KHW25 June 13-19
June 13 Su (Optional) — Psalm 145:1-13 — David’s psalm of praise
As David began his final public meeting with the challenge, “Bless the LORD your God” (1 Chron. 29:20), it is appropriate that we let David bow out of this life by reading one of his psalms of praise to God.
A Song of Praise. Of David.
1 I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
• Go back through this psalm and list all the descriptions of who God is, i.e., His character qualities.
• Now read it again, listing what David says that God does, i.e., His ways. *****************************
June 14 M Reading 117 — 1 Kings 2:1–9 — David instructs Solomon
1 When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the
LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and
wherever you turn, 4 that the LORD may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack[fn] a man on the throne of Israel.’
5 “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging[fn] in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war[fn] on the belt around his[fn] waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty[fn] they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”
ESV Footnotes
(2:4) Hebrew there shall not be cut off for you (2:5) Septuagint; Hebrew placing
(2:5) Septuagint innocent blood (2:5) Septuagint my; twice in this verse (2:7) Or steadfast love
Prosperity Gospel? — In David’s final instructions to Solomon, he reiterated a conditional
promise from the time of Moses. The promise was “that you may prosper” (v. 3). It was the same promise that Moses made to Israel near the end of his life (Deut. 29:9) and the same promise that God made to Joshua as he took over the leadership of Israel after Moses’ death (Josh. 1:7-8). The condition of the promise in each of those cases was wholehearted obedience. Here, David said that it was to “keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his
statutes” (v. 3). The kind of prosperity gospel that we sometimes see proclaimed from television
preachers today does well to emphasize faith but often neglects the important condition of
obedience. David stressed that obedience must be wholehearted; it was “to walk … in faithfulness
with all their heart and with all their soul” (v. 4). We may not always see the promised prosperity
that we expect in our lives but this could be for a number of reasons: 1) Perhaps our obedience is not nearly as wholehearted as we think it is; 2) We may be expecting material prosperity while God is supplying spiritual, relational, and influential prosperity; 3) Perhaps we have a greedy attitude; 4) Maybe God’s timing is not as prompt as we were hoping. Let’s not place our focus on the promise of prosperity as much as on the condition of our faithful obedience!
June 15 Tu Reading 118 — 1 Kings 2:10-11; 1 Chronicles 29:26–30 — Death of David
Finishing Well — David had made a name for himself, as can be seen in the statement that “David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David” (1 Kings 2:10). The city of Jerusalem was called “the city of David” (34 times in the Bible) because he had conquered it in war, built it up, reigned there for 33 years, and arranged for the world-famous temple to be built there. His rule was marred by much bloodshed in wars and by his sin with Bathsheba but he ended his days with “honor” (1 Chron. 29:28). That should encourage us that God does not give up on us when we fail Him; He is forgiving, loving, and willing to restore us so that we can finish well. David died in 970 B.C. so he lived 1,000 years before his descendant, Jesus, was born. Each of them could be considered a king of kings. Because the area ruled by David was much larger than the Promised Land, many other kings were under his control. When Jesus returns to earth, He will be called “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). Another similarity is that David was 30 years old when he began to reign (2 Sam. 5:4) and Jesus’ ministry began when He “was about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23). David finished well. How will Solomon finish? How will you?
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June 16 W Reading 119 — 1 Kings 2:12-46 — Solomon establishes his kingdom
12 So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established. 13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, “Do you come peacefully?” He said, “Peacefully.” 14 Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” 15 He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully
expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his from the LORD. 16 And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said to him, “Speak.” 17 And he said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” 18 Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak for you to the king.”
19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right. 20 Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse
you.” 21 She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his
1 Kings 2
10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 29
26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 28 Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. 29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and in the Chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the Chronicles of Gad the
seer, 30 with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the circumstances that came upon him and upon Israel and upon all the kingdoms of the countries.
wife.” 22 King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are
Abiathar[fn] the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, “God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! 24 Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death
today.” 25 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.
26 And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because you shared in all my father’s affliction.” 27 So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, thus fulfilling the word of the LORD that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
28 When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah although he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the LORD and caught hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And when it was told King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD, and behold, he is beside the altar,” Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” 30 So Benaiah came to the tent of the LORD and said to him, “The king commands, ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” 31 The king replied to him, “Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father’s house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause. 32 The LORD will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33 So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But for David and for his descendants and for his house and for his throne there shall be peace from the LORD forevermore.” 34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.
36 Then the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever. 37 For on the day you go out and cross the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall die. Your blood shall be on your own head.” 38 And Shimei said to the king, “What you say is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.
39 But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei’s servants ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And when it was told Shimei, “Behold, your servants are in
Gath,” 40 Shimei arose and saddled a donkey and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath. 41 And when Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned, 42 the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and solemnly warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any place whatever, you shall die’? And you said to me, ‘What you say is good; I will obey.’ 43 Why then have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the
commandment with which I commanded you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the LORD will bring back your harm on your own head. 45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established
before the LORD forever.” 46 Then the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and he died.
So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
ESV Footnote
(2:22) Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew and for him and for Abiathar
Pay-Back Time — We are not told how long Solomon was king before Adonijah asked for Abishag but it was the trigger that put a final end to opposition to the new king. Earlier, Solomon
conditionally promised life to the apparently repentant Adonijah, warning, “but if wickedness is
found in him, he shall die” (1 Kings 1:52). Was Adonijah’s request to have Abishag simply lust?
Perhaps it was also connected to a continued desire to be king, like his older brother Absalom who publicly disgraced David by sexually assaulting his ten concubines (2 Sam. 16:22). In any case, Adonijah’s request smacked of “wickedness” to Solomon and it resulted in his death. The second domino to fall was Abiathar the priest who had supported Adonijah’s claim for the throne. Although Solomon felt he deserved to die, his punishment was being removed from leadership in the formal tabernacle ministry. The third domino was Joab, the powerful general who should have been punished by David for the murder of two threatening Jewish military leaders. The safety of the horns of the altar applied only to accidental killings (Ex. 21:12-14), so proved to be no refuge for Joab’s punishment. The last to fall was Shimei, who was given a promise of safety, with the condition that he would stay in Jerusalem. He disobeyed and fell. There will be a final
accountability for all people, even Christians whose penalty was paid by the blood of Jesus. Paul said that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10) and Jesus said that “on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matt. 12:36). We should be living every day in the light of having to be accountable for every word and deed. ******************************
June 17 Th Reading 120 — 1 Kings 3:1-4; 2 Chron. 1:1-6 — Solomon’s questionable marriage and sacrifices
I should have suggested watching the Bible Project’s 6.5-minute summary video of 1 & 2
Chronicles earlier but we skipped the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles because of its long lists of genealogical names. As we begin 2 Chronicles today, however, please watch this excellent summary of these two books: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/chronicles
Mixed Alliances — Solomon had a good start in his reign over Judah and Israel: “God was with
him and made him exceedingly great” (2 Chron. 1:1). There is a revealing statement, however,
1 Kings 3
1 Solomon made a marriage alliance
with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had
finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.
2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD.
3 Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place.
Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
2 Chronicles 1
1 Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses. 3 And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness, was there. 4 (But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) 5 Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the assembly sought it[fn] out. 6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
ESV Footnote
showing that all was not well with Solomon: “Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of
David his father, only…” (1 Kings 3:3). There are two things pointed out in the rest of this chapter
that expands on that important word, “only” (“except that”—NIV). The first was that he made a marriage alliance with the king of Egypt (v. 1). This went against several earlier divine warnings. Yahweh wanted Israel to make a complete break with Egypt and forbade them even to buy horses from them, saying, “You shall never return that way again” (Deut. 17:16). In the next verse, God warned that Israel’s king “shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away,” a command that Solomon disobeyed. The Lord had also forbidden the men of Israel to marry
foreigners and gave the reason that “…they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve
other gods” (Deut. 7:3). By marrying Pharaoh’s daughter, Solomon made this mixed alliance in
disobedience to God. His second mixed alliance involved his worship of God: “Solomon loved the
LORD … only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places” (2 Kings 3:3). God had
appointed the altar at the Tabernacle as the chosen place where sacrifices were to be offered. Sacrificing at other “high places” followed the practices of foreign people who worshiped other gods, a practice that was constantly criticized by Yahweh throughout Israel’s kingdom history. So, Solomon was divided in his mixed alliances in marriage and in worship. God wants wholehearted obedience and worship from us as well. We cannot justify excusing sin because it is culturally tolerated or even condoned; we must be completely obedient to God’s commands. It is not “worship” when we attend church if our minds are on other things while we are singing words of praise to God; we must be completely focused on Him in our worship.
June 18 F Reading 121 — 1 Kings 3:5-15; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 — God gives Solomon wisdom 1 Kings 3
5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”
6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.
9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people,
that I may discern between good and evil,
for who is able to govern this your great people?” 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word.
Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.
14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
2 Chronicles 1
7 In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” 8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father,
and have made me king in his place. 9 O LORD God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over
a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?”
11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for
wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you.
I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.”
How to Ask — Attitudes are important when asking for something. For example, children are not likely to get what they want if they ask in a demanding way. Solomon responded to God’s open-ended request (“Ask what I shall give you”—1 Kings 3:5) in a way that we should copy. First, Solomon had an appreciative attitude. He gratefully acknowledged that God had wonderfully blessed his father and had chosen him to follow David as the next king (v. 6). Secondly, he had a
humble attitude: “I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in” (v. 7). He
acknowledged that he was inadequately prepared to govern millions of people. Thirdly, Solomon had an unselfish attitude. He asked for understanding to govern and discernment to distinguish “between good and evil” (v. 9). What he asked for seems to be at least as important to God as what he did not request—selfish things like “long life or riches or the life of your enemies” (v. 11). The Lord responded very favorably by not only granting his request but also by adding on the extra blessings. How do we come to God to ask for something? Do we demand something because of God’s promise or His goodness? No, we should come before God like Solomon did, with
gratitude, humility, and unselfishness. That kind of asking brings results.
Meditation: I think it is important to note that God gave Solomon much more than he asked for, which fits God’s character of infinite ability, creativity, and generous love. The Apostle Paul offered praise to God, “who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). God is not only able but He is also willing to act beyond our expectations or imaginations. Paul summarized a statement in Isaiah (64:4) to say that “…no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the
heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). We think
about heaven when we read that verse but it also applies to life on earth. God’s infinite, loving, generous creativeness is waiting for our grateful, humble, unselfish approach to Him.
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June 19 Sa (Optional) — Daniel 3 — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
We have read about how Solomon “loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father,
only …” (2 Kings 3:3), the last word revealing that his obedience was not wholehearted. Today,
we read excerpts from the story about the stellar commitment and obedience to God of three men who lived centuries later.
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[fn] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon…
4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and
languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn … you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace” …
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews ... 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? …
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.[fn]18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury … 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace ... 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste ... 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared,
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire ... 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside[fn] the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God ... 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
ESV Footnotes
(3:1) A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
(3:17) Or If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, he will deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and out of
your hand, O king
(3:28) Aramaic and changed
• Compare the threat facing these three men to what challenged Solomon. Why would a larger threat result in a larger commitment? Was the difference because of the degree of the threat or because of the character of the ones threatened?
• Put yourself in their shoes. Let’s suppose that radical Muslims took over our country and forced everyone to bow down toward Mecca five times a day and pray to Allah. Those who refused would be beheaded. Would you accept death rather than bend and excuse your action with accommodating reasoning?
