David-The Death of a King

By Mary Vee
I Kings 2

From Solomon's Notes

I knew my father, king David, would soon die. He knew it too. I loves him so and didn't look forward to the days to come.

He called me into his bed chamber and said, "Solomon, my son, I will not be here much longer. You must be strong and prove yourself a man."

My dad meant so much to me. He lived to please and honor God and to help the people of our country. If only I could be as good of a king when I sit on his throne.

I gave him something to drink. He had to work so hard to swallow. He then said, "Keep the charge of the Lord your God. Walk in His ways to keep His commandments, judgements  and testimonies as it is written in the Law of Moses. When you do, you will prosper where ever your turn and the Lord will fulfill His word which He spoke to me,'If your sons will listen and learn to walk before Me in truth will all their heart and soul, there will always be a son of yours on the throne.'"

"I will, father, I will do my best."

He squirmed to get comfortable  then said,"Solomon, my son, there are some details I need to take care of for me."

"Yes, father, I will do them. What are they?"

"First, remember what Joab did to me and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner and Amasa. He killed them both. He also killed during a time of peace and counted those on his war belt. Use your wisdom and don't let him go to his grave in peace. He wrongly killed those men."

"Second, show kindness to Barzillai the Gileadite and his sons. He stayed faithful to me when I hid from your brother, Absalom. Allow his sons to eat at your table."

"Third, Shimei, a Benjamite is here. He cursed me with a malicious curse back when I went to Mahanaim. He came to me, down at the Jordan, the day I returned to my throne. For the sake of those around I told him I would not put him to death for the evil he did. After I have gone, use your wisdom by punishing him for his guilt. You will know what to do to him. Send him to his grave early."

I pressed my arm on his and spoke softly. "I will take care of all these things, father."

Not long after, my father, David the King of Israel and Judah, took his last breath and rested with his fathers. We buried him in the City of David. My father reigned over Israel forty years, for seven of the years he reigned in Hebron, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty three years.

I sat on the throne during my father's last days, ruling as he would have. But now he is gone and I must rule by myself. I hardly know how to judge the people or what to do. I wish he was here...I miss him so.

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photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

1.  Who is Solomon?
2.  Who was his father?
3.  David asked Solomon to keep what?
4. David asked Solomon to punish Joab because he did what?
5. David asked Solomon to treat ______ with kindness because he __________
6. David asked Solomon to punish Shimei because he _________
7. And Solomon said he would ________

David-A Coup Squashed

By Mary Vee

I Kings 1

From the Prophet Nathan's notes

There. David said it. In front of witnesses.

He proclaimed his son Adonijah would not be king. Instead Bathesheba's son, Solomon would rein on his throne . . .that very night. 

After comforting Bathsheba with these words in his bed chamber, David set his decree in motion. The poor man could not even sit, he was so ill. Yet he pulled together all his strength to see this decree through. 

David called for Zadok the priest, Benaiah, and myself to his chambers. "Follow my orders exactly as I say. Have my son, Solomon, ride on my own mule to Gihon. Once there, you, Zadok and Nathan, are to anoint Solomon king over Israel. Blow the horn and say, 'Long Live King Solomon!'"

Next, escort Solomon back here to the throne and have him sit in my place. Do this because I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judea.

Benaiah raised a fist and shouted, "Amen! Solomon shall be king instead of Adonijah. As the Lord has been with you, my king, may He also be with Solomon and make his throne greater than your throne."

We left the king's sick bed chamber and looked for Solomon and found him in his room. "Come, quickly, Solomon. Your father, David has decreed you are to be the next king. We must hurry. If Adonijah succeeds in returning to the throne before us, your life will be at risk."

He did not show a cocky or frightened spirit. Solomon had learned to obey the word of his father. He followed us through the corridors of the palace to the king's stable. There we ordered the stableman to bring David's mule.

Solomon mounted the mule and rode as we walked to Gihon as David ordered. A group of Cherethites and Pelethites joined us in our march. Once we arrived, Zadok took the horn of oil from the Tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Everyone with us blew horns and shouted "Long Live King Solomon!"  

We gathered a great many people, parading with flutes and rejoicing so loud over our new king I thought the earth would split with their sound.

As the cheering rang to the hills, a spy, who attended Adonijah's celebration, came to me. "Nathan, Adonijah heard the noises as they finished their celebration meal. Joab asked what the noise was all about. Jonathan ran into the room and Adonijah gave him permission to speak right away because he proved himself to be loyal and trustworthy. 

"Jonathan looked frightened. 'No! I do not have good news. King David has made Solomon king. He sent Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites to anoint Solomon king over Israel and Judah! The rejoicing you here are all these men plus all the people who have joined the celebration. My lord, Adonijah, Solomon sits on the kings throne at this very moment!' 

"When Jonathan finished those words everyone at Adonijah's celebration ran out of the room screaming for their lives. Adonijah ran himself, like a wild man, to the altar and grabbed the horns, refusing to let go."

Moments later a guard reported the same words to Solomon. "Adonijah is afraid of you, King Solomon. He stands at this very moment grasping the horns of the altar and screaming, 'Let King Solomon swear to me that he will not kill me with the sword.'

As I expected, King Solomon proved himself worthy of his crown from his very first decree. He said, "If Adonijah proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall. But if wickedness is found in him, he will die. Now, go get Adonijah and bring him here."

The guards escorted Adonijah to King Solomon's throne. There he fell to the ground and begged for mercy. Solomon raised his hand and said, "Go to you house."

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1.  Who did David say would NOT be king?

2.  Who did David say will be king that very night?

3.  What had Adonijah done?

4.  What did David tell Nathan the prophet and Zadok the priest to do?

5.  When Adonijah heard the news what did he do?

6.  What was Solomon's first decree?

7.  Which one of David's sons did God want as the next king, Adonijah or Solomon?

David-Scandal and Palace Coup

By Mary Vee
I Kings 1

From the Prophet Nathan's Journal

This is the time for new beginnings. I understand you are celebrating a new year. We too are experiencing something new, but, I refuse to celebrate this event.

Recently, King David became too sick to go about his business as king. He is rather old and will probably die soon. His son, Adonijah, the fourth child born to David, knew his father's last day would come soon and assumed he was the next rightful king. 

He stood before the king's court and said, "I will be king." He ordered chariots and horsemen to be brought to him. Next he appointed fifty men to run before the chariots, showing the people he had authority. David did not punish Adonijah for this behavior.

Adonijah was handsome like his brother, Absalom, who died shortly after overthrowing the palace. Adonijah called Joab, the captain of the army and Abiathar, the priest.  Unbelievable. I thought they would have learned to not participate in these takeovers after Absalom's failed attempt. 

Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and healthy cattle near EnRogel to proclaim his kingship. He also invited all his brothers, the king's sons, the men of Judah, and the king's servants to the celebration. But he didn't invite me or Solomon.

What does this tell us? Uh huh. He knew Solomon had been chosen to be the next king and he knew I would defend the Lord's will. 

Adonijah may think he will succeed, but I still have a say. I went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother and said, "Did you hear Adonijah has become king and David our lord does not know it?"

Her brows deepened with worry. "No, I hadn't heard. David said my son, Solomon, would be the next king."

"Yes, I know. He told me. We need to act quickly. Please do as I say. Go immediately to King David and say to him 'My lord, didn't you promise me Solomon would reign and sit on your throne after you? Why then has Adonijah become king?' Then, while you are still talking with the king, I will come in to the king's chamber and confirm your words."

"I will go right away." She rushed toward the door then turned back. "Thank you, Nathan."

She ran to David's chamber and begged to speak with him on an urgent matter. David, of course invited her into his room where he lay covered with several blankets and shivering. Once he realized she was there he said, "What is your wish?"

She bowed before him and said the words I gave her. "And as for you, my lord, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to tell them who will sit on the throne after you. If you do not speak, then Solomon and I will be counted as offenders and be imprisoned."

As she finished her words and left his room I stepped into the king's chamber and waited to be announced. When David gave me permission to see him, I bowed low, with my face to the ground. "If I may, my lord. Have you said Adonijah will be king after you and sit on your throne? He went down today and sacrificed many oxen, healthy cattle, and sheep. He invited all your son's, the commanders of your army, and Abiathar the priest.

"They are having a party at this very moment celebrating Adonijah as the next king and shouting, 'Long Live King Adonijah!' But, he has not invited me, Zadok, Benaiah, or Solomon. Did you do this without telling me?"

David took a small drink and said, "Call Bathsheba to me."

We called her back right away. She stood next to David's bed and bowed. David looked at me then at Bathsheba. "As the Lord lives who has redeemed my life from every distress, just as I promised to you before the Lord God of Israel, saying 'Solomon, your son, will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place,' this I will certainly do this day."

I am not surprised David honored his word. Now we need to stop the Coup.

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1.  Who is Adonijah?
2.  What did do?
3.  Who wasn't invited to Adonijah's party?
4.  ________________ did know what Adonijah did. She thought __________ had been chosen.
5. Who told David about the problem?
6. What did David do?
7. What still needs to be done?

David-The Sacrifice that Stopped a Plague

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 24

From David's Notes

The prophet Gad came to me again with a message. "Go build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."

Photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

I didn't ask any questions, I left right away for Araunah's house. 

He came out and greeted me, bowing his face low to the ground. "Why has my lord the king come to my home?"

"I have come to buy your threshing floor.  There I will build an altar to the Lord as He asked in order for the plague among our people may end."

He kept his head low and spoke again. "You may take the threshing floor and offer any sacrifice to Him. Look, I have oxen for burnt sacrifice and tools, and the yokes for wood. You make have all of this. With this I pray God will accept your sacrifice."

I shook my head. "No, I cannot accept these gifts. But, I will gladly buy it from you for a price. I cannot offer a sacrifice that costs me nothing."

We agreed on a price of fifty shekels of silver which I paid right then. After handing him the money I went up to the threshing floor, built and altar, and offered burnt and peace offerings to the Lord God of Israel.

Afterward the Lord was pleased and the plague stopped.

I became quite tired afterwards and went back to the palace to rest. My body was old and I felt sick. I felt a terrible chill throughout my body. The servants brought blankets and hot soup. Nothing warmed me enough. My advisors found a young woman to take care of me, cook food in my room, and bring me whatever I needed.

I knew my days would soon be over and a king would have to be named in my place. For now, I think I will sleep and talk about it again next time.

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1.  What prophet brought God's message to David?
2.  What did God want David to do?
3.  Did David respond right away?
4.  What did Araunah want to give David?
5.  Did David accept Araunah's gift? Why or why not?
6.  What happened after David offered the sacrifice?
7.  David was very old. What did he need to do next?

David-Greed and Pride

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 24

From David's Journal

I don't know why I did it. I shouldn't have.

I called Joab, the captain of my army. He met me in my chambers. "Joab, I want you to go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from the far north corner of Dan to the farthest south in Beersheba and count the people in our land."

photo courtesy of christianimagesource.com

Joab stood silent for a minute. He stoke his beard. "May the Lord your God multiply the people before your eyes as a blessing. Why would you want a census taken? The Lord has blessed us with enough fighting men."

"It is not your business," I answered. 

He didn't bother to argue any longer. He took the other captains with him and went about the land counting all the people of Israel.

After going through all the land, Joab and the other captains returned to Jerusalem. They were gone nine months and twenty days. Joab came to my chamber and reported the numbers he collected: Eight hundred thousand valiant men who could fight with a sword and five hundred thousand men from Judah.

The second the words fell from Joab's lips I knew I had sinned. My heart ached with guilt and forced me to go to the Lord and confess. "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Oh God, please forgive me for I have been foolish."

The next morning the prophet Gad came to me with a message from the Lord. "My lord, God has spoken His judgement against you. He will allow you to choose one of three punishments: 1. seven years of famine will strike the land. 2. you will run from your enemies for three months while they attack you. 3. Three days of plague in the land. Which would you have me say is your choice?"

"This is terrible. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great. Do not let me fall into the hands of man like the first two choices would bring."

The prophet Gad took my answer to the Lord. I didn't know how to prepare the people for the next three days.

The Lord sent a plague upon Israel from the morning to the appointed time. From the north in Dan to the south in Beersheba seventy thousand men died. The angel stretched His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, but the Lord stopped the destruction and told the angel to stop.

I cried to the Lord as the angel struck the people, "I am the one who sinned. I have done wickedly. These people of yours, what have they done against You?"


The Lord ended the plague.
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1. What did David ask Joab to do?
2. Did Joab agreed with the command?
3. Did Joab carry out the order?
4. What happened?
5. What did God say?
6. Which punishment did David choose and why?
7. How did David show he was sorry?

The Last Words of David

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 23

photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

The last words of David are quite special. God's Word called David the son of Jesse, the man raised up on high, God's anointed, and was considered the sweet psalmist of Israel.



Here is what David said:

God’s Spirit spoke through me,
    his words took shape on my tongue.
The God of Israel spoke to me,
    Israel’s Rock-Mountain said,
“Whoever governs fairly and well,
    who rules in the Fear-of-God,
Is like first light at daybreak
    without a cloud in the sky,
Like green grass carpeting earth,
    glistening under fresh rain.”
And this is just how my regime has been,
    for God guaranteed his covenant with me,
Spelled it out plainly
    and kept every promised word—
My entire salvation,
    my every desire.
But the devil’s henchmen are like thorns
    culled and piled as trash;
Better not try to touch them;
    keep your distance with a rake or hoe.

They’ll make a glorious bonfire!

The list of men who served under David reads better than a hall of fame list.

Josheb-Basshebeth killed 800 enemy soldiers at one time.

Eleazar fought the Philistines until his hand was weary and stuck to the shelf

Shammah stood his ground in the middle of a field, by himself, defending it and killing th e Philistines. 

During the battle against the Philistines, David stood in the stronghold, overlooking the Philistines. He swallowed and said, "Oh, I wish someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, the one near the gate"

Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah looked at each other then crept out of the stronghold. They broke through the enemy lines, drew the bucket from the well, and poured water into a cup. They transported it safely back to the stronghold and  presented it to David.

David looked at the cup of water and the three mighty men. He considered the risk his men had taken to fulfill his selfish wish. His heart pounded and he lowered his head.  He dumped the water on the ground and said, "I can't. I can't accept this water. Not at the cost of my men who put their very blood in jeopardy to serve me a cup of water."  

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1. What did the Spirit of the Lord say to David?

2. What great thing did Josheb-Bashebeth do?

3. What great thing did Eleazar do?

4. What great thing did Shammah do?

5. What did David wish for?

6. What did Josheb-Bashebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah do to surprise David?

7. Was David happy with their gift?

blah

David-Sings to the Lord, pt 2

By Mary Vee

II Samuel 22

Dear Reader, 

David sings a song to the Lord. It takes fifty one verses in the Bible. Because of its length it will be broken into two posts. As you read, you will see why God speaks so favorably of David. 

If you missed part one click here
Here is the second part of David's song, taken from The Message

image from

christianimagesource.com

You stick by people who stick with you,
    you’re straight with people who’re straight with you,
You’re good to good people,
    you shrewdly work around the bad ones.
You take the side of the down-and-out,
    but the stuck-up you take down a peg.

 Suddenly, God, your light floods my path,
    God drives out the darkness.
I smash the bands of marauders,
    I vault the high fences.
What a God! His road
    stretches straight and smooth.
Every God-direction is road-tested.
    Everyone who runs toward him
Makes it.

 Is there any god like God?
    Are we not at bedrock?
Is not this the God who armed me well,
    then aimed me in the right direction?
Now I run like a deer;
    I’m king of the mountain.
He shows me how to fight;
    I can bend a bronze bow!
You protect me with salvation-armor;
    you touch me and I feel ten feet tall.
You cleared the ground under me
    so my footing was firm.
When I chased my enemies I caught them;
    I didn’t let go till they were dead men.
I nailed them; they were down for good;
    then I walked all over them.
You armed me well for this fight;
    you smashed the upstarts.
You made my enemies turn tail,
    and I wiped out the haters.
They cried “uncle”
    but Uncle didn’t come;
They yelled for God
    and got no for an answer.
I ground them to dust; they gusted in the wind.
    I threw them out, like garbage in the gutter.
You rescued me from a squabbling people;
    you made me a leader of nations.
People I’d never heard of served me;
    the moment they got wind of me they submitted.
They gave up; they came trembling from their hideouts.

 Live, God! Blessing to my Rock,
    my towering Salvation-God!
This God set things right for me
    and shut up the people who talked back.
He rescued me from enemy anger.
    You pulled me from the grip of upstarts,
You saved me from the bullies.
    That’s why I’m thanking you, God,
    all over the world.
That’s why I’m singing songs
    that rhyme your name.
God’s king takes the trophy;
    God’s chosen is beloved.
I mean David and all his children—
    always.

What did David say god did for him? and also will do for you?

David Sings to the Lord

By Mary Vee

II Samuel 22

Dear Reader, 

David sings a song to the Lord. It takes fifty one verses in the Bible. Because of its length it will be broken into two posts. As you read, you will see why God speaks so favorably of David. 

Here is the first part of David's song, taken from The Message

image from
christianimagesource.com

God is bedrock under my feet,
    the castle in which I live,
    my rescuing knight.
My God—the high crag
    where I run for dear life,
    hiding behind the boulders,
    safe in the granite hideout;
My mountaintop refuge,
    he saves me from ruthless men.

 I sing to God the Praise-Lofty,
    and find myself safe and saved.

 The waves of death crashed over me,
    devil waters rushed over me.
Hell’s ropes cinched me tight;
    death traps barred every exit.

 A hostile world! I called to God,
    to my God I cried out.
From his palace he heard me call;
    my cry brought me right into his presence—
    a private audience!

 Earth wobbled and lurched;
    the very heavens shook like leaves,
Quaked like aspen leaves
    because of his rage.
His nostrils flared, billowing smoke;
    his mouth spit fire.
Tongues of fire darted in and out;
    he lowered the sky.
He stepped down;
    under his feet an abyss opened up.
He rode a winged creature,
    swift on wind-wings.
He wrapped himself
    in a trenchcoat of black rain-cloud darkness.
But his cloud-brightness burst through,
    a grand comet of fireworks.
Then God thundered out of heaven;
    the High God gave a great shout.
God shot his arrows—pandemonium!
    He hurled his lightnings—a rout!
The secret sources of ocean were exposed,
    the hidden depths of earth lay uncovered
The moment God roared in protest,
    let loose his hurricane anger.

 But me he caught—reached all the way
    from sky to sea; he pulled me out
Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,
    the void in which I was drowning.
They hit me when I was down,
    but God stuck by me.
He stood me up on a wide-open field;
    I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!

 God made my life complete
    when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I cleaned up my act,
    he gave me a fresh start.
Indeed, I’ve kept alert to God’s ways;
    I haven’t taken God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works,
    I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together,
    and I’m watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life
    when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

The second half of the song will be given in the next post

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1. What was David singing about?

David-Giants in the Land

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 21

From David's Notes

photo courtesy of visualbibleimages.com
the city of Gath.

The Philistines went to war against us, again. Some of their soldiers grew as tall as Goliath, one was Goliath's brother. Four wars happened one right after the other.

The first war: I went with my brothers down and fought against the Philistines. All right. I admit it. I no longer had a youthful body. My arms grew tired and I couldn't run as fast as the others. I needed to take a break before I fainted.

Ishbi-Benob stood tall as a giant. He carried a bronze spear weighing three hundred shekels. He ran toward me ready to attack. I would have died except the Lord sent Abishai to save me. Abishai struck the giant and killed him. 

The men gathered around me, very concerned. "My lord, you cannot come to battle with us any more. Stay at the castle and let us fight. We don't want the lamp of Israel to go out."

I had to admit it, they were right. My days of fighting were over.

The second war: The Philistines attacked at Gob. At this battle, I received a report stating Sibbechai killed the Philistine giant named Saph.

The third war: The Philistines attacked at Gob, again. Elhanan, from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath. His brother was a giant also, carrying a spear powerful like a weaver's beam.

The fourth war: The Philistines attacked at Gath. Among their soldiers was a tall man, a son of a giant, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He mocked our army.  My nephew, Jonathan burst forward and killed the giant.

After the fourth battle we had peace, and I was glad . . . because I was, and am tired.

Here is a Psalm we sing. You call it Psalm 24

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.

 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully. 
He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah

 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah

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1. David fought in how many of these last four wars?
2. Why didn't he fight in all of them?
3.  What giant died in the first war?
4. What giant died in the second war?
5. What giant died in the third war?
6. What giant died in the fourth war?