As the United States prepares to celebrate Father's Day, we honor our fathers by remembering their love and provision for us. Unlike our heavenly Father, no earthly father is perfect, but we can give thanks to God for the blessings they have given us and the lessons they have taught us.
King David set a Godly example for his son Solomon to follow as a believer
in God, as a wise man, and as a ruler over God’s people. Despite
David’s sins, beginning with idleness, then snowballing into lust, adultery,
and deception, and culminating with murder (2
Samuel 11), he was a man after
God’s own heart (Acts 13:22),
showing genuine repentance and asking God to cleanse him of his sins (Psalm 51:7-17). If God could
forgive and use David so powerfully, there is hope for every one of us!
During his reign, David defended God’s chosen people against her enemies, honored God in his daily walk, and
provided Solomon with what he needed to build
God’s temple, including precious
metals, building materials, and semiprecious stones. His example
inspired similar gifts, offerings and service for God’s house from the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and
the rulers of the king's work (1 Chronicles 29:1-8).
Moved by the willingness of his people to serve God, David blessed, praised and thanked God
for His greatness, abundant provision, and power. He recognized that he and his people were strangers, sojourners, and mortal before
the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (1 Chronicles 29:9-16).
Even though the Israelites were God’s chosen people, they had to be saved through
faith before God could call them His friends, for faith is the common theme
underlying salvation through all periods of Biblical history (Hebrews 11:6).
Obedience is the outward sign of faith, which is why “trust
and obey” go hand in hand (1 Samuel 15:22;
John 14:15,21; 15:10). As a missionary recently preached at our church, when Jesus tells you to do something, just do it! (John 2:5). David prayed that his people would always be willing to serve
God, that they would prepare their
hearts to receive Him, and that Solomon
would have a perfect heart, to keep
God’s commandments, testimonies, and statutes; to do all that God would have him do, and
to build the palace (1 Chronicles 29:17-19).
Again following David’s lead, the people prayed to God, worshipped Him, and offered
Him burnt offerings and drink offerings, in addition to the material sacrifices that they donated
to build His house. They celebrated the transition in leadership from David to
Solomon by joyfully feasting before the Lord, a second time making Solomon to be king,
and anointing
Solomon to the Lord to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.
As Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king, all the princes, the mighty men,
and all David’s sons obeyed the new
King Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:20-24).
David’s shortcomings prove that he is human and a sinner
like all others (Romans 3:23)
and that the Bible is true, rather than glossing over weaknesses of heroes of
the faith (Hebrews 11). Despite
David’s sins, he left a Godly legacy for Solomon,
his nation, and for all of us to learn from by reading
God’s Word. God rewarded David’s faithfulness by answering his prayers for
Solomon.
The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as
had not been on any king before him
in Israel. Of the forty years that David had reigned over Israel, seven
years (the number of perfection or completion) were in Hebron, and thirty and three years in Jerusalem. David’s reign, marked by longevity, riches, and honor, was
recorded in the books of Samuel the seer (wise man or sage), Nathan the prophet, and Gad the
seer (1 Chronicles 29:25-30).
Even if we are not rulers
or in positions of power or leadership, may we be like David, good
stewards over what the Lord has entrusted to us. Once we realize that we are
sinners saved by God’s grace through our faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) in
the death, burial and resurrection
of His Son Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians
15:1-4), He immediately blesses us with forgiveness of sins (1
John 1:9), eternal life (John 3:16), and abundant life (John 10:10). May we share Him with our families (Acts 11:14; 16:31) so that
they too accept God’s freely given gift of salvation!
Our inheritance as children
of God (1 John 3:1), joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), and part of His bride (Revelation 21:2) includes opportunities to serve Him as His stewards (1 Corinthians 4:2), fellow-workers,
and ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). May we be an
example of faithfulness, obedience, and honoring God to our children,
families and those who come behind us. May we always remember to thank, praise and worship God
for His abundant blessings to us,
our family, and our nation!
© 2016 Laurie Collett
Edited and reposted from the archives
5 comments:
Dear Laurie,
Indeed, Solomon was an excellent king, full of wisdom and godliness, until he went his own way and married foreign women who led him astray.
If only he took the record of Genesis in face value, where it says that a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. As I can testify, marriage is so honourable, the bond between one man and his wife is unbeatable!
If only Solomon realised this! Had he, perhaps Israel would have had a different history altogether, including us never having heard of King Nebuchadnezzar.
Wishing you both God's blessings.
Dear Frank,
Amen! Today's society would be so different if more people supported the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. But the world's rejection of this, and of so many of God's statutes, have exposed us to God's hand of judgment. We have been blessed by His restraining hand of mercy for so long, but Holy God cannot tolerate ongoing, willful rejection of His Son and His Word.
Thanks as always for your insightful comment, and may God bless you and Alex,
Laurie
Amen Laurie,may we be obedient to that Word spoken to us. I love the way the word repent means to re-think, and to know God's ways and have access to the mind of Christ through the enlightening of the Holy Spirit is a gift that far exceeds any other gift. This world is in total chaos with much of humanity going against God's ways, and that is why it is so important to spread the gospel of salvation through Jesus and to pray for all men everywhere. God bless you and yours Laurie.
Amen, Brenda! Only the Good News of the Gospel can restore order in this world and bring sinful hearts into peace with Almighty God by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of His Son. Thank you as always for your enlightening comment, and may God bless you too!
Laurie
Great post, Laurie. As you mentioned, obedience is evidence of our faith. As James indicates, faith that doesn't result in action will never save anyone. Sadly, based on their life styles, I fear a lot of people in churches have never attained that kind of faith. As Jesus said, "if you love me, keep my commandments.
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