1 Kings 2, 1 Chronicles 29, Romans 7
Up until the beginning of 2023 I had been a faithful subscriber to a meal delivery service. Every week I would choose 2 meals to make for my family. Tuesday afternoon would bring a box of food and precise instructions for me to follow. I have to admit, the step by step instructions and having every ingredient needed helped me produce a delicious meal for my family. Over the past 5 months as we became empty nesters, I decided that the meal delivery was not necessary as I have more time on my hands and only 2 mouths to feed. What I am surprised at is that I am much better at finding my own recipes and following directions now that I did it faithfully for 3 years. It is amazing when we put the time and effort in, results will follow.
In the book of 1 Kings we read about the end of David’s life. David has named his son, Solomon, as the next King. As David prepares him to take the throne, he has some instructions for his son. Words of wisdom that will be useful when he takes over the kingdom.
Be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God; to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgements, 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.
I Kings 2:2-3
If I were to send you instructions on how to follow what David is stating here, I would say the following:
1- Be Strong – David truly understood what it would be like for Solomon ruling the kingdom. He knew he had to have a heart to follow God.
2 – Prove yourself a man – Solomon was still a young man. He did not have the experience of fighting battles that David had. He had so much to learn. David wanted his son to be courageous for God.
3 – Keep the charge of the Lord – David wanted Solomon to stay true to what the Lord had called him to do. Being the next king came with a huge responsibility.
4 – Walk in His ways – Israel (just like the world today) had a struggle with following what everyone else was doing and worshipping false gods.
5 – Keep God’s statutes, commandments, judgements, and testimonies – David had already learned these lessons and wanted his son to remember what happened every time Israel turned from God and did their own thing. He also wanted Solomon to remember the testimonies, all the wonderful things God had done for Israel, each time He had provided and protected the nation.
6 – That you may prosper in whatever you do and wherever you go – Of course David wanted his son to prosper. He knew that this would only happen if Solomon walked in obedience to all that God commanded.
What great instructions David gave to Solomon that we can use for ourselves. Just like following directions for a recipe, this is the recipe for our lives. The more we follow the directions the better we get. This does not mean that life will always turn out perfectly, I had and still have many dinners that have flopped, but overall I have fewer and fewer flops. When we follow the instructions of the Lord, blessings will follow.
Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners and who don’t join those who make fun of God. Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night.
Psalms 1: 2-3