Here King David is nearing the end of his reign and his life. His son Solomon will take over. His injunction to Solomon was shew thyself a man. It’s what we need; it’s what our country and our world needs—all of us to show ourselves as real men and women solid as Biblical people of God.
I Kings 2:1Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;3 And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:4 That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
David had shown himself to be a man of God. He had fallen at times and come short, but he repented and went on. He suffered many things. As a whole, he was a man after God’s own heart. David was one who showed himself a believer. He was not ashamed to show it by his life and the decrees and laws he passed. Israel became a strong kingdom under David. He was relieved to have a son to whom he could trust the kingdom. Being the son of Bathsheba, you’d think Solomon would be the last one God would choose. He grew up listening to his father and wanted to do right. He had a heart for the people. It was a big job to take on.
Regardless of our age, it is a big job to be a Christian. We’ll be put to the test in ways we’d never think. These are stressful days. The devil puts the pressure on. There were pressures on Solomon as well. Many incidents occurred to test him. He knew in his own mind he was not smart enough. In him alone the nation would fall. David’s last words were for him to be strong when things come up and show himself a man. If we want to help our world, determine to be a closer, better walking believer. Now days we see the trend of women becoming more masculine and men becoming more feminine. We’re living in a messed up time and all the while society would have us believe it is right side up. The devil is having a heyday as he takes millions to hell. We must show ourselves as what is scripturally right. Stand up and be counted with the Lord. Stay in the Word of God. David told Solomon to walk in the ways of God. He said keep the charge of the Lord thy God. He went further to say walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies.
Stand up and be counted. Keep the statutes of the Lord and not the statutes of the world. Don’t worry about the laws that are contrary to God. Peter and John said we ought to obey God rather than man. The time may come when the line will be drawn. Are we man and woman enough to walk with God? Exercise judgment in what you follow. We’ll then see sin for what it is. In these days of debauchery, now is the chance to shine.
Don’t be afraid to show yourself true to God. Show the Bible in the way you live every day. Solomon did this. As long as he followed God, the nation of Israel prospered. We don’t know what lies around the next turn. If we’ll be obedient to God and conduct ourselves in his Word, we’ll take a few along with us. Not only were the people in Solomon’s generation depending on him, the next generation to come was as well. The little generation is depending on us to hold to the Lord and show ourselves true Christian men and women. There will be victory for us and we’ll leave something for them to pick up when we’re gone on to be with the Lord. Live such a life that we see others pick up the torch. We owe it to them.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 