1 Kings Bible Study--Lesson 2

1 Kings Bible Study

Lesson 2

Bathsheba

The mother of Solomon, who was once married to Uriah but later married David after Uriah’s death. She is now an older woman and is informed of what David’s son Adonijah has been up to. She is pulled in on a plan that will help preserve the will of God for the Kingdom of Israel.

Nathan

Nathan is the faithful prophet who has served the Lord under the banner of King David. Even after the trespass of David with Bathsheba Nathan has not abandoned the King. He now ponders on this gave emergency that has sprung up in the Kingdom and unites with solid men and women who love David to preserve God’s will.

Benaiah

A valiant warrior and future Captain of the entire army of Israel. Early on he shows to be faithful and committed to the King and the will of God. Solomon makes great use of him in the future.

Scriptures

11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? 12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

Every King of Israel had a prophet assigned to them. God in his majestic counsel understood that this Kingdom as well as every other Kingdom needs someone who can be his earthly mouth piece. God needed someone who was not afraid to step before the King and say which direction God desired for them to go. That man was responsible for informing the King of when he was in sin, warning of impending danger and to always keep the standard of God before the people of God at all times. King Saul had Samuel and King David had Nathan. Being a prophet was not an easy job especially when you were a prophet to a rebellious people who had lost their fear and love for the Lord. For many prophets stood before wicked Kings who at any time could be enraged by what comes from their mouths and could imprison you or have your head removed. Being a prophet of God meant you understood it is better to fear God rather then the people you were sent to speak to.

King/Prophet Tree

Here is a list of who God used to speak to the Kings as well as the state of the Kingdom during the Kings reign. This list only goes to the first King of Judah(Southern Kingdom) and the First King of Israel (Northern Kingdom)

King

Prophet

North/South or Combined Kingdom

Saul

Samuel

Combined

David

Nathan

Combined

Solomon

Nathan/Ahijah

Combined

Jeroboam

Ahijah

Northern

Reheboam

Shemaiah

Southern

As we examine the scriptures we see that Nathan cared not just for the people of God but also for the house of David. He speaks to Bathsheba with a high level of concern. He says let me give you counsel so that I can save YOUR LIFE and the LIFE OF YOUR SON SOLOMON! Nathan knew that Solomon was a threat to Adonijah because Adonijah was not supposed to be next in line to be King according to the Word of the Lord.

What does 1 Chronicles 28:2-7 say? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Adonijah, ordinarily would have the right to the throne because of his three older brothers being dead (Chileab we are not sure about)Chronologically in any other Kingdom this would be the case. Yet Adonijah knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Solomon was chosen by God to be the next King of Israel. David declared it to be so.

Nathan the prophet saw something in Adonijah that brought great concern. He knew that if he didn’t move quickly to stop all that was transpiring Solomon and Bathsheba would die at Adonijah’s hands for Solomon was the one promised to be King by the mouth of David and promise of the Lord.

EX Info: A customary thing that many Kings did was to destroy an entire family line to prevent uprising or rebellion. Most of the time they would kill every male young and old. Cousins, sons, uncles any type of relatives even down to new born babies. Quite often they would keep the queen or women alive to be apart of a harem (Collection of women for the Kings pleasure) or just to show the world their dominance by keeping the previous queen alive. This practice is something that the Jews were familiar with seeing and we will see it as we continue our study in 1 Kings.

Scriptures

13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

15 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

19 And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

Bathsheba was a mother concerned for her son and she came with a plea in the deepest part of her heart to save both his life and hers. David not being privy to the situation acknowledged his queen and spoke to her in a tender way desiring to know what he can do for her.

Scriptures

22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.

26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

Nathan and Bathsheba’s plan was one of extreme urgency. Nathan with his wisdom and insight knew Bathsheba was loved dearly by David. He also knew that he himself had the Kings ear. The combination of the two plus God’s revealed will to David and David’s desire to please the Lord will help to turn the tide of these events that are unfolding.

Scriptures

28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.29 And the king sware, and said, As the Lord liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,30 Even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live forever.

32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

These three men were men who had proven themselves to be faithful and reliable to the King and to the Lord God. They were men that David trusted and that the people held in high regard. The people had seen them live outwardly righteously before God. With them coming forward and proclaiming Solomon to be King the mind of the crowd would have turned instantly to see Solomon stationed where God desired him to be!

36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the Lord God of my lord the king say so too.

37 As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

How does Psalms 1 relate to this scenario? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.