My TGIF messages for the past two weeks were related. Last week’s message, in which I reviewed scripture used the previous week from Proverbs, led me to discuss Solomon and his father David. Both David and Solomon were early Kings who would be considered very successful leaders of the Jewish people, and each man served as King for 40 years. The story of David begins in 1 Samuel 17 with the challenge made by Goliath and David’s successful response and killing of Goliath. The story of David’s successful rule as King continues for 71 pages in my Bible through all of 2 Samuel and into 1 Kings when his death is reported in 1 Kings 2:10-11. God created the Davidic Covenant for David, as reported in 2 Samuel 7:8-17.
Shortly before David’s death, Solomon is anointed the new King by his father. Solomon’s request to God in prayer and God’s answer are given:
1 Kings 3:6-14 – Solomon’s Prayer – 6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown great faithfulness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great faithfulness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am like a little boy; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this great people of Yours?”
God’s Answer – 10 Now it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself a long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13 I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 And if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”
So Solomon was given all he asked for, and much more by God. In spite of the devotion of both these men to God and the many accomplishments that each achieved throughout their long lives of leadership, they shared another trait. Both shared a trait of sinfulness in their lives, one area being in the influences they had on their sons leading their sons to not all being very godly men.
Then there is the great sin of David as reported in 2 Samuel 11 and 12 in which David lures Bathsheba to bed, impregnates her, and then kills her husband Uriah to cover it all up and to have her for himself. David eventually realizes his great sins and shows remorse to God, especially when their baby dies shortly after birth. David responds to God appropriately in 2 Samuel 12:13-25. Here is verse 24 again (from last week) and verse 25 added:
2 Samuel 12:24-25 – Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and slept with her; and she gave birth to a son, and he named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved him, 25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah for the Lord’s sake.
The name Solomon here is interpreted as “God is peace” and we see that the Lord loved Solomon whose mother was Bathsheba. We also see that the prophet Nathan named Solomon Jedidiah which means “Beloved of the Lord”. This passage demonstrates a remarkable instance of God’s goodness and grace overcoming the previous sinful nature of Solomon’s parents.
Solomon’s sin is a consistent lifestyle in which he turned from God as shown in 1 Kings 11. However, “Preacher” Solomon came to understand the futility of pleasure and possessions, as he reported in Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. Here Solomon reflected upon his tragic experiences in attempting to draw satisfaction purely out of pleasure. He then continues to explain in Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 how human wisdom suffers from another crucial shortcoming – it leaves both the wise and the fool empty-handed at the threshold of death.
Isaiah 55:8-11 – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth and making it produce and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.
These words show us that God’s grace is far beyond human comprehension. God remembered and kept his promise to David made in the Davidic Covenant, even though the kings of the Davidic line proved themselves to be disobedient to the Lord. Even as the Book of 2 Kings closes, the line of David still exists, so there is hope for the coming “seed” of David. The Lord is thus seen as faithful, and His Word is trustworthy. He will forgive us of our sins as well, if only we ask … and believe!
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Amen!
Cindy and I will be traveling the next 2 weeks to visit our children and grandchildren in DC, as well as to visit additional family in Pennsylvania. So I will resume my TGIF messages when I return in 2 weeks.