Road to Revelation: 1 and 2 Kings + 1 and 2 Chronicles: Introduction and Solomon

And so begins the roller coaster of history that is the books of Kings and Chronicles.  While we are not certain of the author of Kings we know from Jewish tradition that Ezra compiled Chronicles from the written and oral histories of God’s people (Ezra is the guy who returns with the people back to their land after exile).  While Kings carries straight on with the story of Israel’s monarchy after Samuel, Chronicles starts with a long genealogy showing the origin of the kings etc. before retelling David’s life and reign.  This makes sense because Ezra couldn’t be sure the people had access to the book of Kings and he wanted the people to know the life and times of their greatest king and thereafter.  For the purpose of my notes I’m gonna stick with Kings and only reference Chronicles as necessary as they share much of the same material.

Kings begins with the end of David.  He is old, tired and cold.  He is given a lovely young lady to keep him warm and care for him and you think he will be left alone to die in peace of old age.  But trouble  is brewing… again… His son, Adonijah decides he will be the next king and gathers support from one of the priests and Joab [David’s right hand man].  When Nathan the prophet finds out about their plan he tells Bathsheba who reminds David that her son Solomon was the one chosen by God to be the next king (1 Chron 28:4-7) and David announces to the nation that his successor would be Solomon.  The nation rejoices and Solomon ascends the throne.  David dies in chapter 2 but not before instructing Solomon to kill all his and David’s enemies.

Chapter 3 is the famous texts of Solomon asking for wisdom and displaying said God given wisdom before the people [two prostitutes, one baby].  Solomon appoints governors throughout the kingdom and everyone lives in peace (1 Kings 4:20).  It is heaven on earth!!  But will it last… The text hints at the kingdom's inevitable demise by listing all that Solomon has gathered for himself; his many horses and a large household (remember the instructions to the kings in Deuteronomy!) There is only ONE king can give us everlasting peace without sin messing everything up…

And *plot spoilers* it’s not Solomon.

For the next few chapters (5-8) Solomon builds the temple and fills it with all kinds of riches from his father’s victories.  Then he secures Israel’s borders and trading partners, including dazzling the Queen of Sheba with his wisdom and riches.  He also dazzles many lovely ladies and builds up a harem of *gulp* 700 wives and *700 concubines (DEUTERONOMY!!) and this is his downfall.  His heart grows cold toward the Lord and he follows after his wives’ gods.  The Lord is [understandably] mad about it and his consequence for his idolatry is that after his death his kingdom will be torn in two and half of it given to a servant of his. Noooo!

 

But before the bad news, lets just stop here and enjoy the moment.  Solomon may have proved to be just as sinful of a human as the rest of us but he did bring some great stuff to the table also.  In a time of peace the arts thrive and from Solomon we get the books of Proverbs, Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes.  

Takeaway: If ever we are tempted to trust in pastors, governments, husbands, wives, friends, anyone to save us from ourselves we need only to look at Solomon's life and his reign over Israel.  It was as close to perfection as any of us are going to see this side of eternity and yet... even peace on earth while we are under the curse of sin can never last.  We are rotten in our core and things are on a downward trajectory toward death and destruction.  BUT let us never forget our eternal king, whose everlasting kingdom is NOT of this world!  It is above and beyond the laws of entropy and the Fall and let us put our hope in that kingdom to finally give us the peace we so crave (Rev 11:15).