Solomon: The King with a Listening Heart

The first two chapters of 1 Kings are truly transitional, for they mark the move from the rule of King David to the next in line in his family, King Solomon. King David appears to have little zest for life in his senior years, with a result that matters of state were beginning to slip and events were about to preempt any wish or instruction David might give about who was to be the future king. It was time someone took action and that person seems to have been Nathan the prophet. David’s son Adonijah puts himself forward as the new leader asserting, “I will be king,” but the prophet Nathan and David’s Queen Bathsheba halt Adonijah’s quest for the throne by pleading with King David to act immediately and decisively on naming a successor; David, therefore, declares Solomon to be king; Adonijah’s coronation festivities are suddenly halted with the news of Solomon’s installation as king in Israel and King David’s charge to Solomon and David’s death. And now we examine and discover the character and life of Solomon.