Date: Monday, 6th May, 2024
Text: 2 Samuel 12:24-25
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
By normal human standard Solomon was not qualified to be king. He was not the crown prince (Amnon was, being the first born). In Israel, by inheritance, the right of kingship mostly fell on the first born. Solomon was not even among the first nine.
The circumstances surrounding his birth were ‘questionable’ by human moral standards. His mother, Bathsheba, had committed adultery having agreed with David to cheat on her late husband, Uriah. Uriah happened to be one of King David’s soldier servants.
As if that was not enough, David had murdered her husband and taken Bathsheba to be his wife. He was severely punished by God for this evil acts, though, as four of his sons were killed; his wives were raped in the public- in broad day light. David himself was temporarily disgraced out of the throne. 2 Samuel 12:11; 12; 1-25; 15-24; 1 Kings 2; 13-46.
Solomon was the second offspring born in that relationship; the first child was slain by God Himself. So, humanly speaking the tide of things were against a Solomon kingship.
David himself would not have chosen Solomon because the tradition was against his choice. But you know David would not take any major step without consulting God. I am almost certain David would have been shocked when God made his mind known.
King David said, “And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.” 2 Chronicles 28:5-7
So Solomon was God’s choice; in fact God sent the prophet Nathan to personally name him Jedidiah meaning, “Beloved of the Lord.” 2 Samuel 12:24-25. He found favour with God and so God jumped the queue to make him king and to make him the greatest king the world would ever have.
May you find favour with God this season in Jesus name.
Prayer Nugget: Father, please, show me mercy, let me find favour with you in Jesus name.