SERIES SUMMARY
The Bible is the story of God as King and becoming King in Jesus. And we are his image bearers, created for royal reflection. But we don’t live in a monarchy, so “kingship” and “royalty” can feel like foreign ideas to us. Yet, we’re still called to recognize and submit to God as King. In the Old Testament, it was God’s desire for a king to reign over his people as a reminder of these things. Specifically, God promised David a son who would reign forever, and we see glimpses of this promised king in Solomon. Through his story, we’re reminded that there should be a royal wisdom that defines us as God’s kingdom of priests, the church. But ultimately, Solomon failed in his royal reflection. So, the question is, what does Solomon’s story teach us about ourselves and God? How can the life of Solomon be instructive to us as God’s people today? And most importantly, how does King Solomon (a son of David) point us to King Jesus (the son of David)?
PASSAGE GUIDE
The opening of 1 Kings 2 presents a weighty moment of transition in Israel’s history. David, near death, charges Solomon with courage, obedience, and faithfulness to God’s law as the foundation for a successful reign. These instructions highlight that the kingdom was not merely political—it was deeply tied to God’s covenant promises to David. David’s charge reminds Solomon that his rule is bound to God’s purposes, and that covenant obedience is essential to securing God’s blessing for the kingdom.
Yet the passage also reveals the harsh realities of securing a throne in the ancient Near East. Solomon’s establishment of his rule involved decisive and, at times, violent action against threats to the stability of God’s covenant kingdom. Figures like Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei, though given opportunities for mercy, ultimately proved themselves as threats to the kingdom. Solomon’s actions may unsettle modern readers, but in their historical and covenantal context, they reflect justice—removing bloodguilt, curbing rebellion, and preserving God’s covenant promises to David’s line.
Even within these judgments, the text shows glimpses of mercy. Adonijah and Shimei were initially spared and given chances to live under Solomon’s reign. Solomon’s boundaries provided them opportunities for redemption, but their choices led to downfall. This interplay between mercy and judgment underscores the seriousness of covenant faithfulness, but also foreshadows the greater grace to come in Christ. Unlike Solomon, who secured his throne through the removal of rivals, Jesus would secure God’s eternal kingdom by bearing judgment Himself, offering forgiveness and mercy to those who would otherwise stand condemned.
Ultimately, 1 Kings 2 points beyond Solomon to God’s greater plan of redemption. It reminds us that God takes His covenant promises seriously, even when His methods jar with human sensibilities. Justice and mercy are not at odds but are fulfilled perfectly in Christ, who established His kingdom not through the blood of others but by shedding His own. For believers today, this passage calls us to trust God’s sovereignty, even in hard-to-understand moments, and to respond to His covenant faithfulness with lives marked by obedience, decisive rejection of sin, and confidence in the grace that Jesus alone provides.
*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS
Remember, these are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. You do not need to listen to both sermons at both campuses to participate in the discussion.
OPENING PRAYER
Spend time in prayer for the church as we continue to navigate a Deacon constitutional change. Thank the Lord for his Word, his Spirit, and his people as you gather together as a group.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What stood out to you from the sermon or from the text?
- What comes to mind when you hear the phrase God’s covenant faithfulness?
- Why do you think David emphasized courage and obedience to God’s Word as the foundation for Solomon’s reign?
- How might this passage challenge us to consider the ways our own lives are aligned (or not) with God’s purposes?
- How do you feel about Solomon’s decisive and sometimes violent actions to secure the throne?
- How does this point us forward to Christ, who deals with sin and rebellion differently?
- In what ways is Jesus’ establishment of His kingdom through His own sacrifice a reversal of Solomon’s approach?
- How does this passage deepen our understanding of justice and mercy being fulfilled together in Christ?
- What practical steps can we take to live decisively against sin while also relying on God’s mercy through Jesus?
- How does this change how you think or live going into the rest of the week?
Life with Jesus: Spend 15 - 20 minutes writing out how this passage deepens your understanding of how justice and mercy are both fulfilled in Christ.
Life in Community: Ask a friend or group member to share with you where they see your life overlapping and not overlapping with God’s clear purposes.
Life on Mission: Ask the Spirit to show you one person from your circle of accountability that you can share what God is teaching you in this passage with, then go and share with them.
CLOSING PRAYER
Thank the Lord for Jesus fully embodying God’s justice and mercy on the cross. Ask him to deepen our understanding of Christ crucified, changing how we live and act.