1 Kings 2

"So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.” And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also—for he is my older brother—for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.” Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life! " vv.21-23

Read chapter 2
A little sarcasm come from Solomon in response to his mother's request for Adonijah, but follows it with realistic decision on the matter, that he should be put to death. 
It seemed like an okay thing for Adonijah to ask for a wife till we realize who Abishag was.  She was the lovely young virgin that who cared for David and served him as if his wife.  Although they never had sex this marriage never was consummated so difficult to say if she was ever one of David's wives.  Yet there was something more to his request than what we see in these words of Adonijah's request for her. He knew how to cover up the "dangerous sentiment implied in a very skilful manner by adding the further remark, that the transfer of the kingdom to his brother had come from Jehovah; so that Bathsheba did not detect the artifice, and promised to fulfil his request" (biblehub.com) and both him and Bathsheba seem to be unaware of the law that this would break for anyone to marry his father's wife. 
How have you seen deception happen to others around you and how do you confront it?

1 Kings 1

And the king took an oath and said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, 30 just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.” vv.29-30

Read chapter 1
Sadly we come to David's final days as his life is nearing its end.  It's cool to see redeemed relationships even in his last days.  His sin with Bathsheba was no more this burden and shameful thing, but they had repented and continued on after God's will.  Adonijah was David's fourth oldest son and since the oldest three had died Adonijah was expected to become king both by the people and himself believing it.  Yet God doesn't always just move a certain way because of tradition but sticks to His promises and that of making Solomon king after David.  Adonijah is described like his brother Absalom as good looking and probably one who society would look for in appearance as a king.  We don't know what Solomon looked liked or acted like but it's God that knows the heart that will be after His and showing God's mercy.  I wonder if Adonijah knew that he had to scheme if he was to become king because he didn't invite Solomon his brother, Nathan the prophet, Zadok the priest and Benaiah one of David's might men.  These three stick by David even in his dying days to help hold him to his words.  Cool how Nathan, a true prophet of God, could "both confront sin and lovingly care for sinners" as he was the one to call David out in his sin with Bathsheba and also help Bathsheba's son become king.  Who can you be that kind of friend to- being bold and caring to?

2 Samuel 24

"Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, 'Go, number Israel and Judah.'" v.1


Read chapter 24

This can seem pretty confusing. Why would God make David do a thing that causes him to sin? This sin of David then caused the death of 130,000 men to carry out His punishment against Israel. In 1 Chronicles 21:1 it says, "Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel." So who did it? Who incited David to sin, God or Satan? James 1 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." So God doesn't tempt us but He does test us. Maybe like Job, God allowed Satan to tempt him?

Ultimately what comes about is not only their due punishment of what made God angry with Israel, but also David's heart still being chiseled away at as we see David's realization of his heart at the end of this chapter (v. 10, 24).

How do you respond when scripture is confusing or doesn't seem "right"? When have you felt tempted? Tested?

2 Samuel 23

"And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. " vv.9-10


Read chapter 23

David's mighty men. I wish all 37 could have a detailed story about them in scripture. Five of them have a couple of sentences about them and those alone are amazing to learn from of their devotion, attitude and faith. I mean even just reading of one, Eleazar. When all of Israel had run from the Philistines he arose and attacked them till his hand was weary and stuck to the sword. Have you ever held something in your hand for so long that it cramps up or takes a while to move again? Or after riding a horse for a while you get off and your legs stay stratal while you walk away? Through this one man the Lord brought victory and the rest of the men of Israel only return to take part in the winnings.

These mighty men were heroes for David. He wasn't the only one. This was probably a good thing for David to be humbled and not get to his head that he was the only mighty one in battle as he was a man of war. David's faith and devotion to God empowered other men to be victors. How has God allowed you to not always be the "hero" but your ministry to other individuals to rise up?

2 Samuel 22

"Smoke went up from His nostrils,

And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
11 He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
And He was seen upon the wings of the wind."vv.9-11






Read chapter 22


The Lord is compared to a dragon. A comparison of the reality when God will come down to earth with anger. Compare these descriptions to the leviathan that Job describes in Job 41. Can you just picture this? The Lord flying in the sky on a cherub as his chariot! Cherub are sometimes confused with angles. They were the ones guarding Eden (Genesis 3:24), attendants of God (Ezekiel 28), living 4-faced creatures (Ezekiel 1). The cherubim were upon the mercy seat of the ark so here shows His living throne traversing the sky. This isn't just a story or a metaphor but will be true even if it's beyond our wildest imagination of what we see today.


This chapter is David speaking prophetically of the Lord's deliverance from his enemies of what He did do for David and what He will do for him and the whole world one day.

2 Samuel 18

Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. v.19


Read chapter 18

I picture this chapter like a scene in a movie where Absolom is riding his mule (can they even go fast?) and he turns to look behind him not seeing the large branch in front of him and the dumb mule goes right under it then BAM! Absalom gets sidelined with branches to the point hanging him. His head caught and his arms and legs kicking and swinging. At one time Absalom was a handsome and compassionate man who grieved and helped his sister Tamar after the rape of Ammon, yet his revenge could never be satisfied even after the death of Ammon, the return to Jerusalem by his father without punishment, after reining with his father and stealing the hearts of his father's people. His bitterness led to his sorrowful end and death of his self-absorbed life. The sad cry of his father David for him shows the love a father despite his son's sin and mess ups. David would rather had been the dead one over his son.

What are signs of self-absorption in your life? If we flirt with disaster we'll ultimately trap ourselves. Where have you pushed yourself too far in a matter of life circumstances?

2 Samuel 17

Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. v.15


Read chapter 17

Hushai is a friend of David and the difference we see between him and Ahithophel (1 Cron. 27:33). Absolom still trusted advice from his father's friend and adviser who he probably grew up with and trusted just the same. Plus they were still in Jerusalem while David was out fleeing. Yet we see the proverb come true that a "friend sticks closer than a brother" (18:24). Still others too were on David's side as we see Jonathan and Ahimaz risk their lives to deliver a message to David and hide in a well. We're not exactly sure who these two men are but even being "no bodies" they still were faithful to their king, even to the risk of death. In what ways have you been surprised by those who've betrayed you in the hardest of times and when have you been surprised by people who've supported you when you didn't expect them to?