May 22: 1 Kings 7:1–51; 2 Chronicles 3:15 – 2 Chronicles 4:22

Solomon Builds His Palace – 1 Kings 7:1–12

• Over thirteen years, Solomon builds his palace. All the specifications are given.

The Temple Furnishings – 1 Kings 7:13–51 & 2 Chronicles 3:15 – 2 Chronicles 4:22

• Solomon sends for Hiram king of Tyre, who is the son of a widowed woman from the tribe of Naphtali and man of Tyre. His father was a worker of bronze, so Hiram not only full of wisdom and understanding, but also working in bronze. He does the bronze work for all the bronze pieces in the temple (pillars, bowls, latticeworks, basins and stands, pots and shovels).
• Solomon makes all the golden vessels: the able for the bread of the Presence, lampstands, and other items, including the doors of the temple nave.
• Solomon finishes the temple, then brings the items that David had dedicated and stores them in the house of the Lord.

May 21: 1 Kings 3:16–28; 1 Kings 5:1–18; 2 Chronicles 2:1–18; 1 Kings 6:1–13; 2 Chronicles 3:1–14; 1 Kings 6:14–38

Solomon's Wisdom – 1 Kings 3:16–28

• Two prostitutes who live in the same house come before Solomon, and the first one tells him that they both had babies (three days apart). The second woman rolled over on her son during the night and he died, and the second woman switched the dead baby with the first woman's live baby. The second woman denies this, claiming the live baby is hers.
• Solomon instructs that the living baby be divided in half and a half be given to each woman. The first woman tells him to give the baby to the second woman, but the second woman says to divide the baby. Solomon instructs that the baby be given to the first woman, since she is obviously the child's mother.

Preparations for Building the Temple – 1 Kings 5:1–18 & 2 Chronicles 2:1–18

• Hiram king of Tyre, who loved David, sends his servants to Solomon. Solomon sends word to Hiram that he intends to build a temple now that all his enemies (and David's) have been conquered. Hiram rejoices and tells Solomon that he will send down cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon; in response, Solomon will provide food for Hiram's household. The two make a treaty.
• Solomon sends many men to Lebanon, and to the hill country to mine stone for the temple's foundation. Solomon's and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal do the cutting and preparing of the timber.

Solomon Builds the Temple – 1 Kings 6:1–13 & 2 Chronicles 3:1–14

• In the 480th year after Israel came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, in the month of Ziv (the second month), Solomon begins building the temple. All the specifications of the building are given.
• God tells Solomon that if he continues to keep the statutes God gave to David, He will dwell among his children of Israel and will not forsake them.

Solomon Builds the Temple – 1 Kings 6:14–38

• The remainder of the specifications of the temple are given.

May 20: Psalm 83; 1 Chronicles 29:23–25; 2 Chronicles 1:1; 1 Kings 2:13 – 1 Kings 3:4; 2 Chronicles 1:2–6; 1 Kings 3;5–15; 1 Chronicles 1:7–13

O God, Do Not Keep Silence – Psalm 83

• Asaph's psalm, a community lament for when God's people are threatened by Gentile enemies.

Solomon Anointed King – 1 Chronicles 29:23–25 & 2 Chronicles 1:1

• Solomon sits on the throne of the Lord in place of David. He prospers, and all of Israel pledges their allegiance to him. God makes him great in the sight of Israel.

Solomon's Reign Established – 2 Kings 2:13–46

• Adonijah comes to Bathsheba and asks that she go to Solomon and ask if Adonijah can have Abishag (David's concubine) for his wife. Bathsheba goes to Solomon and makes the request, and he asks her why she has made this request. He goes on to say that Adonijah is to be put to death, and he sends Benaiah to kill him that day. He then expels Abiathar the priest (who followed Adonijah), though he should put him to death as well.
• When Joab (who had also followed Adonijah) hears this, he flees to the tent of the Lord. Solomon learns of this and sends Benaiah to put him to death as well. Benaiah does as instructed and buries his body in the wilderness, as instructed.
• Solomon then sends word to Shimei that he should build a house in Jerusalem and never leave there. Shimei agrees, but three years later Shimei is told that his servants are in Gath and he goes there to retrieve them. When Solomon learns of this, he has Benaiah put him to death.
• Solomon's kingdom is established.

Solomon's Solomon Worships at Gibeon – 1 Kings 3:1–4 & 2 Chronicles 1:2–6 & 1 Kings 3:3–5

• Solomon makes a marriage alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He takes Pharaoh's daughter as his wife and brings her into the city of David until he finishes building his house in Jerusalem. 
• Solomon loves the Lord and walks in the statutes of his father, sacrificing only at the high places. He goes to Gibeon with all of the assembly, where he offers a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

Solomon Prays for Wisdom – 2 Chronicles 1:7–13

• That night, God appears to Solomon in a dream and tells him to ask for what he wants. Solomon asks God to continue to keep His promise to David, since he has made Solomon king over a people as numerous as dust. He then asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people well.
• Because Solomon has asked for wisdom and knowledge (instead of possessions, wealth, or honor), God gives him what he has requested, as well as riches, possessions, and honor.
• Solomon returns from Gibeon and reigns over Israel.

May 19: Psalm 79; Psalm 80; Psalm 81; Psalm 82

May 18: Psalm 75; Psalm 76; Psalm 77; Psalm 78

May 17: Psalm 50; Psalm 73; Psalm 74

May 16: Psalm 144; Psalm 145; Psalm 88; Psalm 89

May 15: Psalm 131; Psalm 133; Psalm 138; Psalm 139; Psalm 140; Psalm 141; Psalm 143

May 14: Psalm 103; Psalm 108; Psalm 109; Psalm 110; Psalm 122; Psalm 124

May 13: Psalm 68; Psalm 69; Psalm 70; Psalm 86; Psalm 101

May 12: Psalm 61; Psalm 62; Psalm 64; Psalm 65; Psalm 66; Psalm 67

May 11: Psalm 39; Psalm 40; Psalm 41; Psalm 53; Psalm 55; Psalm 58;

May 10: Psalm 35; Psalm 36; Psalm 37; Psalm 38

Great Is the Lord – Psalm 35

• A psalm of David, a claim that the faithful should pray when they know malicious people seek to harm them.

How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love – Psalm 36

• A psalm of David, a lament about the wicked who oppose the faithful, and about the steadfast love of God.

He Will Not Forsake His Saints – Psalm 37

• A psalm of David, it addresses the problems caused when godless people prosper, and encourages the faithful to remain so.

Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord – Psalm 38

• David's psalm, a lament about when man realizes his problems result from his own sin.

May 9: Psalm 27; Psalm 28; Psalm 29; Psalm 30; Psalm 31; Psalm 32

The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation – Psalm 27

• David's psalm, a hymn of expressing and cultivating confidence in life situations.

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield – Psalm 28

• David's psalm, a lament for help amid the threat of evildoers.

Ascribe to the Lord Glory – Psalm 29

• David's psalm, a hymn of praise to God for His awesome power.

Joy Comes in the Morning – Psalm 30

• David's psalm, composed for the dedication of the temple. It expresses personal thanksgiving for God's repeated care and deliverance.

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit – Psalm 31

• David's psalm, a lament that seeks God's help in times of trouble with enemies.

Blessed Are the Forgiven – Psalm 32

• David's maskil, a hymn of thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sin.

May 8: Psalm 22; Psalm 23; Psalm 24; Psalm 25; Psalm 26

Why Have You Forsaken Me? – Psalm 22

• David's psalm, a lament about suffering due to attacks from unscrupulous people.

The Lord Is My Shepherd – Psalm 23

• David's psalm, a hymn of confidence in the Lord's care.

The King of Glory – Psalm 24

• David's psalm, declaring the idea that the God that created all the earth is the same one whose presence worshipers come into.

Teach Me Your Paths – Psalm 25

• A psalm of David, a lament asking God for help in the time of troubles.

I Will Bless the Lord – Psalm 26

• David's psalm, a request for vindication.

May 7: Psalm 12 – Psalm 17; Psalm 19; Psalm 20

The Faithful Have Vanished – Psalm 12

• David's lament about liars in positions of authority.

How Long, O Lord? – Psalm 13

• David's lament when he is on the verge of despair.

The Fool Says, There Is No God – Psalm 14

• David's psalm, a community lament in which the people of God lament that people do not seek after God and they treat the people of God poorly.

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill? – Psalm 15

• David's psalm, a hymn celebrating the ideal worshiper.

You Will Not Abandon My Soul – Psalm 16

• A Mitkam of David, proclaiming the people's confidence and contentment while in God's care.

In the Shadow of Your Wings – Psalm 17

• David's prayer, and individual lament of one being unjustly accused of wrongdoing, and a plea for vindication.

The Law of the Lord is Perfect – Psalm 19

• A psalm of David, accounting creation by our Maker and the way Mosaic law addresses the people.

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God – Psalm 20

• David's psalm, a prayer that God will give success to the Davidic king, particularly in battle.

May 6: 1 Kings 2:1–9, 2 Samuel 23:1–7; 1 Kings 2:10–12; 1 Chronicles 29:26–30; Psalm 4; Psalm 5; Psalm 6; Psalm 8; Psalm 9; Psalm 11

David's Instructions to Solomon – 1 Kings 2:1–9

• When the time for David to die nears, he gives instructions to Solomon: to be strong and show himself a man, to keep the charge of the Lord, to take the lives of Joab and Shimei for what they did to David, and to deal loyally with Barzillai.

The Last Words of David – 2 Samuel 23:1–7

• David speaks his last words, a song praising God for establishing his house as ruler over Israel.

The Death of David – 2 Kings 1:10–12 & 1 Chronicles 29:26–30

• David dies and is buried in the city of David. He has reigned for forty years, seven years in Hebron and thirty-two years in Jerusalem. Solomon takes the throne and his kingdom is firmly established.

Answer Me When I Call – Psalm 4

• David's psalm expressing quiet trust amid troubling circumstances.

Lead Me in Your Righteousness – Psalm 5

• David's psalm, a lament and request for the downfall of his enemies.

O Lord, Deliver My Life – Psalm 6

• David's psalm, a lament for deliverance.

How Majestic Is Your Name – Psalm 8

• David's psalm, a hymn of praise.

I Will Recount Your Wonderful Deeds – Psalm 9

• David's psalm, expressing praise for how God has allowed him to defend Israel from their Gentile foes.

The Lord Is in His Holy Temple – Psalm 11

• David's psalm, expressing the confidence that the faithful can have, even in severe crisis.

May 5: 1 Chronicles 29:1–22; 1 Kings 1:1–53

Offerings for the Temple – 1 Chronicles 29

• David, because Solomon is young, provides much riches to build the temple. The people of Israel also make their donations willingly, and David rejoices.

David Prays in the Assembly

• David blesses the Lord in the presence of all the assembly, praising God for his kingdom and recognizing him as the source of wealth and strength. He prays that God will keep the people in the same purpose and frame of mind as they are that day.
• The people make Solomon the king of Israel again, and anoint him.

David in His Old Age – 1 Kings 1

• King David is very advanced in years, and even though he is covered with clothing he cannot get warm. His servants search out a young woman to lie in his arms and keep him warm, and Abigshag the Shunammite is brought to him. She is of service to the king, but he does not have sexual relations with her.

Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King

• Adonijah, David's son, determines that he will be king, and gathers chariots, horsemen, and fifty men. Joab and Abiathar follow him, but Zadok the priest, Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, and Rei do not. He sacrifices animals at the Serpent's Stone, and invites all his brothers.

Nathan and Bathsheba Before David

• Nathan tells Bathsheba about what Adonijah is doing and has her go and tell David that Adonijah has declared himself king. She does so, and while she is speaking, Nathan comes into the room and confirms that Adonijah has declared himself king, is sacrificing animals, and has Joab, Abiathar, and others with him. Nathan informs David that he, Benaiah, Zadok the priest, and Solomon were not invited.

Solomon Anointed King

• David calls Bathsheba into his presence, and he confirms that Solomon is to be king. He then has Zadok the priest, Nathan, and Benaiah brought before him, and he instructs them to take Solomon to Gihon, anoint him king, blow the trumpet, and say "Long live King Solomon." They are then to bring him back to the palace, where he will sit on the throne.
• Adonijah and all his guests hear about this as they finish feasting. Jonathan, the son of Abiathar, brings news that Solomon has been made king. All the guests tremble in fear and leave.
• Solomon is told that Adonijah fears him, and Solomon states that if he will show himself a worthy man, not one hair will fall from his head, but if he is not, he will die. Solomon sends for Adonijah, who is brought to him, and Adonijah pays homage to him. Solomon sends him home to his house.

May 4: 1 Chronicles 26:1 – 1 Chronicles 28:21

Divisions of the Gatekeepers – 1 Chronicles 26

• The divisions of the gatekeepers are described. Included are the families of Meshelemiah, Obed-edom (a Philistine), and Hosah. They minister in the house of the Lord by guarding the north, south, east, and west gates.

Treasurers and Other Officials

• Other Levites, led by Ahijah, are in charge of the treasuries.

Military Divisions – 1 Chronicles 27

• The eleven divisions of Israel, each with 24,000 troops, are described, along with their commanders.

Leaders of Tribes 

• The leaders of the tribes are given:
• Of the tribe of Reuben, Eliezer
• Of the tribe of Simeon, Shephatiah
• Of the tribe of Levi, Hashabiah
• Of Aaron (the priests), Zadok
• Of the tribe of Judah, Elihu
• Of the tribe of Issachar, Omri
• Of the tribe of Zebulun, Ishmaiah
• Of the tribe of Naphtali, Jeremoth
• Of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea
• Of the tribe of Manasseh (west), Joel
• Of the tribe of Manasseh (east), Iddo
• Of the tribe of Benjamin, Jassiel
• Of the tribe of Dan, Azarel
• Joab had started the consensus but never finished it because the wrath of God fell on Israel, and the total number was never recorded in David's records.
• The officials of the king are described.

David's Charge to Israel – 1 Chronicles 28

• David assembles all the officials and tells them that God had him instruct Solomon to build the temple and that He has chosen Solomon to be king. He exhorts them to seek the Lord and follow His commandments, that they may inhabit the land and leave it as an inheritance to their children.

David's Charge to Solomon

• David exhorts Solomon to know the Lord and serve Him. He then gives Solomon the extensive plans for every part of the temple, which God made clear to David. David encourages Solomon to be strong and courageous, knowing God is with him, and tells him all the people are at his command.

May 3: 1 Chronicles 23:1 – 1 Chronicles 25:31

David Organizes the Levites – 1 Chronicles 23

• When David is old, he makes Solomon king. He assembles all the priests and Levites, and numbers the Levites at 38,000 men. He determines that 24,000 will work in the house of the Lord, 6,000 will be officers and judges, 4,000 will be gatekeepers, and 4,000 will offer praise with instruments.
• The sons of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari are described, and the duties of the Levites (as before) are given.

David Organizes the Priests – 1 Chronicles 24

• David organizes all the priests (the sons of Aaron). Twenty-four are appointed to duty in the house of the Lord by lot.
• The rest of the sons of Levi are described.

David Organizes the Musicians – 1 Chronicles 25

• David and the chiefs of the service set apart Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. They and their families are trained in making music before the Lord.

May 2: 2 Samuel 24:1–9; 1 Chronicles 21:1–6; 2 Samuel 24:10–17; 1 Chronicles 21:7–17; 2 Samuel 24:18–25; 1 Chronicles 21:18 – 1 Chronicles 22:19

David's Census – 2 Samuel 24:1–9 & 1 Chronicles 21:1–6

• The anger of the Lord is again kindled against Israel, and God allows Satan to tell David to go and number Judah and Israel. David instructs Joab to do this, and while Joab questions this (he knows David is not trusting God, instead wanting to know the strength of his armies), he does as he is told. After nine months and twenty days, they return to Jerusalem with word that there are 800,000 men of Israel and 500,000 men of Judah.

The Lord's Judgment of David – 2 Samuel 24:10–17 & 1 Chronicles 21:7–17

• David realizes his wrongdoing and admits his sin to God.
• The word of the Lord comes to the prophet Gad, and he goes to David with three things that God is offering David–three years of famine, three months of fleeing from his foes, or three days pestilence on the land. David responds that he is in great distress and asks that they fall into the hands of God, who is merciful, but let them not fall into the hand of man.
• God sends a pestilence on the land, with an angel of the Lord taking the lives of 70,000 men. God stops the angel from destroying Jerusalem, and David admits his wickedness to God and asks that God's hand be against him and not the "sheep" following him.

David Builds an Altar – 2 Samuel 24:18–25 & 1 Chronicles 21:18–30

• Gad returns to David and tells him to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (where the angel of the Lord last was). David goes there, and Araunah meets him and asks why he has come. David tells him he wants to buy the threshing floor from him so he can build an altar, and Araunah tries to give it to him, but David insists on paying for it.
• David buys the threshing floor and builds an altar, and the plague is averted from Israel.

David Prepares for Temple Building – 1 Chronicles 22

• David commands that resident aliens be gathered, and he has stonecutters prepare stones for building the house of God. David provides all the necessary materials.

Solomon Charged to Build the Temple

• David calls his son Solomon and charges him to build a house for the Lord. He tells Solomon that because he (David) has shed much blood, Solomon is to build the temple and God will establish his royal throne in Israel forever. He asks that God grant Solomon direction and understanding.
• David commands the leaders of Israel to help Solomon, since God has delivered them, He tells them to set their hearts and minds to seek the Lord, and build a sanctuary for the ark of the covenant.

May 1: 2 Samuel 22:1–51; Psalm 18

David's Song of Deliverance – 2 Samuel 22 & Psalm 18

• David sings a psalm of praise (which is almost identical to Psalm 18), proclaiming Him as his rock, fortress, and deliverer, and speaking of the wonderful things He has done for David. He praises God over and over.