Category: Bible Challenge

“But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. ‘What is your advice?’ he asked them. ‘How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?’” v. 8-9
Rehoboam asked for advice, but he didn’t carefully evaluate what he was told. If he had, he would have realized that the advice offered by the elders was wiser than that of his peers.

To evaluate advice, ask if it is realistic, workable, and consistent with biblical principles. Determine if the results of following the advice will be fair, make improvements, and give a positive solution or direction. Seek counsel from those who are more experienced and wiser. Advice is helpful only if it is consistent with God’s standard.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“She exclaimed to the king, ‘Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true! I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told. How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom! Praise the LORD your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with justice and righteousness.’” v.6-9
As God started working in Solomon’s life, people took notice and stories began to spread about him. The queen of Sheba came to see for herself if everything she heard about Solomon was true. Contests using riddles or proverbs were often used to test wisdom. The queen may have used some of these as she questioned Solomon. When she realized the extent of his riches and wisdom, she was overwhelmed and no longer questioned his power or wisdom. No longer a competitor, she became and admirer. Her experience was repeated by many kings and foreign dignitaries who paid honor to Solomon.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Then the Lord gave this message to Solomon: ‘Concerning this Temple you are building, if you keep all my decrees and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father, David. I will live among the Israelites and will never abandon my people Israel.’”v.11-13
Solomon put great detail in constructing the temple. From the stones, wood, gold, statues and tools, all of these were used in a way to show reverence and awe to God.

The temple had a purpose. God promised to that his eternal presence would never leave the Temple as long as one condition was met: The Israelites had to obey God’s law. Knowing how many laws they had to follow, we may think this condition was difficult. But the Israelites’ situation was much like ours today. They were cut off from God for failing to keep some small part of a law. Forgiveness was simply provided for all their sins, no matter how large or small. As you read the history of the kings, that law breaking was the result, not the cause, of estrangement from God. The kings abandoned God in their hearts first and then failed to keep his laws. When we close our hearts to God, we soon lose his power and presence.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Then he said, ‘Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!’” v.25
Solomon’s settlement of this dispute was a classic example of his wisdom. This wise ruling was verification that God had answered Solomon’s prayer and given him an understanding heart. We have God’s wisdom available to us as we pray and request it. But, like Solomon, we must put it into action. Applying wisdom to life demonstrates our understanding.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“‘Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?’” v.7-9
What a great request from a humble and honest leader. When given the chance to have anything in the world, Solomon asked for wisdom – “an understanding heart” – in order to lead well and to make decisions. We can ask God for this same wisdom. Notice that Solomon asked for understanding to carry out his job; he didn’t ask God to do the job for him. We should not ask God to do for us what he wants to do through us. Instead, we should ask God to give us the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to follow through on it.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“‘Not at all!’ Jonathan replied. ‘Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king!’ Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered. Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed onto the horns of the altar.” v. 43;49-50
Sometimes it takes getting caught before someone is willing to give up his scheme. When Adonijah learned that his plans the be king were doomed to fail, he ran in panic to the altar, the place of Gods mercy and forgiveness. For us today it would be like saying a prayer, or running to a church. He went there after his plans for treason were exposed. If Adonijah had first considered what God wanted, he might have avoided trouble. Don’t wait until you have made a mess of your life, or got caught in a situation, before you fun to God. Seek God’s guidance everyday before you act.

Taken for the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, ‘I will make myself king.’ So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, ‘Why are you doing that?’ Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.” v.5-6
God fearing people like David and Samuel were used by God to lead nations; nevertheless they had problems in family relationships. God-fearing leaders cannot take for granted the spiritual well being of their children. They are used to having others follow their orders, but they cannot expect their children to manufacture faith upon request. Moral and and spiritual character takes years to build, and it requires constant attention and patient discipline.

Adonijah decided to seize the throne without David’s knowledge. He knew that Solomon, not he was Davids first choice to be the next king. This is why he didn’t invite Solomon or David’s royal advisers when he declared himself king. Thankfully his deceptive plans to gain the throne were interrupted by the prophet Nathan.

When Nathan learned of Adonijahs conspiracy, he immediately tried to stop it. He was a man of both faith and action. He knew that Solomon should rightly be king, and he moved quickly when he saw someone else trying to take the throne. We often know what is right but don’t act on it. Perhaps we don;t want to get involved, or maybe we are fearful or lazy. Don’t stop with prayer, good intentions, or angry feelings. Take the action needed to correct the situation. Be a Nathan!

David served God well as king, but as a parent he often failed both God and his children. Don’t let your service to God, even in leadership posstions, take up so much of your time and energy that you neglect your other God-given responsibilities.

“During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air. One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, ‘I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.’” v.9-10
And you thought the Bible was boring!

“After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. Then Absalom would say, ‘You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!’
When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and embraced them. Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.” v.1-6
Absolom’s political strategy was to steal the hearts of the people with his good looks, grand entrances, apparent concern for justice, and friendly embraces. Many were fooled and switched their allegiance. Later, however, Absalom proved to be an evil ruler.

We need to evaluate our leaders (and ourselves) to make sure their/our charisma is not a mask covering graft, deception, or hunger of power. Make sure that underneath their/our style and charm, they/we are able to make good decisions and handle people wisely.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

Absalom told his men, ‘Wait until Amnon gets drunk; then at my signal, kill him! Don’t be afraid. I’m the one who has given the command. Take courage and do it!’ So at Absalom’s signal they murdered Amnon. Then the other sons of the king jumped on their mules and fled.” v.28-29
Absolom took matters into his own hands and killed Amnon for raping his sister. David was mad with Amnon for raping Tamar, but David did not punish him. David probably hesitated because:
1.) he didn’t want to cross Amnon, who was his first born son and next inline to be king
2.) David was quilty of a similar sin himself in his adultry with Bathseba. While David was unsurpassed as a king and millitary leader, he lacked skill and sensitivity as a husband and father.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible