This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

Near death, David hands over
the kingdom to his son Solomon.

His last words to Solomon use God’s history with Israel
as a template to give Solomon advice for ruling well.

Like God created the world in seven days, David
tells Solomon seven times to keep God’s commands.

This is how Solomon’s nation will bless
the world and fulfill God’s promise to Abraham.

David also reminds Solomon
of God’s promise to Moses.

Israel will prosper if
Solomon obeys the Law.

Finally, David tells Solomon he needs to be strong and courageous
like Joshua if he’s to recreate God’s Kingdom on the earth.

Now, this high calling is why David’s final words to Solomon
also include unfinished business from his reign.

Joab, David's general, committed
murder but was never convicted.

Shimei, a loyalist to Saul, slandered and attempted
to stone David but was never brought to justice.

And Barzillai had not yet been honored for
his loyalty to David during Absalom’s rebellion.

David wants Solomon to tie up these loose threads
and start his reign with a clean slate.

Well, David dies, and Adonijah (Solomon’s brother) sees another
chance to seize the throne through a strategic political marriage.

Solomon realizes his treachery, executes his
brother, and exiles the priest who helped him.

Solomon is free from his own entanglements and
can now complete his father’s dying wishes.

Solomon delivers the death penalty to Joab.

And he offers Shimei the same
mercy he extended to Adonijah.

Solomon adapts one of Moses’
laws about manslaughter to Shimei.

He will not punish Shimei for his treason as long
as he remains under house arrest in Jerusalem.

But Shimei disregards the mercy
and forces Solomon to execute him.

The death that Shimei wished on David
now comes back on his own head.

And with these loose ends tied
up, Solomon’s reign can now begin.

[music]

David had extremely high hopes for his son.

He sees him as a new Adam who recreates
the world, a new Moses who interprets

and applies God’s law for a new generation,
and a new Joshua who protects their homeland.

It seems as if God’s promise that one of David’s
sons would rule forever might come true in Solomon.

But it won’t.

There are flaws in Solomon’s leadership
and we’ll soon talk about those.

But for now, Solomon shows us
in part what Jesus will be in full.

You see, Jesus is the new Adam who destroys the old and
makes us into new creations.

Jesus is our new Moses who interprets
and applies God’s law onto our hearts.

Jesus is the final courageous
Joshua who conquers our enemies.

And Jesus is not just a biological heir to
David’s throne, but a true spiritual successor

who establishes his Kingdom by executing
justice for sins long left unpunished.

But the good news of Jesus’ Kingdom is
that even though we are traitors like Adonijah,

murderers like Joab,
and slanderers like Shimei,

our sin does not come back around onto
our own heads. Instead, it lands on Jesus.

Jesus’ blood is shed for the treachery and
slander we’ve committed against his throne.

And since our sin has been wiped away,
we are free to live in God’s Kingdom forever.

So, I pray that the Holy Spirit would open your eyes to
see the God who establishes his Kingdom with justice.

And may you see Jesus as the
last son of David who rules forever.