As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon: “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ “And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace. “Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom. “And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”
1 Kings 2:1-9

Dear God, I get the feeling from Solomon’s encounter with Adonijah at the end of chapter one that he wasn’t keen on killing people. Otherwise, he might have just killed Adonijah on the spot. But at this point, the only words we’ve heard from Solomon’s mouth are, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die,” and, “Go on home.”

Now in chapter two, his father’s last words to him are that he should worship you and take out some revenge on some people. I wonder what this was like for Solomon. It must have all been so new to him. Is this how kings established their thrones back then? By killing a few enemies within the kingdom to create a sense of power? Is that what David was trying to do for Solomon here–give him some street cred with the people? Is this what happens in some kingdoms of the world now in the Middle East and elsewhere? Maybe the practice isn’t as obsolete as I might want to think.

David’s admonishes Solomon that you are a God to be served and obeyed, but he seems to leave out the part about being known by you and transformed into someone of your character. The motivation David gives him is totally self-serving–so that David’s and Solomon’s thrones will be established forever. Solomon has a long road in front of him and his entire life will end up being a paradox. Is there anything he could have done here at the beginning that would have helped protect him from the corruption that the wealth and power would put into his heart?

Father, again, I’m not comparing myself to Solomon in terms of wealth and power. Far from it. But I don’t want to miss the part of knowing you that transforms me into your loving child. I don’t want to use you as a means to my glory. David told Solomon that the secret sauce to keeping the throne was to keep you happy. Help me to not care about thrones, but to only care about doing what Jesus taught me to do, and what the Holy Spirit still teaches me.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen