David’s Instructions to Solomon
February 7, 2020
Commentary
David knew that he would soon die so he made plans to counsel his successor. His instructions to Solomon were two fold:
1. Solomon’s relationship to God (vv. 1-4) – His two main exhortations were: “Be strong… and show yourself a man” and “Keep the charge of the Lord your God." He reminded his son that prosperity and the Lord’s blessing depended on strict observance of the Mosaic Law.
2. Solomon’s dealings with men (vv. 5-9) – In David’s mind some matters remained to be settled before his death. Joab and Shimei needed to be brought to justice and put to death. Joab (David’s nephew) because he had murdered Abner, Saul and Ishbosheth’s captain (II Sam. 2:22-23). He had killed Absalom against David’s wishes (II Sam. 18:5, 14) and he had supported Adonijah’s attempt to seize the throne (1:7). Shimei had violated Exodus 22:28, “Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people,” when he cursed David as he fled Jerusalem (II Sam. 16:5-8). David gave Solomon this advise not because he was vindictive, but because he was determined that Solomon’s throne be established upon a foundation of justice. David died and was buried in Jerusalem. He had reigned a total of 40 years.
Application
Barzilla stands for those who are loyal to God and unselfishly give glory to him and others. I need to be sure that my leadership is not self-serving but God serving?
1 Kings 2:1– 12 (NET)
1 When David was close to death, he told Solomon his son: 2 “I am about to die. Be strong and become a man! 3 Do the job the Lord your God has assigned you by following his instructions and obeying his rules, commandments, regulations, and laws as written in the law of Moses. Then you will succeed in all you do and seek to accomplish, 4 and the Lord will fulfill his promise to me, ‘If your descendants watch their step and live faithfully in my presence with all their heart and being, then,’ he promised, ‘you will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
5 “You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—how he murdered two commanders of the Israelite armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. During peacetime he struck them down as if in battle; when he shed their blood, he stained the belt on his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Do to him what you think is appropriate, but don’t let him live long and die a peaceful death.
7 “Treat fairly the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their needs, because they helped me when I had to flee from your brother Absalom.
8 “Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who tried to call down upon me a horrible judgment when I went to Mahanaim. He came down and met me at the Jordan, and I solemnly promised him by the Lord, ‘I will not strike you down with the sword.’ 9 But now don’t treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death.”
10 Then David passed away and was buried in the City of David. 11 David reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years, and in Jerusalem thirty-three years.
12 Solomon sat on his father David’s throne, and his royal authority was firmly solidified.
Illustration: 81 Year Old Man Takes Controls of Small Plane
Robert Kupferschmid, an 81-year old man with no flying experience was flying with a 52 year old pilot friend in a Cessna 172 when the pilot suddenly slumped over and died at the controls. The single-engine plane began to nose-dive and Kupferschmid grabbed the controls and somehow he got on the radio and pleaded for help. Nearby were two pilots who heard the call and gave Kupferschmid a steady stream of instructions of climbing, steering, and the scariest part: landing at a nearby airport. Emergency vehicles were called out and ready for what seemed like an approaching disaster. Witnesses said the plane’s nose nudged the center line and bounced a few times before the tail hit the ground. The Cessna ended up in a patch of soggy grass next to the runway. Amazingly, Kupferschmid was not injured. He listened and followed those instructions as if his life depended on it–and it did. (From a sermon by Michael Luke, Faith Can Fix Anything, 10/1/2010)