Today's Daily Bread

DAVID’S CHARGE TO SOLOMON

Date : Thursday, November 21, 2024
Passage : 1Kings 2:1~12
Keyverse : 3  
1
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
2
"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, act like a man,
3
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
4
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.’
5
"Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me - what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
6
Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
7
"But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
8
"And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ’I will not put you to death by the sword.’
9
But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood."
10
Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.
11
He had reigned forty years over Israel - seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
12
So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.
David knew he was about to die. He had established his son Solomon to succeed him as King of Israel. Now, just before his death, David gave two pieces of advice to his son: to fear and obey the Lord and to firmly establish his kingship. His advice was both spiritual and practical.

David told Solomon to be strong and act like a man. This meant, do what the Lord requires of all his people: to walk in obedience to him and to keep his commands, decrees, laws, and regulations. David promised that if he and his descendants did these things—be faithful to the Lord with all their hearts and minds—Solomon would never fail to have a descendant on the throne.

David also advised Solomon, practically, in dealing with others. He told him to be kind to Barzillai who had been kind to him during Absalom’s rebellion. But Solomon was to use wisdom in dealing with Joab and Shimei, who had acted deceitfully against David. They should be dealt with accordingly. As Christians, we are not to forget the kindness of others. But to the enemies of God, we should be clear and uncompromising. The Lord will deal with them in his judgment.

Prayer: Father, please raise up leaders who may observe and obey your word.
One Word: Observe what the Lord requires