Then David slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David.
These are the words that begin the next chapter of the saga of King David and the words are loaded with meaning and hints of intrigue. These are words of transition that bridge the details of the end of David’s reign as king and the beginning of his son Solomon’s reign as king.
I have spent much of the summer reading and studying, preaching and writing about the lessons learned from King David’s story and I have realized that I am sad to come to the end. For those who follow the teachings of Jesus, King David and his relationship with the Holy One who loves each of us deeply, despite the flaws that we have and sins that we commit, offers to us a deeper understanding of grace and mercy. Through the teachings of Jesus we can realize that created to be in relationship with the Holy One who knows us best and loves us most. The story of David encourages us with his depth of love for God and moves us toward comfort and hope through the words of his gorgeous poetry that centers us in the midst of worship. And God, the Holy One, has inspired us with the words of challenge, grace and mercy that were offered to David.
Then David slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David.
It was not easy for David to reach his rest. There was division within the kingdom as David grew weaker and weaker at the end of his days. His son Adonijah, presumed himself David’s heir and then declared himself king even before David’s death. The prophet Nathan intervened and urged Bathsheba to remind David of his promise to make their son, Solomon, king. That promise is not recorded in the scriptures, so it is possible that Nathan and Bathsheba were conspiring, however, real or not, David did indeed acknowledge Solomon as the successor.
There followed a power struggle between Solomon and Adonijah and Solomon spared his half-brother’s life; however, Adonijah continued to scheme and undermine that promise and he and his supporters were killed.
And so the last days of King David’s life were filled with chaos and conflict, not the loving embrace of his family. Adonijah was ambitious and divisive. Nathan and Bathsheba schemed. And,
Then David slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David.
David had reigned over Israel for a whole generation—forty years, seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. Many people had lived and died during his reign. Many had been born during his reign and he was the only monarch that they had known.
Solomon became king in a time of great transition and great uncertainty, but already, Solomon had some understanding of what it meant to be king over God’s chosen people. From his father, David, Solomon knew that he must love God deeply. He must walk in God’s path. With that understanding in mind, in the early days of his reign, Solomon went to worship God at the highest place—Gibeon, a hill sanctuary seven miles from Jerusalem. In this manner, Solomon followed an ancient practice of sleeping in a sanctuary in hopes of receiving a divine message.
Solomon dreamed about God and in his dream, he heard God’s voice saying: “Ask what I should give you.”
Maybe it was the chaos surrounding the last days of David’s reign. Or maybe it was the knowledge that there were others who might have taken the throne. Or maybe it was uncertainty that he was competent to be king. Whatever it was, Solomon’s conversation with God gives us an understanding of Solomon’s character.
Solomon began to tell God of the depth of his gratitude. He spoke of the great and steadfast love that God had for David and of David’s deep relationship and love for God. He professed his gratitude for placing him, David’s son, on the throne, to rule over God’s people. He expressed his gratitude for making him king even though he was young and inexperienced and there were many, many people in the kingdom.
And then Solomon answers God with two requests. He asks God to grant him understanding to govern and discernment between good and evil.
Solomon asked God for wisdom.
God was pleased and promised not only this wisdom, but also the other obvious gifts that Solomon could have asked for—riches and honor. And God reminded Solomon that his life would be lengthened by staying close to God.
I remember hearing this story, as a child, in Sunday School. It stayed with me because the request was something unique and special that a ruler might ask for from God. Solomon was young and inexperienced. Do you think that he might have had some fear assuming a role that his father had had for forty years—a whole generation? Do you think that Solomon understood just what was involved in the job of being king? Solomon asked for wisdom, but the very request that he makes of God suggests that he already possessed a great deal of wisdom he sought.
Just what was it that Solomon was asking of God?
The alternate Old Testament text for today is Proverbs 9:1-6 and it is here that we discover just what Solomon was asking of God:
Wisdom has built her house
She has hewn her seven pillars.
She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
She has also set her table.
She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
From the highest places in the town,
You that are simple, tur in here!
To those without sense she says,
“Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
Lay aside immaturity, and live
And walk in the way of insight.” (NRSV)
Here, Wisdom is personified as Woman Wisdom. She is a unique woman who wears the mantle of a prophet and carries the scrolls of wise people. Wisdom is described as a guide, a beloved sister, and as a hostess, who builds her house large enough to seat all people. She provides the meat for a festive meal, mixes the wine with honey and spices, and sets the table for the guests. She invites those who are coming of age to come and feast at her table and to learn from her knowledge and insight.
She is hospitable to the poor and simple as well as the rich and cultured. Ultimately, Wisdom offers the unconditional love of God. She offers the voice of wisdom in the face of trials, focusing on the power and importance of God’s way of love, rather than lifting the ways that lead to hatred and division. In this chapter of Proverbs, Wisdom reminds us that God cares about the decisions made by all people, offering a chance to bring life to many.
This is what Solomon was asking for, the wisdom to make decisions and rule the people in the reflection of God’s justice and love.
Each day of our lives, God offers the opportunity to ask for wisdom and discernment. I confess that asking for wisdom and discernment are not the first things I think of to ask for each day. And yet, I spend much time reading the news and praying for justice and peace. So, maybe it is the first thing, I could think of each day, to ask of God.
How would that simple request of God each day make a difference in my life?
How would that simple request of God each day make a difference in your life?
How would that simple request of God each day make a difference in the life of this world?
Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with a former student that I mentored and worked with during her time at Wesleyan several years ago. I had always been impressed with Jess, who was an A student as well as an athlete and a very organized volunteer for many, many community and campus events. She has a heart for justice and dreams of making a difference in the world.
During her senior year, she applied to a Master’s degree program in the health care field, at a prestigious university. I was honored when she asked me to write a reference letter for her. I spent a long time with that letter because I knew that hundreds of people would apply to that program, but only about eighty would be admitted.
I was thrilled the day she came to tell me that she was accepted to this program and I was certain that she was on the right path for her life. I was excited for her.
As she began her program, I saw many posts from her on Facebook, but as the weeks went on, I noticed less and less from her until I realized that she was no longer posting and was no longer visible on Facebook. This was unlike her and I became concerned.
Months went by and gradually I began to see posts from her again, but the posts were different—much more simple with expressions of gratitude and beauty and not the fast paced posts of a graduate student in a high stress program. There were many photos of the ocean. And many photos of the bounty of Farmers’ markets and many, many expressions of hope. Then, last fall, she posted about returning to graduate school, in a different university, thousands of miles away from her home.
As we talked over coffee, one day this past August, I asked her to tell me about the last few years. She told me about entering the first graduate program, certain of her future, what she had to do to succeed and how long it would take. She had a plan—a rigid plan. At first, she did well, but then she began to notice that things didn’t feel right and then she realized that she didn’t have any passion for this particular field in health care.
But she could not quit. Or, at least she didn’t think she could quit because she would let so many people down. So many people were counting on her. So many people were certain that this was the right path for her. She felt that she had to push through it.
It wasn’t until she got sick and hit the darkest place in her life, that she realized that she needed to step back.
So, for two years, she gave herself the space. She took time to rest and to spend time with God, asking for wisdom and discernment just as Solomon did. She spent much time surrounding herself with people that would help her hear God. She spent time in the quiet places she loves, in order to hear God. She found a job that gave her experience and helped her to discover some talents and passions that she didn’t realize were a part of who she is. Then she began to realize what her passion is and what God is calling her to do. When she embraced that wisdom that God had given her, the pieces of her life began to fall into place. She has one more year in graduate school. She is happy and excited about her future.
I marvel at how wise she is and when I told her that she just beamed.
My friend, like Solomon, was already wise when she prayed for wisdom and discernment. My friend, like Solomon, was already wise when she began to spend more time with God, loving God and delighting in God, and listening to God.
Are we asking God for wisdom and discernment for our lives and for the life of this world?
Our world needs wisdom and discernment.
Our community needs wisdom and discernment.
Our families, our schools, our leaders, our churches, our organizations and places of work, all of us need wisdom and discernment.
Each day God gives us the opportunity to ask for that wisdom and discernment and to embrace them as we seek to live lives that reflect God’s justice and mercy, and to offer love and hope to this world that is in such pain.
May we be bold in asking God for these gifts. And may we be bold in using these gifts for our world as we walk with God in wisdom, mercy, and love.
To God alone be glory!
