God sometimes makes surprising choices
Why did Solomon become king? He was certainly not David’s eldest son or the only candidate.
There is a whole story behind this, of course, but at it simplest, the reason Solomon became king is that God decided this was how it would be.
David had at least eight wives altogether as well as many concubines. His first wife was Michal, daughter of Saul, who was unsympathetic to him and his enthusiastic worship of God and was unable to have children. There were also Ahinoam of Jezreel, Abigail of Carmel, Maacah daughter of Talmai King of Geshur, Haggith, Abital and Eglah. None of these were destined to be Queen Mother. That honour was reserved to Bathsheba, perhaps the most unlikely choice. Michal certainly disgraced herself but surely the wise and tactful Abigail of Carmel would have been a more obvious choice or may be one of the others.
Altogether David had at least 19 sons. 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 says that Amnon, Daniel, Absalom, Adonijah and two others were born in Hebron. At least 13 more were later born in Jerusalem. We know only some names. Amnon, of course, was a wicked man and was killed by Absalom. Amnon could not be king then. Absalom later rebelled against David and led a coup that looked at one point as though it would succeed – but did not and he died too. We know that Adonijah also attempted to make himself king. He also died.
David had four sons by Bathsheba - Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. Of these four, it was Solomon who became king. In 1 Chronicles 28:5, 6 David says 'Of all my sons - and the LORD has given me many - he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. He said to me, Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.'
All the way through the Bible God does this sort of thing. David himself was youngest of eight sons. When Samuel came to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons on that fateful day, David’s father had not even bothered to order his youngest son in from the fields, so little important was he considered to be. Yet he became king not one of the others. In the Book of Judges you have surprising choices such as Gideon, Abimelech and Jephthah. Joseph was one of Jacob’s youngest sons and Jacob himself was the younger twin. The God of grace loves to act in such ways. He does it to display his sovereignty and highlight his grace. He is the one who has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy. Look to him whoever you are.
God has great purposes for his people
We have already quoted 2 Sam 12:24, 25 which tells of Solomon’s birth. They are verses worth pondering.
In 1 Chron 22:9, 10 God says to David regarding his successor 'But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.'
The name Solomon is based on the Hebrew word for peace or prosperity, Shalom. Solomon’s reign was going to be quite different to David’s. Solomon was a bringer of peace. This is one of the ways in which he points us to Christ, the King of Peace. Solomon’s reign speaks of the peace that transcends understanding and comes to all God’s people and the everlasting peace that will be ushered in when Christ comes again to rule in glory. This peace can be yours forever through faith in Christ.
Solomon’s alternative name, Jedidiah, means ‘loved of the Lord’. This was very true of Solomon, and again points to Christ. What is said of Solomon is true of all who put their faith in Christ. They are loved of the Lord. There is nothing greater than the love of God. Look to him.
Why did Solomon become king? He was certainly not David’s eldest son or the only candidate.
There is a whole story behind this, of course, but at it simplest, the reason Solomon became king is that God decided this was how it would be.David had at least eight wives altogether as well as many concubines. His first wife was Michal, daughter of Saul, who was unsympathetic to him and his enthusiastic worship of God and was unable to have children. There were also Ahinoam of Jezreel, Abigail of Carmel, Maacah daughter of Talmai King of Geshur, Haggith, Abital and Eglah. None of these were destined to be Queen Mother. That honour was reserved to Bathsheba, perhaps the most unlikely choice. Michal certainly disgraced herself but surely the wise and tactful Abigail of Carmel would have been a more obvious choice or may be one of the others.
Altogether David had at least 19 sons. 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 says that Amnon, Daniel, Absalom, Adonijah and two others were born in Hebron. At least 13 more were later born in Jerusalem. We know only some names. Amnon, of course, was a wicked man and was killed by Absalom. Amnon could not be king then. Absalom later rebelled against David and led a coup that looked at one point as though it would succeed – but did not and he died too. We know that Adonijah also attempted to make himself king. He also died.
David had four sons by Bathsheba - Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. Of these four, it was Solomon who became king. In 1 Chronicles 28:5, 6 David says 'Of all my sons - and the LORD has given me many - he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. He said to me, Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.'
All the way through the Bible God does this sort of thing. David himself was youngest of eight sons. When Samuel came to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons on that fateful day, David’s father had not even bothered to order his youngest son in from the fields, so little important was he considered to be. Yet he became king not one of the others. In the Book of Judges you have surprising choices such as Gideon, Abimelech and Jephthah. Joseph was one of Jacob’s youngest sons and Jacob himself was the younger twin. The God of grace loves to act in such ways. He does it to display his sovereignty and highlight his grace. He is the one who has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy. Look to him whoever you are.
God has great purposes for his people
We have already quoted 2 Sam 12:24, 25 which tells of Solomon’s birth. They are verses worth pondering.
In 1 Chron 22:9, 10 God says to David regarding his successor 'But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.'
The name Solomon is based on the Hebrew word for peace or prosperity, Shalom. Solomon’s reign was going to be quite different to David’s. Solomon was a bringer of peace. This is one of the ways in which he points us to Christ, the King of Peace. Solomon’s reign speaks of the peace that transcends understanding and comes to all God’s people and the everlasting peace that will be ushered in when Christ comes again to rule in glory. This peace can be yours forever through faith in Christ.
Solomon’s alternative name, Jedidiah, means ‘loved of the Lord’. This was very true of Solomon, and again points to Christ. What is said of Solomon is true of all who put their faith in Christ. They are loved of the Lord. There is nothing greater than the love of God. Look to him.
No comments:
Post a Comment