“Solomon
reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Then he rested with his
ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son
succeeded him as king.” (vv.30-31)
It
doesn’t matter how wise you are, how much money you have, how well known you
are, or even your position/title in life, all men die. What does matter is, the
position of ones heart toward Jesus. Let’s look at the hearts of three kings of
Israel; king Saul, king David and king Solomon.
King Saul,
the first king of Israel, had no heart for the Lord. In fact, scripture tells
us in 1 Kings that he “hardened” his heart against the Lord, turned his back on
the Lord, and in chapter 31, was eventually judged by the Lord – very sad.
King
David on the other hand, had a whole heart for the Lord. In fact, scripture tells us, “he was a
man after God’s own heart.” David heard the Word of the Lord, responded to the
Word of the Lord, kept the Word of the Lord, and loved God deeply - very rare.
King
Solomon, David's son, had half a heart for the Lord. He began well but ended poorly. His
heart became divided between the God of his father and the gods of the world - very common.
These
three kings remind us of the parable of the sower from Matthew 13, which still
represents the world today. Some hearts (soil) are hard and God’s Word (seed)
is never received (like Saul’s), other hearts are open to the Word, but are soon closed off
by the cares (weeds) of the world (like Solomon’s), but finally there are those hearts
that receive the Word gladly and produce much fruit (like David’s).
The issue
with Jesus is always about your heart, nothing more. Which one of these examples best describes your heart? I pray that it is like David's. Lord help us to be “all in.”
The Truth
“Teach me
your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided
heart, that I may fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11)
