Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, November 17, 2012 Read – 2 Samuel 24 & 1 Kings 1 We have skipped a few chapters to get to the end of David’s reign and usher in the beginning of the reign of Solomon. It is not because these chapters are not important and have nothing to offer. In fact, chapter 22 becomes Psalm 18 and summarizes the life of David. We have met these poetic renditions before. If one reads only chapter 22 or hears the story only as told in Psalm 18, a remarkably cleaned up story of David emerges. Gone are all the detestable parts of the story. Perhaps it is valuable to remember David with fondness. That is what these stories do. But even though it is not a pleasant story, I’m happy we have all the rest as well – all the “bad stuff” that David may well have wished we did not know. Chapter 24 tells of David’s last sinful act – the act of taking a census. One might wonder what makes that so bad. The point is that David is counting his forces as if their number is responsible for his triumphs. But the “victories” in this story are the result of God’s actions, not human actions. So, taking a census is really a sign of not trusting God. When we think we need to know how much we’ve got to see if we can succeed, we are in trouble. Regardless of what we have, if it is God desire to accomplish something, God will. The Story of David ends on a rather sour note. David falls under the punishment of God for his sin. At least David is wise enough to know that God is merciful, so he chooses to fall into the hands of God. The first chapter of 1 Kings tells the story of the rise of Solomon to power. Like much of what has come before it, this is not a “nice” story to hear. David lies on his deathbed and his sons squabble over who will succeed him. What a sad tale! The son to make the first move is Adonijah, the next in line – the oldest of the remaining sons. It would make logical sense that he would emerge as David’s successor. And, as the story is told, he likely would have succeeded had not Bathsheba intervened on behalf of her son Solomon. Once again palace intrigue is afoot. Bathsheba plots with Nathan and Zadok. The elderly David, so feeble that he needs a young woman’s warmth just to keep from freezing to death, appears in this story to be manipulated by the trio. If David ever did promise his kingdom to Solomon that is a story will have not read in the Bible. Bathsheba and her cohort succeed and Solomon becomes king – and more of the dysfunction of this family is revealed. Adonijah is left to rush to the altar for sanctuary pleading for his very life. He is spared for the time being. Again, we cannot help but wonder what God thinks of all of this. Can this possibly be the way God wanted things to unfold?