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?

Week 1– A Surprise King (1 Kings 1-2:12)

(Our G2G Curriculum was crafted in-house 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: King David is very old.  His spoiled son, Adonijah, senses the time for his kingship is near and he celebrates.  The sneaky son invites his brothers and some tribal officials to join him for a party fit for a king, but he leaves a few important people off the guest list.  Some of the uninvited, Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, convince the ailing King David to step in and appoint another son, Solomon, to the throne.  David agrees.  He acts quickly: he calls royal officials together and has them anoint Solomon as king.  Another great party—rivaling Adonijah’s—ensues.  Soon Adonijah and his guests discover that their plan has been thwarted.  Solomon, not Adonijah, has been anointed king!  Fearing for their lives, Adonijah’s guests scatter.  Adonijah, himself at risk of death, runs to safety and pleads with King Solomon to spare his life.  Solomon honours his request, for now.  

1.    Was Solomon God’s choice or Nathan’s?  Read 1 Kings 1:11-14 and discuss.  Could David have appointed another leader?

2.    Why did Nathan go to Bathsheba and not directly to the king to make a case for Solomon to be king?  What might have been motivating him?  What motivates you when you avoid confronting someone directly?


3.    David’s parting words to Solomon seem somewhat vengeful (1 Kings 2:2-9).  Was that appropriate?  What if Jesus took David’s place?  What might he instruct Solomon to do?


4.    What other questions come to mind as you wrestle with this text?