May 5th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 1 Chronicles 29:1-22 and 1 Kings 1

Click here to read a commentary on 1 Kings 1.

There's definitely a difference between 1 Chronicles and 1 Kings in the retelling of this story. The first passage simply states that Solomon took the throne after David, but 1 Kings supplies us with way more details and we see that this was by far a smooth transition.

David did not pass the kingship on to Solomon when he should have. David was getting old and frail and should have publicly crowned Solomon king. But he didn't. Likely partly due to pride, partly simply not wanting to give up being king, partly maybe because he thought Solomon was too young and inexperienced. Whatever his reason, this gave Adonijah just the opening he needed to stage a coup - even pulling Joab, David's longtime military leader, and Abiathar the priest to his side!

Thankfully Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan rouse the frail King into action and he crowns Solomon king and ends the coup in the nick of time.

Once again - God's purpose prevails! At the start of the chapter it doesn't look like Solomon could possibly become king. It looks like Adonijah will succeed in his coup and have Solomon and Bathsheba killed (this all sounds like a movie doesn't it?!). But God intervenes and His will is done.

Solomon demonstrates the beginnings of the wisdom for which he will become famous, showing great strength of character by extending mercy to Adonijah, while at the same time demanding his loyalty. After all, forgiveness doesn't mean you trust the person again.

We need to learn from David's mistake. We need to trust God's timing and not our own. We need to be ready and willing to pass the torch. We cannot allow pride or anything else, to get in the way of sound judgement.

And we can learn from Solomon's example. We need to be willing to extend mercy to those around us. Easier said than done, I know.

Looking forward to getting into the Psalms!

Tomorrow's passage: 1 Kings 2:1-9, 2 Samuel 23:1-7, 1 Kings 2:10-12, 1 Chronicles 29:26-30, Psalm 4-6, Psalm 8-9, Psalm 11