A New King Is Named

A New King Is Named

Q: What son became the true successor to David?

• a. Adonijah
• b. Solomon
• c. Josiah

David’s son Absalom tried to take the throne from David and died as a result (see May 9 devotion). Time passed, and Adonijah, the next oldest son after Absalom, appointed himself king.

Nathan, the prophet, knew Adonijah wasn’t supposed to be king. He told Bathsheba to go to David and say, “My lord the king, didn’t you make a vow and say to me, ‘Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne’? Why then has Adonijah become king?”

David listened to Bathsheba and declared Solomon his successor. Nathan and Zadok, the priest, led Solomon on a donkey to Gihon Spring, where he was anointed with oil and declared king.

About that time, Adonijah was having a celebration feast after declaring himself king. He heard trumpets and found out it was a royal procession announcing Solomon as king. Adonijah’s guests fled, and he ran to the sacred tent and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. This was a sign that he was putting himself under the grace and protection of God. Solomon promised to spare Adonijah if he would be loyal and not cause any trouble.

David had learned a lot about being a king. Before he died, David gave Solomon these instructions: “Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.”

For You

David told Solomon he’d be successful as long as he followed God’s commands and ways. The same is true for you today. Doing what you know is right will help you be successful in God’s eyes, and that’s the most important kind of success.

Answer: b

The king repeated his vow [to Bathsheba]: “As surely as the LORD lives, who has rescued me from every danger, your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the LORD, the God of Israel.”   1 Kings 1:29-30

(The Whole Story: 1 Kings 1:5–2:3)