The Promise Is Fulfilled Through Obedience
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said, "So be strong, act like a man, 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 and that the LORD may keep his promises 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."
. . . Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel -- seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
I Kings 2:1-4, 10.
"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said, "So be strong, act like a man, 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 and that the LORD may keep his promises 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."
. . . Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel -- seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
I Kings 2:1-4, 10.
David was close to death. He had enthroned Solomon as his successor and he addressed Solomon for the last time prior to his death. The last words of a godly icon are significant. David was a slayer of giants; he was an outstanding military commander; he was a man after God's own heart; he was a gifted musician and Psalmist. He was a visionary who took the nation of Israel to unimaginable heights. He ensured that God was central to his own life and that of the nation. In his time, Israel followed God wholeheartedly and God blessed the nation.
So what parting words would David speak to his son, who had succeeded him on the throne, as he prepared to take his last breath? Not surprisingly, David encouraged Solomon to walk faithfully and obediently with God.
Through the prophet Nathan, God had covenanted with David to give him an everlasting dynasty. David recalled those words: "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." David was reminding Solomon that the promises God made to him were conditioned by obedience and faithfulness to God.
We know from the choices Solomon made that he was unfaithful in his work with God and therefore the promise was truncated when the Israelites were hauled off into captivity by the Babylonians and Assyrians due to their unfaithfulness.
The promises of God are still tied to faithfulness and obedience. Walking in obedience to God requires a certain measure of strength and determination. Obedience does not happen passively; obedience is always the result of determination. One can only walk faithfully with God if he determines steadfastly in his heart to do so because the lures to unfaithfulness are very powerful. This is underscored by David's choice of words to Solomon, ". . . be strong, act like a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires. . . . "
The promises of God are only fulfilled through faithfulness to Him. A walk of faithfulness demands strength and determination no matter how strong the pull to disobey might be.
So what parting words would David speak to his son, who had succeeded him on the throne, as he prepared to take his last breath? Not surprisingly, David encouraged Solomon to walk faithfully and obediently with God.
Through the prophet Nathan, God had covenanted with David to give him an everlasting dynasty. David recalled those words: "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." David was reminding Solomon that the promises God made to him were conditioned by obedience and faithfulness to God.
We know from the choices Solomon made that he was unfaithful in his work with God and therefore the promise was truncated when the Israelites were hauled off into captivity by the Babylonians and Assyrians due to their unfaithfulness.
The promises of God are still tied to faithfulness and obedience. Walking in obedience to God requires a certain measure of strength and determination. Obedience does not happen passively; obedience is always the result of determination. One can only walk faithfully with God if he determines steadfastly in his heart to do so because the lures to unfaithfulness are very powerful. This is underscored by David's choice of words to Solomon, ". . . be strong, act like a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires. . . . "
The promises of God are only fulfilled through faithfulness to Him. A walk of faithfulness demands strength and determination no matter how strong the pull to disobey might be.
Prayer: Father, please give me the strength to walk faithfully with you. Amen.
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