Today's Scripture
David’s Last Words – 1 Kings 2: 1-10
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE:1 Kings 1-2 Psalm 37 Psalm 71 Psalm 94 (CEB)
David’s time was coming to an end. So he commanded Solomon his son, 2 “I’m following the path that the whole earth takes. Be strong and be a man. 3 Guard what is owed to the Lord your God, walking in his ways and observing his laws, his commands, his judgments, and his testimonies, just as it is written in the Instruction from Moses. In this way you will succeed in whatever you do and wherever you go. 4 So also the Lord will confirm the word he spoke to me: ‘If your children will take care to walk before me faithfully, with all their heart and all their being, then one of your own children will never fail to be on the throne of Israel.’ 5 You should know what Joab, Zeruiah’s son, has done to me and what he did to the two generals of Israel, Abner, Ner’s son, and Amasa, Jether’s son. He murdered them, spilling blood at peacetime and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 So act wisely: Don’t allow him to die a peaceful death. 7 As for Barzillai’s sons from Gilead, show them kindness. Let them eat with you. When I was running away from your brother Absalom, they came to me. 8 Now as for this Shimei, Gera’s son—a Benjaminite from Bahurim—who is with you, he cursed me viciously when I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, ‘Surely I won’t execute you with the sword.’ 9 But you don’t need to excuse him. You are wise and know what to do to him. Give him a violent death.”
10 Then David lay down with his ancestors and was buried in David’s City. 11 He ruled over Israel forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
What does this passage mean to me/us
The story of Solomon taking the throne is like a movie, and I strongly recommend everyone to read according to the reading schedule.
However, I wanted to focus on David’s last word for Solomon.
David does warn Solomon about the human strifes and plots, in order for Solomon to solidify his throne.
David’s last words are parallel to what God told Joshua when he was succeeding Moses’ leadership.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. – Joshua 1:7-8
Even though we will learn that Solomon failed to follow David’s last words, to the end, we see how he did try his best.
Then the question emerges, ‘what kind of instructions are we passing on to the next gen?’
It shouldn’t only be passed on our last days, it should be lived out, so it can continue.
Am I living out the promise?
Prayer
Lord, help us to live out your commands. Help us to see how you call us to pass this faith with others. In Christ name, AMEN.
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