Week 2 – Lessons from a young leader (1 Kings 2:13-4)

(Our G2G Curriculum was crafted in-house and is designed to follow our Fall Sermon Series: 1 Kings ~ A Heart & House Divided. Want to get connected to a G2G group? Contact us and we’ll find a spot for you!)

You may want to begin by watching the sermon that goes with this passage.

SUMMARY: In chapter 2 Adonijah approaches Bathesheba, the mother of king Solomon, to request a wife.  The woman of his dreams is none other than Abishag—the young virgin that kept David warm in his bed (1 Kings 1:1-4).  Bathsheba agrees to approach Solomon on Adonjiah’s behalf only her son an unwilling matchmaker.  Instead, Solomon has Adonijah killed.  Solomon then pursues two of Adonijah’s supporters—exiling one and killing the other.  The chapter finishes when Solomon fulfills his father’s final wish—bring Shimei’s grey head down to the grave (1 Kings 2:8-9)!

In chapter 3 Solomon shows half-hearted devotion to God by his choices:  in marriage (Deut. 7:3; 17:17) and worship.  Nevertheless, God meets with him and grants him one wish.  Solomon chooses wisdom.  The full extent of his discernment is shown when two mothers scuffle over a single living baby and Solomon determines the rightful mother.

Chapter 4 summarizes Solomon’s kingdom administration and the joy and peace of the people living under the wise rule of their king.  It’s not only Israel but kings from all over the world that benefit from Solomon’s wisdom.

1.    Why does Bathsheba advocate for Adonijah (1 Kings 2:13-21)?

2.    Is the bloodshed of chapter 2 necessary?  Is God rubber-stamping the anointed king’s actions or is something else going on?  Notice  the last sentence in 1 Kings 2:46.  Now read 1 Kings 2:12.  What’s changed between those two verses?

3.    Imagine if chapter 3 (Solomon’s request for wisdom) happened before chapter 2 (bloodshed).  Would chapter 2 look different?  What chapter in your life do you wish you could redo in light of what you knew later?

4.    Solomon asks for a discerning heart to govern people well and to distinguish between right and wrong (1 Kings 3:9).  What is right and wrong in Canada today?  Is it clear?  Are their grey areas?  What do we do and how do we know when it’s grey?     

5.    Read 1 Kings 3:14.  Do God’s promises always come with conditions?