This is the way we should follow: The Way of King Jesus.

    Questions

    1. Where have you acted like Solomon in your life, accumulating wealth, power, etc. Where have you looked more like a “Chief Servant”? 
    2. What would it look like to be a “Chief Servant” in your life? At school, home, work…? 
    3. What is one way in which you can serve someone today?  

    By the Way

    Jesus spoke to this in Mark 10:42-45, saying:

             42“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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  • Rest Day + Family Guide (2 Samuel 22-1 Kings 3)

    Rest Day + Family Guide (2 Samuel 22-1 Kings 3)

    Rest Day

    Each Sunday is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence.

    Each Rest Day, we will have an additional element to help you dig deeper. Sometimes it will be extra resources to further your study, a video to watch, or a podcast to listen to. Sometimes we’ll have a verse to commit to memorize to help you hide God’s Word in your heart. 

    If you have kids, our Family Guide will help you discuss what you’re reading and learning with them! It’s a great opportunity for your family to read God’s Word together and review what we read the previous week!

    Keep Digging

    Check out this helpful resource page from The Bible Project with a summary and overview of 1 and 2 Kings! 

    Family Guide

    Check out this week’s 2 Samuel 22-1 Kings 3 Family Guide!

  • 1 Kings 3

    1 Kings 3

    Read 1 Kings 3

    Solomon Asks for Wisdom

    3 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. 3 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

    4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

    6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

    7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

    10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

    He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

    A Wise Ruling

    16 Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. 18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.

    19 “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. 20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. 21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”

    22 The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.”

    But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.

    23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

    24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

    26 The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”

    But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

    27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

    28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

    Go Deeper

    In 1 Kings 2, King David gives a final exhortation to his son, Solomon, advising him to be strong and to follow God’s commands as the day of Solomon’s reign is quickly approaching. Now, in 1 Kings 3, the day has come and Solomon is the new king of Israel. Israel thrived under the leadership of Solomon, and this chapter offers insight into the integral components of Solomon’s rule: wisdom and discernment. 

    The Lord appears to Solomon while he’s sleeping and in Solomon’s dream, God says, “What do you want? I’ll give you what you ask!” Solomon’s response may be surprising to us, but his request pleased the Lord. Solomon asks for wisdom and understanding. The Hebrew word for understanding in this text means “hearing.” Solomon wanted a heart that hears his people and a head that knows and understands his people. He didn’t simply want knowledge, and he didn’t simply want empathy and understanding. Solomon wanted discernment to know how to lead people with the wisdom of both his head and his heart. 

    Yet, Solomon doesn’t reply first with what he wants from God. Solomon responds to the Lord with a disposition of praise and humility. Before Solomon asks for anything, he acknowledges the faithfulness and goodness of God. Solomon had a front row seat to his dad’s life-long relationship with Yahweh. He heard the stories. He saw the faithfulness of God to David. There was no doubt in Solomon’s mind that God placed him as king of Israel. Solomon didn’t earn it or take it by force, God’s sovereignty placed Solomon in the position of power. 

    Solomon also expresses humility and submission by saying, “I am a child…I do not know how to do this” (v. 7). What an honest prayer! Without the power and faithfulness of God, Solomon knows he cannot lead well. He knows that he is appointed and anointed to lead God’s people, to be a good shepherd, and he cannot shepherd and lead courageously without the ability to discern good from evil. So, he asks for discernment and wisdom to do the work appointed to him by God. 

    Many of us spend our whole lives searching for wisdom and discernment. Many of us find ourselves facing circumstances we know are too daunting for us in our limited understanding. What we learn from Solomon is that we can ask God for unexplainable and supernatural wisdom and discernment to make God-honoring decisions. It is to God’s great delight that He gives us wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you.”

    Solomon wisely asked God to give him something regarding his character and integrity rather than his possessions or power. God was so pleased with Solomon’s request that, as icing on the king’s cake, God also grants Solomon more than he asked or imagined. He is a good God, faithful to His promises and generous in His gifts. 

    Questions

    1. What do you learn about the character of God in this passage?
    2. What does Solomon’s response to God teach you?
    3. What circumstance are you facing in which you need wisdom? How does James 1:5 offer encouragement and application for that situation?

    Keep Digging

    Check out this article titled “Four Ways to Get Wisdom.

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  • 1 Kings 2

    1 Kings 2

    Read 1 Kings 2

    David’s Charge to Solomon

    2 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

    2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

    5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

    7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

    8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

    10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

    Solomon’s Throne Established

    13 Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked him, “Do you come peacefully?”

    He answered, “Yes, peacefully.” 14 Then he added, “I have something to say to you.”

    “You may say it,” she replied.

    15 “As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord. 16 Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me.”

    “You may make it,” she said.

    17 So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

    18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied, “I will speak to the king for you.”

    19 When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand.

    20 “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.”

    The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”

    21 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”

    22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother—yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”

    23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! 24 And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.

    26 To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.” 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.

    28 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. 29 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”

    30 So Benaiah entered the tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’”

    But he answered, “No, I will die here.”

    Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”

    31 Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. 32 The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better men and more upright than he. 33 May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.”

    34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country. 35 The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.

    36 Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. 37 The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

    38 Shimei answered the king, “What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.

    39 But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran off to Achish son of Maakah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.” 40 At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath.

    41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, 42 the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn you, ‘On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die’? At that time you said to me, ‘What you say is good. I will obey.’ 43 Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?”

    44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. 45 But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the Lord forever.”

    46 Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and he died.

    The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.

    Go Deeper

    Today’s passage is watching God continue to fulfill his promises through King David and his son, Solomon. The Old Testament highlights David as the Israelites’ greatest king because of the promises that God made him and fulfilled during his reign. In 1 Kings 2, David reminds Solomon of God’s promise that He made for future generations. As we read this story, it encourages us in strength and courage as we learn from Solomon’s obedience in fellowship with God.       

    In Matthew 6:33, Jesus reiterates the concept that walking in obedience with God and putting Him first allows God to take care of the rest; God’s desire for this prioritization is consistent from Old Testament to New. David’s heirs had the benefit of God’s voice speaking to David and outlining the proper path, but the Holy Spirit dwells in us because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit reiterates to us to live faithfully with wisdom and discernment.

    Solomon is encouraged by David to lead with justice and boldness to continue in the Lord’s blessings. He does this by fulfilling the execution of men who attempted to overtake the position of Solomon as King. These actions reveal God’s intentional plan while displaying his mercy by sparing some for his Kingdom glory. As Solomon steps into leadership, the promise to the nations continues through his kingship. Read 1 Kings 2 with attentiveness to how God’s justice and mercy coincide to display his faithfulness to the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians.  

    God’s character shows through the reigns of David and Solomon in their administration of both justice and mercy from the throne. 1 Kings 2 demonstrates God’s faithfulness to fulfill his promise to David through partial fulfillment in Solomon and complete fulfillment in Jesus (the “Son of David”). Solomon’s faithfulness leads to overflow of God’s blessings on the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, and Jesus’s death on the cross made it possible for all to come to the Father and be blessed with His mercy. God’s promises to Adonijah, Absalom, Abiathar, and Joab came to fruition, and the Lord’s commission to us to spread the gospel should be treated with a sense of urgency because His promised return will also occur.

    Questions

    1. Reread verse 1, how does David tell Solomon to deal with the injustice and corruption under the throne?
    2. As God’s character display’s loving-kindness, where do you see Him as a righteous and merciful King in your life?
    3. How is God asking you to live in response to His justice and mercy shown through David and Solomon?

    By the Way

    In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul is teaching the church of Corinth about true apostleship and God’s intentions behind church leadership. Consider the parallels from the Old Testament to the New Testament about how a leader for the kingdom of God displays God’s character in power and authority. 

    Both today’s passage and 1 Corinthians encourage justice on the throne, which reveals how God judges and rules with righteousness and loving-kindness. How do you see God’s character on display in authority? It is easy to think that he is full of judgment on the throne, but his character displays mercy and justice through the promises he has fulfilled as King.

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  • 1 Kings 1 + Introduction

    1 Kings 1 + Introduction

    1 Kings Preview

    1 & 2 Kings (much like its historical predecessor 1 & 2 Samuel) were originally one long book, later divided into two separate parts. While the author of this book is unknown, some scholars have guessed Ezra, Ezekiel, or Jeremiah as the potential author. Because it was compiled over a period of several hundred years from 973 B.C. to 561 B.C., it is likely that source material came from several people and it was eventually compiled into one long book by one (or potentially multiple) author(s). 

    It’s important for us to note that 1 Kings is a history book, telling us the story of what happened to Israel following the reign (and death) of King David. As rulers and kingdoms came and went, we will read of dramatic twists and turns throughout each chapter of these two books. While this is a historical book, it is important to remember that it is (more importantly) a theological work as well. Think of this book (as well as its sequel) as a collection of case studies for us to learn from. What we believe about God is shaped by the stories we’ll read about over the next couple of months. We’ll read about magnificent triumphs and dramatic failures. We’ll read stories of kings of great faith and stories of faithless wandering. As with all stories in the Old Testament, we’ll also be reminded that the world needed a different kind of King and Kingdom altogether. 

    Each day as you open your Bible, take good notes. Read closely and carefully, paying special attention to the sequence of events that are unfolding before you. Try to visualize what’s going on in each chapter. That’s the fun of reading these Old Testament stories! Get to know these characters, both major and minor. What does each chapter in this book teach you about God’s character? What does it teach you about humanity? What are the implications for you today? These are the questions we’ll be seeking to answer over these next couple of months through 1 and 2 Kings. 

    Interested in The Bible Project’s overview of 1 (and 2) Kings? Click here to watch it!

    Read 1 Kings 1

    Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King

    1 When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. 2 So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.”

    3 Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.

    5 Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 (His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)

    7 Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah.

    9 Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.

    11 Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? 12 Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.”

    15 So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. 16 Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.

    “What is it you want?” the king asked.

    17 She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. 19 He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20 My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”

    22 While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 And the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.

    24 Nathan said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? 25 Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. 27 Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

    David Makes Solomon King

    28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

    29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

    31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

    32 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

    36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37 As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

    38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.

    41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?”

    42 Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.”

    43 “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, 45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. 46 Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. 47 Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed 48 and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’”

    49 At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”

    52 Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”

    Go Deeper

    First Kings opens with an old and feeble King David and his son, Adonijah, who is using his father’s aging state as an opportunity to set himself up as the successor and king. For a quick recap of the lineage of David’s sons, we can look back to 2 Samuel 3:2-5. We learn that Adonijah was David’s fourth son. Several of David’s older sons had died, so it is likely that Adonijah was the oldest living son at the time of this chapter.

    Adonijah believed that as the oldest living son of the king, he deserved to be next in line. However, the Israelite tradition of naming the king was not dependent on birth order or family of origin. God chose the king. Hebrew kings were identified through priests and prophets that had the approval of the Lord. Adonijah works to appear like he is the rightful king. He gathers chariots and horsemen. He has men run before him to announce his arrival. He sacrifices sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle. Verse 5 tells us that though he had prepared all of these things for himself, Adonijah was merely exalting himself as king. As a self-appointed king, he was directing all the action.

    Nathan and Bathsheba knew that it was the will of God that Solomon should succeed in the Kingdom. They humbly approached King David, made him aware of the situation, and allowed him to make the final decision. In 1 Kings 1:29, King David proclaims “As the Lord lives who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.”

    David begins his proclamation by giving all credit and power to the Lord. In contrast to Adonijah’s self-proclamation, this statement is directed by God. Psalm 75:6-7 says “No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.” 

    There is always a danger in exalting yourself without the approval of the Lord. Even if we think we are deserving of a promotion, an accolade, or a position of honor, there is wisdom in waiting for the priests and prophets of our lives (like Nathan and Zadok) to confirm and defend us.

    Questions

    1. Adonijah felt he rightly deserved the right to be the next king. Have you ever felt like you deserved something that you did not receive?
    2. Would you say that your life is more self-directed or God-directed?
    3. James 4:10 says “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Spend time in prayer asking God for this type of humility.

    Did You Know?

    The beginning of this chapter gives great detail about the frailty of King David. Commentaries suggest that at this point in his life he was probably around 70 years old. Pastor David Guzik suggests “He seems even older than his years; but for David, it wasn’t just the years – it was the mileage. He seemed to live the lives of four or five men in his lifetime.” Interesting to note the toll that David’s life has taken on his physical body.

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  • 2 Samuel 24

    2 Samuel 24

    Read 2 Samuel 24

    David Enrolls the Fighting Men

    1 Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

    2 So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

    3 But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

    4 The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

    5 After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. 6 They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. 7 Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.

    8 After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

    9 Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.

    10 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

    11 Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: 12 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”

    13 So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

    14 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

    15 So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

    17 When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.”

    David Builds an Altar

    18 On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad. 20 When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.

    21 Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”

    “To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”

    22 Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23 Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the Lord your God accept you.”

    24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

    So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 25 David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

    Go Deeper

    Every one of us knows the temptation of placing our trust in resources, money, and human strength. We often believe we’ll succeed against challenges when we depend upon material possessions. We think we find victory in the size of our budget, the weight on the bench press, or the number of people on our side. In Psalm 20:7, David provides a different source for our dependence: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” David says we find victory when we trust in the Lord, not in our stuff.

    But, in 2 Samuel 24, it seems as though David forgot his own words from Psalm 20. Instead, David trusts in the size of the army and number of fighting men. Against counsel from his advisor Joab, David sends his men out on a nine-month quest to count the number of fighting men in Israel and Judah. Threatened by his enemies, David believed a large enough army would provide the strength needed to take on his foes. He chose to trust in chariots and horses (and fighting men) and NOT in the name of the Lord.

    In doing so, David sinned against the Lord. While he did plainly acknowledge his sin and foolishness (see verse 10), God brought consequences against His people for David’s sin. This chapter provides a powerful reminder that our sin very rarely, if ever, affects just the individual. Instead our sin affects many and hurts our relationship with the Lord. 70,000 people died as a direct result of David’s foolishness and sin.

    We’re also reminded of the importance of sacrifice. In verse 24, David writes, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” Sacrifice comes at a cost, and no one knows this more than the Lord. In sending His Son Jesus to die as a sacrifice for our sins, God paid the greatest and highest cost ever paid. Just like sin comes at a cost (i.e., 70,000 lives), so sacrifice comes at a cost. 

    Questions

    1. What do you do when your community advises Decision A but you prefer Decision B (i.e., when Joab advised David not to take a census)? What do you do when you disagree with your community/Life Group?
    2. When was the last time you humbly admitted and confessed your sin to the Lord?
    3. Does your service or sacrifice cost you anything? Does your giving come at a cost to you, or do you simply give out of your excess?

    Did You Know?

    In 2 Samuel 24:1 the text says the Lord incited David to take the census. In the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 21:1, the text says Satan incited David to take the census. So who did the “inciting?”—was it God or Satan? Just like Satan took on Job (in the book of Job), Satan is the one who led David to place his dependence on the size of the army and to take the census. In His sovereignty, the Lord allowed it, similar to how He allowed so many challenges to come against Job.

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  • 2 Samuel 23

    2 Samuel 23

    Read 2 Samuel 23

    David’s Last Words

    1 These are the last words of David:

    “The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,
        the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High,
    the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
        the hero of Israel’s songs:

    2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me;
        his word was on my tongue.
    3 The God of Israel spoke,
        the Rock of Israel said to me:
    ‘When one rules over people in righteousness,
        when he rules in the fear of God,
    4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise
        on a cloudless morning,
    like the brightness after rain
        that brings grass from the earth.’

    5 “If my house were not right with God,
        surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,
        arranged and secured in every part;
    surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
        and grant me my every desire.
    6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,
        which are not gathered with the hand.
    7 Whoever touches thorns
        uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
        they are burned up where they lie.”

    David’s Mighty Warriors

    8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:

    Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

    9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, 10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

    11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

    13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

    Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

    18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

    20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

    24 Among the Thirty were:

    Asahel the brother of Joab,

    Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

    25 Shammah the Harodite,

    Elika the Harodite,

    26 Helez the Paltite,

    Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,

    27 Abiezer from Anathoth,

    Sibbekai the Hushathite,

    28 Zalmon the Ahohite,

    Maharai the Netophathite,

    29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

    Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,

    30 Benaiah the Pirathonite,

    Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash,

    31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite,

    Azmaveth the Barhumite,

    32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

    the sons of Jashen,

    Jonathan 33 son of Shammah the Hararite,

    Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

    34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,

    Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

    35 Hezro the Carmelite,

    Paarai the Arbite,

    36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,

    the son of Hagri,

    37 Zelek the Ammonite,

    Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

    38 Ira the Ithrite,

    Gareb the Ithrite

    39 and Uriah the Hittite.

    There were thirty-seven in all.

    Go Deeper

    As 2 Samuel nears its end, the Spirit of God speaks through David. God reminds David of the blessings that come when he rules justly in the fear of God (v. 4). Though an imperfect king, David’s motivation to please God wove throughout his life. Whether we read the Psalms, watch David repent of sin, or witness his faith in God, it is clear that David’s relationship with God was more important to him than anything else. 

    First Samuel 13:14 refers to David, the future king, as a man after God’s heart. Throughout his reign, David sought God’s guidance and wisdom. When David obediently followed God’s command, the blessing of God always fell on King David and God’s people. When David dishonored God, he repented and sought God’s forgiveness. He wasn’t called a man after God’s heart because he was perfect but because he continued in faith and surrendered to God’s will. David also glorifies God with humility and worship. Unwilling to take credit for the prosperity of his reign, David rightly honors God for establishing an everlasting covenant with him and saving him (v. 5).  

    David’s walk with God teaches us how to be people after God’s heart. We can humbly obey God’s will as David did. We can worship God even when life is hard. We can repent and submit to God when we sin. We can hold fast to our faith in the all-powerful God. As Micah 6:8 instructs, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

    As He did with David, God made an everlasting covenant with us, too. Under the New Covenant, God saves us for all eternity when we believe in Jesus Christ as our risen Lord and Savior. We receive full forgiveness for our sins when we repent and surrender to God’s will. As we choose to live in a way that honors and pleases the Lord, we can delight in the fruitfulness God grows in our lives. Like David, may God be more important to us than anything else. 

    Questions

    1. Is God more important to you than anything else in your life? What competes with God for your allegiance and worship? 
    2. What is your favorite way to worship God? Take time to worship Him today.  
    3. What is one thing you need to surrender to the Lord? Pray about it now.  

    Keep Digging

    Does fearing God really mean we are supposed to be afraid of Him? Not at all! Read more about this phrase here.

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  • 2 Samuel 22

    2 Samuel 22

    Read 2 Samuel 22

    David’s Song of Praise

    1 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:

    “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    3     my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
        my shield and the horn of my salvation.
    He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
        from violent people you save me.

    4 “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
        and have been saved from my enemies.
    5 The waves of death swirled about me;
        the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
    6 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
        the snares of death confronted me.

    7 “In my distress I called to the Lord;
        I called out to my God.
    From his temple he heard my voice;
        my cry came to his ears.
    8 The earth trembled and quaked,
        the foundations of the heavens shook;
        they trembled because he was angry.
    9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
        consuming fire came from his mouth,
        burning coals blazed out of it.
    10 He parted the heavens and came down;
        dark clouds were under his feet.
    11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
        he soared on the wings of the wind.
    12 He made darkness his canopy around him—
        the dark rain clouds of the sky.
    13 Out of the brightness of his presence
        bolts of lightning blazed forth.
    14 The Lord thundered from heaven;
        the voice of the Most High resounded.
    15 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
        with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
    16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
        and the foundations of the earth laid bare
    at the rebuke of the Lord,
        at the blast of breath from his nostrils.

    17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
        he drew me out of deep waters.
    18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
        from my foes, who were too strong for me.
    19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
        but the Lord was my support.
    20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
        he rescued me because he delighted in me.

    21 “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
        according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
    22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
        I am not guilty of turning from my God.
    23 All his laws are before me;
        I have not turned away from his decrees.
    24 I have been blameless before him
        and have kept myself from sin.
    25 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
        according to my cleanness in his sight.

    26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
        to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
    27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
        but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
    28 You save the humble,
        but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
    29 You, Lord, are my lamp;
        the Lord turns my darkness into light.
    30 With your help I can advance against a troop;
        with my God I can scale a wall.

    31 “As for God, his way is perfect:
        The Lord’s word is flawless;
        he shields all who take refuge in him.
    32 For who is God besides the Lord?
        And who is the Rock except our God?
    33 It is God who arms me with strength
        and keeps my way secure.
    34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
        he causes me to stand on the heights.
    35 He trains my hands for battle;
        my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
    36 You make your saving help my shield;
        your help has made me great.
    37 You provide a broad path for my feet,
        so that my ankles do not give way.

    38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
        I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
    39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;
        they fell beneath my feet.
    40 You armed me with strength for battle;
        you humbled my adversaries before me.
    41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
        and I destroyed my foes.
    42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
        to the Lord, but he did not answer.
    43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;
        I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.

    44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples;
        you have preserved me as the head of nations.
    People I did not know now serve me,
    45     foreigners cower before me;
        as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
    46 They all lose heart;
        they come trembling from their strongholds.

    47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
        Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
    48 He is the God who avenges me,
        who puts the nations under me,
    49     who sets me free from my enemies.
    You exalted me above my foes;
        from a violent man you rescued me.
    50 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
        I will sing the praises of your name.

    51 “He gives his king great victories;
        he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
        to David and his descendants forever.”

    Go Deeper

    One of the main themes we see in 2 Samuel 22 is that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves; God is solely responsible. But if only God can save us, what does David mean when he says in verses 23-24, “I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight”? David does not boast about being perfect, but speaks to God’s work of sanctification. 

    When we surrender ourselves to God and allow Him to “lighten our darkness” (v. 29), God begins to transform our lives. “He trains our hands…”(v. 35), and “by Him we can run…” (v. 30). God enabled David to walk blamelessly and righteously. David makes clear that rewards follow righteousness and judgment follows wickedness—there are real consequences to our actions. God is a just God who will not let wrong-doing and injustice go without His judgment.

    When we fully grasp the justice of God, we should be filled with joy and terror. Joy— because when we see the injustices in our world, we know that God will bring ultimate justice to wrongs done. But we should also be filled with terror, knowing that we too have committed sins, worthy of God’s judgment. But, this is where the gospel comes in. If we take another look, we see that David’s worship actually points us straight to the gospel message.

    We are all surrounded and doomed by our own sinful natures (v. 5-6). But, when we call upon God to save us, He hears us (v. 7) and in His great mercy and love, He peels back the heavens and rescues us from our judgement (v. 8-19). After accepting God’s leadership, He brings us to a safe place where we can walk in righteousness and experience his mercy (v. 21-31). While we submit to God’s Lordship, He trains us and prepares us to fight for Him in our family, community, and our world (v. 32-40). Ultimately, with God, we are on the winning side of history and will experience victory (v. 41-46)! We can experience His salvation, protection, preparation, and justice, not because of anything we have done, but because of God’s incredible love for us.

    The Gospel changes everything.

    Questions

    1. Take a few minutes and reflect— how does the Gospel change your life?
    2. In what ways have you seen God protecting you?
    3. How is God currently preparing you for battle, or in which areas of your life is he strengthening you?

    Read this Quote!

    “It is because Jesus Christ experienced cosmic thirst on the cross that you and I can have our spiritual thirst satisfied. It is because He died that we can be born again. And He did it gladly. Seeing what He did and why He did it will turn our hearts away from the things that enslave us and toward Him in worship. That is the gospel, and it is the same for skeptics, believers, insiders, outcasts, and everyone in between.”

    Dr. Timothy Keller

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  • Rest Day + Family Guide (2 Samuel 16-21)

    Rest Day + Family Guide (2 Samuel 16-21)

    Rest Day

    Each Sunday is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence.

    Each Rest Day, we will have an additional element to help you dig deeper. Sometimes it will be extra resources to further your study, a video to watch, or a podcast to listen to. Sometimes we’ll have a verse to commit to memorize to help you hide God’s Word in your heart. 

    If you have kids, our Family Guide will help you discuss what you’re reading and learning with them! It’s a great opportunity for your family to read God’s Word together and review what we read the previous week!

    Keep Digging

    This week’s readings focused a lot on Absalom, David’s son. For a deeper dive on Absalom, check out this article from GotQuestions.org! 

    Family Guide

    Check out this week’s 2 Samuel 16-21 Family Guide!