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Week Thirty-One, Day Four

1 Kings 1:11 - 2:10

In his old age, David is manipulated by Nathan and Bathsheba to ensure that Solomon becomes his successor. Apparently, Adonijah, David’s oldest son after Absalom’s death, had begun to assume leadership of Israel. While Adonijah and his friends were partying, Solomon was anointed and proclaimed the royal successor. When Adonijah and his followers heard this they proclaimed their loyalty to Solomon, though the text notes that they only did this out of fear.

In chapter two we hear David’s final instructions to his son Solomon. One would hope that this text would be inspirational and instructional, not just for David’s heir but for all those who follow. What we get, though, is essentially David’s hit list. He takes Solomon aside and gives him a list of those who need to be taken care of and disposed of after his death.

The text concludes, “Then David slept with his ancestors and was buried.” (1 Kings 2:10) The life and reign that began so gloriously seems to end with a whimper and a sigh. As a boy, David single-handedly took on the giant Goliath, and exercised great love and grace. In the end, he tells Solomon to kill his brother, and Joab who had served him and Israel so well, and even a priest who David has sworn to protect.

We are left to wonder if David actually gave these instructions to Solomon or if the author seeking to protect the reputation of Solomon attributes the motivation to David. It appears that, upon David’s death, Solomon decided to consolidate his power by eliminating rivals. This seems a more congruent explanation than blaming the idea on David; however, the writer of the story is clear that the end of David’s reign and of his life were not glorious. The writer makes public David’s sexual dysfunction and then simply lets him fade away.

David tells Solomon that he is going “the way of all the earth,” which is true. However, I have been privileged to know women and men who did not simply fade away, but who used the energy of their lives to make a difference almost until the end. Many of my peers want to retire so they can relax and play, but some want to retire from having to make money so they can use their time and talent and energy to make a difference. Many are those who make a good beginning of their lives, leaving college with energy, resolve, vitality and passion. Great souls manage to stay fully alive all of their days, and, when they die, those who write their life story don’t note that their souls needed Viagra.

Blessings,

Michael
President, Hope for Peace & Justice

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