Succession of Leadership - 1 Chronicles 20-24

1 Chronicles 23:1-2 (ESV)

David Organizes the Levites

When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites.

The succession plan for leadership can be quite complicated and drawn out.  Most for-profit business leaders do a fair job at it.  Most non-profit business leaders do not.   Typically the most disruption in business is found in this transfer of power and leadership.   In government it is better today than the ancient world, but still not always great.   In David’s day it was always, typically, an heir to the throne.   But, that was not always smooth, either.  Remember, David’s son Absalom tried to take the kingship from David.   In the above passage we read that David is old and full of days.  He is dying.   It says that he made Solomon his son king.    The writer of the Chronicles is summarizing, however.  In 1 Kings 1 we read that Solomon’s ascent to the throne was not that easy as another son, Adonijah, tried to set himself up as king.   It was only by the work of Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, that Solomon made it to the throne.    David, as stated as well in the 1 Kings 1 passage, was “old and advanced in years.”  Sometimes in our age we are not as sharp as we should be.  But, sometimes we are smart enough to organize life and get it ready for the next generation of leadership.   David is still in enough control of his mind to make sure that the leadership Solomon would need would be in place.  He is still sharp enough to know that equipment, tools, finances and plans would need to be in place for Solomon.   Remember, Solomon is young.   So, as David is making plans he is assuring that Solomon is set up for success.  It is the responsibility of the aged to prepare and equip the youth to lead.   That is essential for continuity and for God’s plan to continue.  Think about Moses training Joshua.  Think about Paul training Titus and Timothy.   Think about Barnabas training John-Mark.   Remember, we can’t just let the following generation do what they can.  We prepare them for the future by equipping them in the present.