Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: “I go the way of all the earth; 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 judgments, 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 fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ (vv.1-4)
David, son of Jesse – Israel’s greatest king, apart from the Messiah – recognized that he was but a man and shared the common destiny of all the earth. Knowing he would soon pass from this life, David gave a final charge to Solomon his son, “Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways.”
Here David is instructing Solomon to obey God and His Word above all else. Since Solomon was a man of faith, David called him to act upon that faith in obedience. King David also referred Solomon to God’s commands as, “written in the Law of Moses” (v.3). Thus signifying the importance for him to study and know God’s Word.
David had a general reason to exhort Solomon to obedience, but he also had a specific reason, bases on a specific promise of God. God promised David that as long as his sons walked in obedience, they would keep the throne of Israel. This was an amazing promise. No matter what the Assyrians or the Egyptians or the Babylonians did, as long as David’s sons were obedient and followed God with all their heart and with all their soul, God would establish their kingdom. He would take care of the rest.
We may envy the sons of David because they had such a promise, but we have a similar promise from God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things shall be added to us. God promises that if we put Him first, He will take care of the rest in our life as well.
A wise man will walk in God's ways, study and know His Word, that he may succeed in all that he does and wherever he turns.
The Truth: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)
