819 - Solomon was shrewd, and was able to grant all of David’s deathbed requests

Solomon was shrewd, and was able to grant all of David’s deathbed requests 


His father, David, before his death, had told Solomon to kill Shimei… David had told Solomon: “…you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”


So, Solomon…


…sent for Shimei and told him, 


“Build a house here, in Jerusalem, and live there. 


But don’t step outside the city, to go anywhere else. 


On the day you so much as cross the Kidron Valley, you will surely die; and your blood will be on your own head.” 


Shimei replied, “Your sentence is fair; I will do whatever my lord the king commands.” 


So, Shimei lived in Jerusalem, for a long time. 


But, three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away, to King Achish, son of Maacah, of Gath. 


When Shimei learned where they were, he saddled his donkey …and went to Gath, to search for them. 


When he found them, he brought them back to Jerusalem. 


Solomon heard that Shimei had left Jerusalem, and had gone to Gath, and returned. 


So the king sent for Shimei, and demanded, 


“Didn’t I make you swear, by the Lord, and warn you, not to go anywhere else …or you would surely die? 


And you replied, 


‘The sentence is fair; I will do, as you say.’


Then, why haven’t you kept your oath, to the Lord, and obeyed my command?” 


The king also said, to Shimei, 


“You certainly remember all the wicked things, that you did to my father, David. 


May the Lord, now, bring that evil on your own head. 


But, may I, King Solomon, receive the Lord’s blessings, and may one, of David’s descendants, always sit on this throne, in the presence of the Lord.” 


Then, at the king’s command, Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, took Shimei outside, and killed him. 


So, the kingdom was now firmly, in Solomon’s grip. 


1 Kings 2:36–46 (NLT)


Praise be to God!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

1394 - Isaiah 16

Isaiah Chapter 16 Isaiah told the people of Judah: Send lambs, from Sela, as tribute, to the ruler of the land. Send them through the desert, to the mountain of beautiful Zion. The women of Moab are left, like homeless birds, at the shallow crossings of the Arnon River. “Help us,” they cry. “Defend us against our enemies. Protect us, from their relentless attacks. Do not betray us, now, that we have escaped. Let our refugees stay among you. Hide them, from our enemies, until the terror is past.” When oppression and destruction have ended, and when enemy raiders have disappeared, …then God will establish one of David’s descendants, as king. He will rule with mercy and truth. He will always do what is just, and be eager to do what is right. We have heard about proud Moab—about its pride, and arrogance, and rage. But all that boasting… has now disappeared. The entire land of Moab weeps. Yes, everyone in Moab mourns, for the cakes of raisins, from Kir-hareseth. They are all gone now. The f...
Read more

​Tongues and Prophecy

​ Tongues and Prophecy Let love be your highest goal!  But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives —especially the ability to prophesy.  For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you.  You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit… but it will all be mysterious.  But one who prophesies… strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.  A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.  I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy.  For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.  Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you?  But if I bring you a revelation or som...
Read more

1472 - Jeremiah 5 part 2

Jeremiah Chapter 5 part 2 “Make this announcement, to Israel, and say this to Judah: Listen, you foolish and senseless people, with eyes that do not see, and ears that do not hear. Have you no respect, for me? Why don’t you tremble, in my presence? I, the Lord, define the ocean’s sandy shoreline, as an everlasting boundary, that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries, that I set for them. But, my people have stubborn, and rebellious hearts. They have turned away, and abandoned me. They do not say, from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord, our God, for he gives us rain, each spring and fall, assuring us, of a harvest, when the time is right.’ Your wickedness has deprived you, of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you, of all these good things. “Among my people, are wicked men, who lie in wait, for victims, like a hunter, hiding in a blind. They continually set traps, to catch people. Like a cage, filled with birds,...
Read more