Solomon’s life offers us many lessons. This man climbed the highest heights, but he also fell to the deepest despair! He was a man of great wisdom, yet he walked in folly later in life.
Then King David answered and said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. And the king took an oath and said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.” 1 Kings 1:28-30
In the line of the succession, Solomon was not supposed to be the next king (See 2 Samuel 5:14). As a matter of fact, David’s son Adonijah was the next logical son to take the throne since a couple of David’s sons had already died. Adonijah even made preparations presuming to be the next king (See 1Kings 1-10). However, David had sworn to God and had promised Bathsheba that Solomon was going to take his place as the future king.
Solomon was favored by God and by his parents, but his favor had a purpose to bring glory and honor to God. At the beginning of his reign, Solomon humbly understood this great responsibility very well, but later in his rulership he veered off from this truth.
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. 3 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.’ 1Kings 2:1-4
After David recognized and declared Solomon as the future king, he also left him with his leadership instructions. Inheriting the kingdom is no small task, and David wanted to ensure that Solomon had his father’s last spiritual will and testament. David charged his son to prove himself to be a man of strength. David also told Solomon that his success will be dependent on keeping all of God’s ways. Solomon was given a great favor, and now he had the responsibility to steward this gift well and prove that he was the right man for the job and follow the Lord in all His ways.
At various points of children’s lives, most of us as parents charge our children and give them instructions for success. Parents want their children to do well, and they do not want to see their children to veer off in a wrong direction. Those lessons along the way are so much more valuable than any material inheritance left for the children. Nowadays, the focus is more on children’s education, grades, and sports, and the significance of walking in faith pales in comparison to all the demands and distractions around the children.
If children do right in the eyes of God, the Lord will be with them and lead them in the way of peace and success. However, if they ignore those instructions, it does not matter how much worldly success they gain, it will leave them empty and restless. In addition, their decisions will impact the generations that come after them.
Many people prepare a last will and testament to ensure their children inherit their wealth after they leave this earth. King David provided a spiritual will and testament for his son solomon before handing off the kingdom to him. How many people actually leave spiritual instructions for their children, so their children can be reminded of their spiritual legacy and responsibility before inheriting all the wealth!?
I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.
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