GOD’S ANOINTED
Opening Prayer
Thank You, God, for Your plans and purposes for my life.
Read 1 Chronicles 29:21–30
Solomon Acknowledged as King
21 The next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the Lord that day.
Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the Lord to be ruler and Zadok to be priest. 23 So Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon.
25 The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.
The Death of David
26 David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. 27 He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 28 He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.
29 As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer, 30 together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
What does it look like to be chosen by God?Chronicles leaves out a number of events which are recorded in Samuel and Kings. This includes material which might interest the tabloid papers today. David’s and Solomon’s personal lives were far from spotless. However, the Chronicler wants us to focus not upon the two men themselves, so much as on the ideal of kingship under God and of God’s anointing.
David would have appreciated the idea of anointing because it was originally something shepherds did for their sheep, to keep off lice and other pests. Later, of course, it came to symbolize someone set aside for special service. With this consecration came the protection of the Holy Spirit. David and Solomon were chosen by God. At one level, they could have been chosen for their unique, God-given qualities. But ultimately, it was simply because God chose them to be kings—and that was good enough for the Israelites. In fact, it was a cause for great rejoicing.
Apply
Are there implications here for how we should regard our leaders and how we should support them? Certainly through prayer (1 Tim. 2:1,2). What other encouragements can you think of?
Closing prayer
Pray for your leaders. This includes in your church, in your community, in your nation, and in the world.
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