LESSON NINETEEN
The Kingdom Established Through Solomon
David is a generous and just king. But he shares the same sinful nature as the rest of humanity. He commits adultery with Bathsheba and then tries to cover it up by plotting the murder of her noble husband, Uriah. When the prophet Nathan confronts David, God grants David deep and true repentance. God forgives him and renews him by grace.
Yet this moral failure is a turning point, much like the sin of Adam and Israel before him. David’s sons commit grievous sins, and one of them even plots a conspiracy to overthrow him. The flaws of David leave Israel longing for a true and better king. With this in mind, the opening pages of 1 Kings set our attention on Solomon, the next king in David’s line.
By partially reestablishing these blessings under David and Solomon, God creates a picture of the true kingdom he will one day fully restore to our world.
In Eden we saw God’s people in God’s place, enjoying his presence and reflecting his rule. By partially reestablishing these blessings under David and Solomon, God creates a picture of the true kingdom he will one day fully restore to our world.