Today, I am reading and commenting on 1 Kings 2-3.

I find it interesting that Solomon chose to act against Shimei only after Adonijah attempted to position himself to mount a coup against Solomon by marrying Abishag, King David’s last concubine.  I find it interesting because Shimei had refused to back Adonijah when the latter tried to seize the throne while David was still alive.  The best I can come up with is that Solomon waited to act against Shimei until he had eliminated the last threat to his throne and no longer needed to fear Shimei throwing his support behind a usurper.  In many ways, the incident where God asked Solomon what he wanted God to give him foreshadows Jesus’ teaching about seeking first the kingdom of God.  Solomon asked God to give him discernment when administering justice.  God granted him that desire, and also granted him wealth and honor.  The main point of this exchange is that wisdom and discernment will often lead to wealth and honor, but wealth and/or honor without wisdom will always be short-lived.  If you seek wisdom and allow it to guide you, it will lead you to seek God’s kingdom.  Unfortunately, we learn later that Solomon allowed the wealth and honor his wisdom brought him to turn his heart from God.  Let us pray that if God grants us wealth and honor that we do not fall into the same temptation.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.