Life of David: 28. David Has Solomon Anointed King

This is lesson 28 and the final lesson in the Life of David series. The scripture is 2 Samuel 19 and 1 Kings 1-2:12. The application worksheet is David: The Man and is a general review about David and can be used by itself to study David.

David’s son Absalom stood at the city gates talking to people and gaining their trust. Then, he gathered up his followers and tried to take over David’s kingdom. David and his people left Jerusalem when they heard Absalom was coming. David makes several stops and thinks that Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth wants the kingdom also.

David being the soldier that he is begins to gather his soldiers and work out their strategy for battle. David wanted to fight with his soldiers; but his people thought he was too important as the king to go into the battle. Absalom was killed and David returned to Jerusalem.

One of the people David had stopped to see when he fled Jerusalem was Shimei. He didn’t like David because David had become the king after King Saul died. He went to see King David in Jerusalem. He asked for forgiveness and said he knew he had done wrong. David told him that he was the king over Israel after all, and Shimei would not die because if it.

Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth also went to see David. He was a mess! He had not washed his clothes, trimmed his mustache or taken care of his feet since the day David left Jerusalem. David asked him “Why didn’t you go with me?” Mephibosheth answered that his servant Ziba deceived him. Ziba told him that since he was lame, he would go see the king. Mephibosheth said David was like an angel of God. He took care of him when all the other men in his family was dead. So, David learned that Mephibosheth had not betrayed him.

Some time passed and there were battles won. David grew old and they brought a young woman in to take care of him. At this time, Adonijah decided he would be the next king. He prepared chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run before him. He was Absalom’s younger brother. He was also very good looking. Joab and Abiathar the priest followed him. But, Nathan the prophet and some others stayed faithful to David.

Nathan went to see Bathsheba. He asked her if she knew that Adonijah was claiming to be the king. Nathan told Bathsheba to discuss this with David and while she was with him, he would come in and confirm that was true.

Bathsheba went in to see David and he asked her what she wished. She reminded David that their son Solomon was to be the next king. But Adonijah had made himself the king and all the people of Israel are waiting for David to tell them who should be their king. If David died before Solomon was made king, then she and Solomon would be treated as traitors. While she was talking to David, Nathan the prophet came in to see David. He asked if David had made Adonijah the king because he was having a party and the people were saying “Long live King Adonijah!”

David asked for Bathsheba and said “Surely your (our) son Solomon will be the king after me. He will sit on my throne instead of me and I will take care of it today.” David asked for Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah and told them to “Take his servants and have Solomon ride David’s mule. Go to Gihon and anoint Solomon king over Israel. Blow the horn and say ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then come back and he will sit on my throne and be king in my place because I have chosen him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

They did what David said and the people played flutes and celebrated. Adonijah wondered why there was so much noise during his party and was told that Solomon was anointed the new king by David. When the people heard, they left Adonijah’s party afraid to be with him.

David gave final instructions to Solomon including to stay faithful to God and obey His laws. David died and was buried in the City of David. David was 30 years old when he became the king and he reigned for 40 years (7 years in Hebron & 33 years in Jerusalem). So, he was about 70 when he died. 2 Samuel 5:4

The printables for David in this series are for an older age group than I usually post. David is a great study! So, as you can see from the above picture, there is a Q&A. This could be used with younger groups by using the answer sheet and just asking the questions for discussion. Each post in this series will have a maze and some type of puzzle. This additional application discusses the basics of David: The Man and can be used as a general study of David. This includes answers sheets for all worksheets. Click here to download.