4.2 1 Kings 1-4

Kyle Mathas

4.2.2020

1 Kings 1-4

Summary:

To begin the reading, Adonijah, one of David’s sons, sets himself up as king and receives the support of Joab and Abiathar, the priest. Bathsheba remembers the promise that David gave her about making Solomon king so Bathsheba and Nathaniel the prophet go up to David and David, being very old and weak, makes Solomon king.

After that, David dies after reigning over Israel for forty years. Solomon then goes on to establish the kingdom by striking down and killing Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei, the man who cursed David when he was in Mahanaim. Solomon also establishes the kingdom by removing Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord. 

Later, Solomon speaks to God in a dream and asks for wisdom, which God is very pleased of. He gets tested in the story of the two prostitutes where he rules which one is the mother of the baby who is still alive. He threatens to cut the live baby in half to give to both women but the real mother tells him not to. He then gives the baby to her because she was the real mother. 

To end the reading, it lists the officials and governors of Solomon and talks about his great wisdom. 

1 Kings 3:9-13

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?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 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, 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. 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.

How does what you read change your vision of God?

This passage helps me realize that God will give us wisdom if we ask for it. We can pray for wealth but Solomon prayed for wisdom and God was pleased with Solomon. God values the character of a wise man more than a man of great wealth which is almost non existent in our society today which shows why he is such a great God. 

How does what you read change your vision of yourself and others?

Sometimes we can be so anxious in what we pray about but we don’t sit back enough and pray for God to give us wisdom in an area of our life that we could be struggling with and need help with. 

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I want to be able to ask God to provide me with wisdom in the areas of my life where I struggle the most so that I can be helped and so that I can help and give advice to people who are struggling in that area as well.  

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think of Jesus?)

These chapters reminded me of how wise Jesus was in his teachings. In these readings, it talks about how people from all nations came to listen to Solomon’s teachings and that reminded me of how people came from far and wide to hear Jesus’ teachings as well.