The King's Charge

1 Kings 2:1-3

New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: Paragraph Version (Chapter 2)

“As David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, “I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.  Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn...”

Introduction

Here we read about a conversation that transpires between King David and soon-to-be-king Solomon: The greatest of Israel’s kings, and the wisest of kings. We have the opportunity to eavesdrop on this passing of the torch between two great men in Israelite history. What we see is remarkable.

Be strong

Strength of character and mental fortitudeAs king, Solomon was going to face some difficult days. His decisions would be challenged, his motives questioned, and his actions critiqued. If Solomon was to be a good king, he would have to learn to stand on his own, with God’s help. We are no different.

Keep Charge

Dt. 17: 10-20 set up an edict that when, in sometime future, Israel chose to become a monarchy, then the king was to faithfully follow and execute the Law, presenting a behavior model for the entire nation, as well as those outside Israel.

Actually, it was the king’s responsibility not only to be familiar with and follow the Law, but he was to write out his own copy and keep it with him to meditate on and review frequently.

You may succeed

We do not always recognize success and failure. The older I get the more I realize that we frequently mixup the two. Sometimes what looks like the darkest and bleakest time of our lives is actually times of great victory, it’s just that we’ve been conditioned to view success and failure in terms of dollars and cents.

David’s promise to Solomon was that if he remained strong, and followed the commands of God, he would find success. Truthfully, Solomon was successful until his many wives turned his attention to other gods.

Perhaps you and I are not kings today, but we can learn the lessons of kings.