"The Queen Mother" - 1 Kings 2

What does it really mean to be “after God’s own heart”? In the final teaching of *After God’s Own Heart*, Jason Coker returns to the complicated story of King David, Bathsheba, Solomon, and the struggle for power in 1 Kings 1–2. Rather than treating these biblical stories as simple examples of how we should live, Jason invites us to read them with discernment—to ask what is good, what is harmful, where power is being abused, and where the heart of God might actually be found. Through the stories of David and Bathsheba, Jason explores the corrupting nature of power, the ways people who are oppressed may have to navigate systems of power to survive, and the responsibility of those with privilege to stand alongside people who are suffering. The episode ultimately returns to the question that has shaped this entire series: What does it mean to be a person after God’s own heart? Jason argues that we see God's heart when people resist the temptations of power, use their privilege to advocate for others, and pursue liberation from oppressive systems—even when those choices are complicated and uncomfortable. As *After God’s Own Heart* comes to a close, this teaching offers an invitation to take responsibility for our own moral judgment, read Scripture with courage and discernment, and recognize what is good, right, and true for ourselves. ### Chapters - (00:00:00) - Introduction and Series Recap - (00:03:33) - Reading 1 Kings 2: Bathsheba's New Power - (00:07:20) - The Story of David and Abishag - (00:11:15) - David's Genealogy: Power Through Women and Children - (00:15:29) - Adonijah's Bid for the Throne - (00:17:34) - Nathan and Bathsheba's Plot to Secure Solomon's Throne - (00:20:45) - Solomon Crowned King - (00:21:42) - Reading Scripture Critically: Game of Thrones Comparison - (00:25:28) - Wil Gafney's Interpretation of Bathsheba - (00:27:05) - Adonijah's Fatal Request for Abishag - (00:32:51) - Did Bathsheba Know? Power and Intrigue - (00:35:04) - David's Fall: A Man After God's Heart Corrupted - (00:37:26) - Finding God's Heart: Power, Allyship, and Liberation - (00:41:02) - Closing Prayer - (00:43:05) - Outro