Faithless People & Their Faithful God
1/5/25 Bible Thought (1 Kings 1)
Despite human failings, the plans of God do not fail.
In 1 Kings 1, we see a monumental transition in Israel’s history as the throne was transferred from David to Solomon, the third king of Israel. With this, it is essential for us to see that this was in fulfillment of God’s promise to David.
A Quick Backstory
Back in 2 Samuel 7, God had made a covenant with David. David desired to build God a house, that is, a temple. God told David no. Instead, He had different plans. The Lord determined He would build David a house—a dynasty.
The Lord said:
“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Sam. 7:12-13).
As we turn to 1 Kings 1, our primary takeaway ought to be that God’s covenantal promise to David was unshakeable. Despite human sin and failure, God’s plan endured.
The kingdom of Israel suffered many problems from without for many years—Philistines, Syrians, Ammonites, Moabites, and all manner of other “ites”.
Unfortunately, the latter years of David’s reign were full of problems from within. David’s family fell apart as a consequence of his sin with Bathsheba. There was rape, murder, and a coup just within the royal family alone.
This trajectory of problems sadly continued into today’s passage. David’s next eldest son, Adonijah, tried to seize the throne as well. Yet, the throne was to be Solomon’s (1 Chr. 22:9). He was the one appointed to be the next king and to build the temple in Jerusalem.
Bringing it Home
In the midst of these things, it is absolutely confounding to see just how gracious and kind our God is. Let us not forget who Solomon’s mother was—Bathsheba.
The greatest sin of David’s life, the most tragic mistake he ever made, wasn’t beyond the gracious reach of redemption. For, after the initial sorrows, Solomon was born, and the Scripture states, “And the Lord loved him” (2 Sam. 12:24).
Solomon’s very existence was a testament to grace!
Even more, his reign on the throne and the lasting Davidic dynasty were a testament to God’s grace. David was a good king, but certainly he was far from perfect. Yet, God lavished upon him blessings beyond what he could have earned or deserved. Even in the midst of tragic failures, military coups, and a divided family, the promise of God stood fast.
Let us be encouraged that no human being can wreck the plans of an all-knowing God. He already factored our shortcomings into the picture when He called us. Truly, His grace is greater than all of our sins.
The kingship of Solomon is a wonderful tribute to the work of a faithful God who is so much kinder to us than we could ever earn or deserve, and the faithfulness of God should always result in praise (1 Kings 1:48).
Challenge for Today:
Do I ever find myself feeling that I have failed beyond the reach of God’s grace?
While grace should never be abused as a license for sinful behavior, let us likewise remember that at no point is grace ever merited—it’s always beyond what we could earn or deserve.
Thankful for the God of second chances who chooses to use us, sinful man, in His glorious plans. Humbled by His love and faithfulness.
“No human being can wreck the plans of an all-knowing God.” That’s a good truth.