David’s Charge to Solomon

 

1 Kings 2:1-4

 

April 6, 2021

 

 

David’s Charge to Solomon

When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

“I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man,  and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go  and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

 

King David, acting like a dad, as stated earlier he drop the ball when it came to being a dad.  But now he is turning the throne over to a young man and he much like you and me needs direction only a dad can give his son.   

 

History tells us the Jewish people did not watch how they lived and did not walk faithfully before the Lord.  But are we who go by the title of Christian any different from the people of Israel?  David told this young boy, all you got to do is walk in obedience to God, and the people will follow Him also.

 

It comes down to leadership, Solomon began well, and yet he messed up real bad as he got older.  I messed up real bad earlier, but God has forgiven me and now I have chosen to walk with God and to finish strong.

Solomon allows his flesh to rule as he got older, he married 300 women and did many things that broke the commands of our God.  But he also authored Proverbs and gave us great wisdom and a collection of wise sayings.  

 

As I was giving thought to the foolishness of Solomon it hit me that God used even that in His love letter to us.  First Solomon tells us all is futile in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”  What does a man gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun?   This is wisdom from the wisest man born of an earthly dad, who tried and did all that he desired.  Chapter 12:13-14, “When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity.  For God will bring every act to judgment,

 including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice