1 Kings 2

"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;

(1Ki 2:2-3)

I’ve pointed out before how much I love getting to read people’s last words. You can tell so much about what was really IMPORTANT to them. In this passage, we see David’s last words. They are not spoken to the masses, but to his son; a powerful exhortation to LIVE FOR THE LORD.

David tells Solomon BE STRONG, but not in the John Wayne/action hero sort of way. This is not strength he found in himself, but strength he found in the LORD. Let’s look at what David said, and what it means. I hope we can glean from what David had to say to Solomon… we should do the same things Solomon is told to do!

He starts by saying, “Keep the CHARGE of the Lord”. David tells Solomon to guard with all that he was what the Lord had given to him, what the Lord had called him to do. Is what the Lord has given to you and called you to do PRECIOUS to you? Do you keep it and guard it? Do you protect its place in your life?

What were the things the Lord had charged Solomon to do?

• Walk in His ways… (follow His path, not your own)

• Keep His statutes… (Things God has stated to be true)

• Keep His commandments… (Things God has said to do, or not to do)

• Keep His judgments… (The decisions God has made)

• Keep His testimonies… (His warnings)

All of these things can be found in the WORD OF GOD. You see, the way Solomon was to BE STRONG was by walking according to God’s word. He needed to follow the Lord’s path, and listen to what God said was true. He needed to do only what God said to do, and never what God said not to do. He needed to respect the decisions that God made, and heed all of God’s warnings. He needed to allow God to CONTROL HIS LIFE.

David’s biggest concern at the end of his life was simple, “I want my son to live according to the Word of God”.

What about you? Are you living by God’s Word? If you are, the promise David gives Solomon here can apply to you as well. “You will do well whatever you do and wherever you go”. Great advice… LET’S KEEP IT!