David passes on some unfinished business to King Solomon (vs 1-12)

• Death of Adonijah (vs 13-25)
• Banishment of Abiathar (vs 26-27)
• Death of Joab (vs 28-35)
• Death of Shimei (vs 36-46)

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1 Chronicles 29

• The king’s offering (vs 1-5)
• The leader’s offering (vs 6-8)
• The joy of giving (vs 9). See also 2 Corinthians 8:12; 2 Corinthians 9:7.
• A thanksgiving prayer (vs 10-19)
• A thanksgiving offering (vs 20-21)
• Re-inauguration of Solomon (vs 22-25)
• Summary of David’s life and reign (vs 26-30)

Psalm 91

• Wise counsel: Trust God (vs 1-13)
• God confirms the counsel (vs 14-16)

Psalm 72

• The inscription says it all: A Psalm for Solomon (vs 1)
• David asks God to watch over the new king
• David posits that a godly king will make for a godly nation
• A godly king will help assure world peace
• A godly king will help the nation to prosper

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David’s last words

A final psalm (2 Samuel, vs 1-7)

• asserting divine inspiration (vs 2)
• acknowledging the Rock, the God of Israel (vs 3)
• asserting leadership qualifications (vs 3-4)
• acknowledging his own failures in this regard (v 5)
• asserting God’s grace on David’s behalf (v 5)
• acknowledging opposition to God’s leaders (v 6)
• asserting the difficulty of being rid of such opposition (v 7)

A state of the union address ( 1 Chronicles 28)

• David leaves no doubt in the minds of the nation that Solomon’s leadership was ordered by God (vs 1-7)
• David leaves no doubt that Solomon and the people are to build a temple to God (vs 8-10)
• David leaves no doubt as to the architectural plan of the temple (vs 11-19)
• David leaves no doubt that Solomon should follow God (vs 20-21)

Meditation Points:

1. What qualities does God expect in a leader? Are these the qualities preferred by today’s voters or alleged by today’s political candidates?
2. Like Moses who could see the promised land but not enter it, David knew the pattern of the temple but he would never enter it.

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Solomon becomes king

• David’s purely platonic, personal space heater (vs 1-4).
• Like Absolom before him, another son seeks his father David’s throne (vs 5-10)
• Nathan the prophet agrees with Bathsheba to remind David of his promise to leave the kingdom to their son Solomon (vs 11-27).
• David acknowledges his promise and orders that Solomon publicly be known as the new king (vs 28-40)
• Adonijah’s celebration ceases when news of Solomon’s enthronement arrives (vs 41-49)
• Adonijah, reminiscent of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, seeks sanctuary in a place of worship (vs 50-53)

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