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CHAPTER 2 (ESV)
1 When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, 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, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
REFLECTION
- The life of David is a mixture of ups and downs, triumphs and failures. What we admire in David doesn’t cancel out what we abhor about him, and what we abhor doesn’t cancel out what we admire.
- The story of David is no different from ours. It isn’t a story of what God wants us to be but a story of God working with the raw material of our lives as He finds us.
- In the end before his death, David exhorted his son to be faithful to God. Faith in God, with love for Him and dedication to obedience, is the most important heritage we can pass on to our children.
- It is comforting to read David’s story. Because it is exactly like our lives, God is continually, through His gracious salvation, despite our ups and downs shaping us into His intended image.
PRAYER
Thank God for His “relentless love” for a sinner like me. And thank God for His never-giving-up transforming work in me.
