When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, 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, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ (1 Kings 2:1-4)
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I recently watched a video that was recorded by a hospice nurse. I imagine that for most people, her job would seem like a dreaded task. It’s her responsibility each day to help and comfort people who are in the last stages of life. That’s a unique calling that would most certainly require an added measure of mercy, compassion, and love.
As she was speaking, she mentioned that she’s learned a lot about death during her years of serving people in this capacity. Much of what she’s learned has caused her not to fear death like she once did. She said that sitting with people in the midst of those moments has also helped strengthen her faith because she can see the hand of God at work even in how He has designed our physical bodies to shut down.
For most of her patients, their final moments have transpired peacefully, and as far as she can tell, without significant pain. Many of them could tell, based on the changes that were happening in their bodies, that the time of their death was coming soon. Hearing her description of what she commonly sees reminded me a lot of the evangelist Dwight Moody’s words to his son when he was in his final moments.
Moody had famously said that someday folks would read about his death in the newspaper. But do not believe it because those born in the Spirit would very much be alive – with Christ in heaven and for eternity. At the end of his life, with his family at his bedside, Moody said aloud, “Earth recedes, and heaven opens before me.”
Moody’s son, Will, who was by his father’s bedside, assumed his father was dreaming. “No, this is no dream, Will,” Moody proclaimed. “It is beautiful! It is like a trance! If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here! God is calling me, and I must go.” And he died a brief time later, on Dec. 26, 1899. -https://www.persecution.org/2022/09/11/moody/
I have often wondered if the Lord will grace me with the opportunity to formally say goodbye to my family and offer a few words of wisdom when my day comes, or if my transition to Heaven will happen in a sudden and unexpected way. I guess in many respects, I’m glad I don’t know the answer to that question.
But when we look at 1 Kings 2:1-4, we can see that David was conscious of the fact that his final days were at hand. In view of the promises God had made to him during his life, and in view of the fact that the responsibility to lead Israel was now about to fall on his young son Solomon who was roughly 20 years old at the time, David shared some final counsel with his son. It’s counsel that we would do well to keep in mind when it comes to the way we conduct ourselves in this world and steward our responsibilities.
Be strong, and show yourself a man: I’m grateful for the men the Lord has placed in my life who aren’t afraid to carry themselves like men. They keep their word. They look you in the eye. They honor and respect women. They work hard. They know how to actually shake your hand. They put Jesus first in their lives.
I’m grateful to be surrounded by family, friends, and mentors who exhibit these traits because we live in an era of weak men who struggle to understand what being a man actually means. That struggle gets perpetuated by some men who spend their lives acting like toddlers who only want to do what feels good, but can’t be bothered to keep their commitments, care for their households, raise their own children, or make even the smallest sacrifices for the good of the nation and culture God has placed them in.
David’s counsel to young Solomon was to be strong in the strength the Lord supplied him and demonstrate that he actually knew what it meant to be a man of God. Solomon wasn’t the kind of guy who was going to spend his 20s playing video games, eating his parents’ food, and living rent-free in the same room he used to wet the bed in when he was a 3-year-old. He was about to lead a nation and continue his father’s legacy on the throne of Israel.
Keep the charge of the LORD your God: It is not an accident that we live when and where we live. We were born in this era of history according to God’s design, and He entrusts to us various responsibilities that we’re called to steward during the course of our adult lives.
I don’t know which responsibilities the Lord will entrust to you, but I’m sure He will eventually make those things clear. I have been blessed by the examples of adults who don’t run from the responsibilities the Lord has given them. I have also witnessed those who do run from their calling, and it isn’t inspiring to see.
Admittedly, there will be times when you may not feel like doing what God has asked you to do. I have had those moments. I’m guessing David may have as well, and he may have been anticipating future days when Solomon would feel the same way. So he encouraged him to keep the charge God had given him without shrinking away from it on the hard days.
Walk in God’s ways and keep His statutes and commandments: When my children were young, I felt an intense burden to help them know Jesus and understand the teaching of God’s Word. We would sit down to discuss it, watch programs together that emphasized it, listen to music that proclaimed it, and talk about it on a deeper level during long car rides.
As they got older, my desire for them to walk with the Lord and know His ways continued. I remember at one point they started asking me for more Internet access in our home because I was restricting how much time they could spend online. In response, I came up with a system whereby they could earn additional time. In exchange for a handwritten copy of the Ten Commandments, I would give them an additional hour.
David encouraged Solomon to be a man who walked with God and kept His commandments. Admittedly, Solomon didn’t do this perfectly, but I do appreciate what we’re told of him in 1 Kings 3:3.
“Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places." (1 Kings 3:3)
It’s not up to me what will be said about my children someday, but it would sure bring my heart great joy if it’s said that they loved the Lord and walked in his statutes. I’m praying that for my future grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well. Nothing would make me happier.
If you’re obedient to the Lord, your life will prosper: David also made a point to help Solomon understand that he would need the favor and blessing of God to truly succeed. If he wanted to prosper as a man and as a king, he needed to be careful not to harden his heart against God’s leading.
Good leaders know what it’s like to be led. As they seek to be an authority, they first need to accept what it means to be under authority. And in the case of those who desire to understand the Lord’s will, their hearts need to remain in a place of submission to His guidance. Otherwise, their eyes and ears will not be attuned to receiving His counsel.
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As David was speaking all these things to Solomon, he also had in mind the fact that the Lord had made a very specific promise to him. David spoke of that promise to Solomon when he said…
that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ (1 Kings 2:4)
The Lord had promised David that even after his days on this earth were complete, one of his sons would sit on the throne of Israel. We see this promise given in 2 Samuel 7 where it says…
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
In one respect, it would seem logical to see at least a partial fulfillment of this promise in Solomon who would now reign in David’s place. But there’s a deeper fulfillment of this promise that’s given to us in Scripture. In fact, there’s a long-promised King that this prophetic word was ultimately pointing to, One whose reign would last longer than four or five decades, but would be established forever. That King is the King of kings, Jesus. Look at what we’re told in the gospel of Matthew…
Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:22-23)
“The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” (Matthew 12:42)
During the days when Jesus was walking on this earth, the people of Israel lived under occupation from the Roman government and they resented it deeply. In the midst of that humiliating season, they took consolation in the prophetic promises of God that the day would come when the Messiah, the Son of David would rule on the throne of Israel and lead the nation with benevolence once again.
They were looking for a king like David or Solomon to lead them, but what did Jesus reveal to those who had hearts of stone and those who had hearts of faith? He made it clear to them that while they were looking for another Solomon, one who was greater than Solomon was right in front of their face. The Messiah they were waiting for was the very man they were conversing with, but sadly, many of them failed to realize this.
We’re no different. Many of us are looking for wisdom and guidance from people on this earth who strike us as great leaders and sages. We’re looking for them to direct our lives and bring order to our chaos. Yet it’s Jesus, the One who is greater than all other leaders and influencers who stands before us and offers us hope through Him. No one can light a candle to His wisdom. No one can compete for His authority. Only He holds the rightful claim to the throne of our hearts. Will we joyfully recognize Him as Lord and submit our lives to Him?
My king was born king. The Bible says He is the seven-way king. He is the king of the Jews. That’s a racial king. He is king of Israel. That’s a national king. He’s a king of righteousness. He’s a king of the ages. He’s the king of heaven. He is the king of glory. He’s the King of kings and Lord of lords. Now that’s my king.
Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my king? David said, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. That’s my king. He’s God’s Son. He’s a sinner’s savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s preeminent. He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest idea in philosophy. He’s the fundamental truth in theology. He’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion. That’s my king. -Dr. S. M. Lockridge, Dallas, Texas, quoted by Max Anders in Jesus, Knowing Our Savior, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publ., 1995), pp. 33-35
I don’t know what my final words will be, but whether I can speak coherent sentences at the end of my life, or if I’m not able to speak at all, I hope the prevailing testimony of my life will clearly testify to who Jesus is and why He is worthy of our worship and devotion. He’s the King we’re waiting for. He’s the King we need. He’s the King we can worship and serve right now, and He’s the King I’m placing my full trust in forever.
© John Stange, 2023
