The Whole Story - The Life of David
When was the time when you realized someone,
you looked up to had deep flaws? How did that change the way you saw them — or
what you hoped for in a leader?
In 1 Kings 2, we see King David at the end of his earthly life, passing the royal mantle to his son Solomon.
As the aged king nears death, he delivers his final instructions, urging Solomon to be strong, to walk faithfully in God’s ways, and to uphold the covenantal standards set before him. This chapter will quickly see Solomon being called upon to establish his throne by dealing decisively with those threatening the kingdom’s stability. Adonijah’s ambition, Joab’s treachery, and Shimei’s insolence all come into focus as we witness the new king’s rise to power. Soon, Solomon sits securely as king of Israel, the kingdom seemingly purified of all impurity.
Yet, even at this moment of apparent strength and hope, we cannot help but sense the limitations of Israel’s earthly monarchy. David, the greatest king Israel had ever known, dies. Although wise and blessed, Solomon will later fail to maintain perfect faithfulness to the Lord. The purging of 1 Kings 2 may have rid the kingdom of immediate threats, but they cannot root out the deeper menace — sin — that continues to plague the human heart. No matter how promising or devout a king may begin, death awaits him, and corruption awaits the human institutions he leads.
1 Kings 2:1-12
David's Instructions to Solomon
2:1 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 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 in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the
blood of war on the belt around his 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 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.”
The Death of David
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. 12 So, Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his
kingdom was firmly established.
The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 1 Kings
2:1-12
Discussion Questions
- What does David’s mortality teach us about the limits of even the greatest human leaders?
- How does it deepen your appreciation for the eternal reign of Jesus?
- How does Jesus fulfill what David could only point toward?
- Why do you think David spent his final breaths calling for justice — or vengeance — against his enemies?
- In what ways are we tempted to hold onto offense instead of trusting God’s justice?
- How does the finality of David’s burial point to the limitations of even the greatest leaders?
- What difference does it make that Jesus’ tomb is empty?
- What does Solomon’s shaky rise to power teach us about human kingdoms?
Closing thoughts:
David’s final moments remind us that even the
most revered leaders are still deeply human — frail, flawed, and finite. His
death, his vengeful commands, and his inability to establish lasting peace all
point to the need for a better King.
Jesus is that King.
He obeyed perfectly where David stumbled,
offered mercy where David demanded vengeance, and rose from the grave where
David’s body still lies. His resurrection proves that His rule is eternal, and
His reign is righteous. Unlike David, Jesus does not need to pass His kingdom
to another — He lives and reigns forever. If David’s throne was a shadow, Jesus
is the substance. And if David's kingdom fell short, Christ's kingdom fulfills
every promise.
The question for us isn’t whether we admire
Jesus as King, but whether we’ve actually submitted our lives to His rule.
END
Teacher's Notes:
When you realize how old you are...
In 1 Kings 2, we see King David at the end of
his earthly life, passing the royal mantle of power on to his son Solomon. He
explains that men must be strong and careful in their role of leadership.
This reminded me of another father/son
passing of power.
Now, I’m not saying that King David and
Solomon are like Don Vito and Michael Corleone but there are some similarities
here.
There's a question of Personal Vengeance vs. A King’s
Responsibility.
As king David nears death, he gives his final
instructions, urging Solomon to be strong, to be a man, and to walk faithfully
in God’s ways.
But David also calls on Solomon to deal
decisively with those threatening the kingdom’s stability.
I want us to talk about these 3 points our lesson makes about David:
- He was weak, vengeful, and temporary.
1 Kings 2:1-4
David's Instructions to Solomon
When David's time to die drew near, he
commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth.
Be strong, and show yourself a man, 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, 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 a man on the throne of Israel.’
No matter how promising or devout a king may
begin, death awaits him, sin resides in him, and corruption awaits the human
institutions he leads.
1 Kings 2:5-9
“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 in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the
blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. Act
therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to
Sheol in peace. 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 they met
me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 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.’ 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.”
There was a country song that addressed this
question…
“Let the good Lord do His job and you just
pray for them.”
Would you agree with this?
But what if our prayer goes like this…
What do you think?
Was he wrong to do this?
Though some of this was wise, it reveals a
heart still wrestling with unfinished justice and unresolved anger.
The man who once wrote, “Create in me a clean
heart” ends with, “Do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.”
1 Kings 2:10-12
The Death of David
Then David slept with his fathers and was
buried in the city of David. And the time that David reigned over Israel was
forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in
Jerusalem. So, Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom
was firmly established.
Where David and Solomon were mortal and
flawed, Jesus is eternal and holy. Where earthly kings could establish peace
for a season, Jesus established a kingdom of everlasting peace and
righteousness.
END
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