A Father's Last Charge

This morning we are going to find ourselves in 1 Kings 2:1-4. This passage records for us the last charge King David the father of Solomon gives to his son Solomon future king of Israel.

Many can view this last charge recorded here as a king giving the next king a word of advise as he passes the torch of leadership to the next ruler.

However I personally believe it is more than just that. It is a father giving his son what is most important in life. Words of wisdom, purpose and meaning.

1 Kings 2:1 NKJV

1 Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying:

The charge recorded here was given to Solomon just before David’s death and is different from the farewell address delivered in public some time before (1 Ch 29:28).

1 Kings 2:2 NKJV

2 “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.

“I go the way of all the earth” - this is a picturesque description of death. David recognizes his mortality, he is realist, he knows he is about to die.

An important lesson to us all. We must learn to number our days. To know that we only have a short time on this earth. Consider what is most important. Weight the cost of your time spent. For life is but a vapor, here for a brief moment then gone.

Life is short, so teach your children the ways of the LORD while you still can. Be the father your children and grand children need you to be for the sake of the LORD.

King David had lived his short life of 70 years and he had advise to pass down to his son.

1 Kings 2:2 NKJV

2 “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.

So here we come to a fathers last charge to his son.

Be Strong

The urge to be strong is to be steadfast mentally, physically and spiritually. Be strong in keeping the Word of the LORD - in word and deed.

Deut. 31:7 “7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.”

What the world needs today are men of strength and courage to stand up for what is right and stand against what is wrong.

Be a Man

What does it mean to be a man?

1 Cor. 16:13 “13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

David is telling Solomon, “Show yourself to a man by being brave to stand for the right and against the wrong.

David was a man after God’s own heart. David had his faults and so do we. Yet David recognized the love of the LORD. A cried out for restoration of his own heart.

What the world needs most today are God fearing fathers who love Jesus more than they love themselves. Be that man, so your son or sons will be men of God.

A man is one who can recognize his weaknesses and humbly cry out the LORD to give him strength. Know where your strength comes from. You are not the source of your strength the LORD is.

1 Kings 2:3 NKJV

3 And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;

David continues by saying “Keep the charge of the Lord” What does that mean?

Be Faithful to the LORD

And what does it mean to be faithful to the LORD; David continues with a list of basic actions that show ones faithfulness. He says:

Walk in His ways, keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies.

Believers have the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the Comforter who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26). David and his son Solomon didn't have what you and I have today. For Christ had not yet come to live out the law in perfect completion, fulfilled all what the prophets spoke about, died and rose again the third day.

We are still to walk in His ways, which His ways lead us to surrender to Christ and His authority when we do that the Holy Spirit leads the believer into righteousness (Galatians 5:16–18) and produces His fruit in those yielded to Him (Galatians 5:22–23). Believers are to submit to the will of God and walk in the Spirit.

The family needs fathers who will walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

So the word “walk” in the Bible is often a metaphor for practical daily living.

The Christian life is a journey, and we are to walk it—we are to make consistent forward progress.

The biblical norm for all believers is that they walk in the Spirit: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25, KJV; cf. Romans 8:14).

In other words, the Spirit gave us life in the new birth (John 3:6), and we must continue to live, day by day, in the Spirit.

Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and are the bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces.

Thus, those who walk in the Spirit walk in love—they live in love for God and for their fellow man.

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in joy—they exhibit gladness in what God has done, is doing, and will do.

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in peace—they live worry-free and refuse anxiety (Philippians 4:6).

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in patience—they are known for having a “long fuse” and do not lose their temper.

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in kindness—they show tender concern for the needs of others.

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in goodness—their actions reflect virtue and holiness.

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in faithfulness—they are steadfast in their trust of God and His Word.

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in gentleness—their lives are characterized by humility, grace, and thankfulness to God.

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in self-control—they display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to the flesh.

God’s law is fulfilled in Christ and it is Christ then who lives inside of us who works out the things that are good godly spiritual fruit.

The law of God is reflection of that holiness. David saw and knew the importance of living a faithful life to the holy creator.

Conclusion:

So I want to leave you all with this thought.

What the world needs most today are God fearing fathers who love Jesus more than they love themselves. Be that man, for your family, your wife, your children, your church, your community and world.

A true godly man is one who can recognizes his weaknesses and humbly cry out the LORD to give him strength. Know where your strength comes from. You are not the source of your strength the LORD is.