United Kingdom

The glorious period in the history of the Children of Israel begins following the death of Saul and the anointing of David as King. David was a man who followed God with all his heart. This does not mean he did not sin for he did on more than one occasion. When he recognized his sin, he repented and turned back to God and His ways. At just the right time one of David’s descendants, Jesus, would be born by action of the Holy Spirit to save man from his sins.

Studies during the time David and Solomon ruled: 1 Death of Saul and Jonathan 2 King Over Judah 3 King Over All Israel 4 David’s Victories 5 David’s Sin of Adultery 6 Trouble in David’s House 7 David Flees Jerusalem 8 David Mourns 9 David Returns to Jerusalem 10 David Trusts Self 11 David Names Solomon King 12 Solomon’s Request 13 Temple Built 14 Temple Replaces Tabernacle 15 Solomon’s Love for Women 16 Solomon’s Remaining Days 17 Foolish Prophet

Death of Saul and Jonathan

Setting: Saul was wounded in battle so he killed himself by his own sword to keep the Philistines from taking him alive.

Text: 2 Samuel 1

Key Point: Man should not do anything against what God has authorized, ordered or put into place.

King Over Judah

Setting: David sought God’s advice and obeyed by going to Hebron where the tribe of Judah anointed him King over Judah. Abner, King Saul’s commander, took one of Saul’s sons and made him King of Israel.

Text: 2 Samuel 2 - 4

Key Point: It is not up to man to even the score with an enemy. God is just and righteous and avenges by means of His choosing.

King Over All Israel

Setting: At the age of thirty David had ruled Judah seven and one-half years. He then was anointed King over all Israel.

Text: 2 Samuel 5 - 7

Key Point: After they brought the Ark into its resting place, David offered sacrifices and offerings pleasing to God.

David’s Victories

Setting: David and Israel achieved great victories over their enemies for the Lord gave them victory everywhere they went.

Text: 2 Samuel 8 - 10

Key Point: David glorified God and gave much of the plunder to Him recognizing that God was the source of his victories.

David's Sin of Adultery

Setting: Rather than going to war, David stayed home but sent out his army. But David’s eyes lingered upon a beautiful woman bathing. He yielded to his desires, sent for her and sinned.

Text: 2 Samuel 11 - 12

Key Point: The desire for pleasure allows temptations to deceive and sin to occur when one yields to temptation.

Trouble In David's House

Setting: The consequence of David’s sin brought trouble to his own house. One son Amnon rapes a step sister, Tamar. Her brother, Absalom, then takes revenge and kills Amnon.

Text: 2 Samuel 13 - 15:12

Key Point: God does not take away life rather He finds ways so those who are banished may return to him.

David Flees Jerusalem

Setting: Absalom with the aid of Joab was allowed to return to Jerusalem. While there he initiated plans to take the kingdom away from his father.

Text: 2 Samuel 15:13 - 17

Key Point: God is in control. We must allow him to do whatever pleases Him rather than rebelling against Him.

David Mourns

Setting: Absalom rebelled against his father David attempting to establish himself as king. David flees Jerusalem and crosses over Jordan

Text: 2 Samuel 18 - 19:8

Key Point: One must recognize he has sinned in order to repent of his wickedness and seek God’s forgiveness.

David Returns to Jerusalem

Setting: During Joshua’s time Israel had made a covenant with the people of Gibeon but Saul broke this covenant as he attempted to annihilate them.

Text: 2 Samuel 19:9 - 23

Key Point: David continually praised God as his Rock, his deliverer the horn of his salvation and spoke words of the Spirit of God.

David Trust Self

Setting: David ceased relying on God and counted his fighting men over the objections of his chief commander.

Text: 2 Samuel 24

Key Point: God is merciful. I have sinned. I will not sacrifice to God any offering that cost me nothing.

David Names Solomon King

Setting: David was getting old and following David’s sin of self reliance, one of his sons, Adnoijah, set himself up as king. However, God through Nathan had Solomon anointed king.

Text: 1 Kings 1-2

Key Point: God is faithful; he rewards those who trust in Him and punishes those who do evil.

Solomon's Request

Setting: Solomon had dealt justly with those in David’s administration who had done evil against him and God.

Text: 1 Kings 3 - 4

Key Point: Solomon asked God for a discerning heart to do justly and to be able to distinguish right from wrong.

Temple Built

Setting: Four hundred eighty years after leaving Egypt as slaves, Israel was a very powerful nation as God was faithful to his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Now Solomon desired to fulfill his father’s dream of a temple, a place for the Ark of the Covenant and to sacrifice and worship God.

Text: 1 Kings 5 - 7

Key Point: If God commands and decrees are followed, God is faithful to His promises.

Word Study:

6:4 Clerestory – an outside wall of a room that rises above an adjoining roof and contains windows. 7:6 Colonnade – a series of columns set at regular intervals usually supporting the base of a roof structure.

Temple Replaces Tabernacle

Setting: After seven years Solomon completed constructing the temple and brought the Ark of the Covenant into the temple.

Text: 1 Kings 8

Key Point: Solomon prayed for everyone’s sins and for them to have a change of heart and repent. He pleaded for them to turn back to God with all their heart so God would hear their plea and forgive.

Solomon's Love for Women

Setting: The temple had been dedicated with great sacrifices, praises and prayers. God had been glorified before all Israel and all nations far and near.

Text: 1 Kings 9 - 11:13

Key Point: Solomon loved many foreign women violating God’s commandments not to marry foreign wives nor worship other gods. Therefore, God became angry with Solomon’s actions.

Solomon's Remaining Days

Setting: Solomon’s love for women led him to worship gods of foreign wives resulting in his kingdom being divided

Text: 1 Kings 11:14 – 12:24

Key Point: God is always displeased when one of His children ceases to follow His commands

Foolish Prophet

Setting: Ten tribes of Israel rejected Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, as their king and anointed Jeroboam king.

Text: 1 Kings 12:25 - 13

Key Point: Man should not listen to anyone concerning God and His commands other than God and the Holy Scripture even if that someone states he is from God or that God sent him or revealed Himself to him.