Daily Devotional for Thursday, March 20
Solomon’s Death
“And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead,” 1 Kings 11:43.
In September 2016, our family was in Israel when former Israeli president, Shimon Peres, passed away. His memorial service was the same day we flew home, and the streets were flooded with traffic. Diplomats and world leaders from seventy countries flew into Tel-Aviv to attend the funeral in Jerusalem. Streets were blocked and security was tight as thousands of Israelis came to pay their respects.
In September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II of England died. The world watched and mourned alongside people in the commonwealth realm. Royal family wake rituals and transport and the hour-long funeral service were televised around the world. Thousands lined the streets of London to pay their respects to their beloved queen.
As we read Solomon’s three verse obituary in 1 Kings 11:41-43, it reads very matter-of-factly. His deeds were recorded in a special book. He reigned forty years, he died, and he was buried in the city of David. Rehoboam succeeded him. It is not a long eulogy. As we reflect on 1 Kings 3—10 and consider modern monarchy funerals, we can only imagine what the funeral procession would have looked like. Perhaps the twelve thousand horsemen directed crowds and led the procession. Maybe fourteen hundred chariots were commissioned to carry Solomon’s wives, concubines and children, each clothed in fine Egyptian linen, while possibly his private chariot bore his gold-plated ivory bier draped with a fine linen shroud specially woven for the occasion. Imagine the king’s bodyguards marched alongside the chariots carrying the five hundred gold shields. Maybe the navy fleet ships were all docked on the shoreline. We can only imagine how Israel’s wealthiest king was laid to rest, but two important facts stand out: his long reign of forty years and the honor of being buried in the city of David.
THOUGHT
Finish strong.
Kelli Reynolds