Slices
Prepare
How do you approach the Lord today? Take up a posture of humility and reverence as you still your heart and mind, preparing to receive his love.
Bible passage
David’s charge to Solomon
2 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
2 ‘I am about to go the way of all the earth,’ he said. ‘So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: “If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.”
5 ‘Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me – what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt round his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his grey head go down to the grave in peace.
7 ‘But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: “I will not put you to death by the sword.” 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his grey head down to the grave in blood.’
10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned for forty years over Israel – seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.
*The remainder of chapter 2 is omitted. It focuses on how Solomon consolidated his reign
Explore
Receiving dying instructions is not an everyday occurrence (v 1). When these poignant moments arise, they are significant and memorable. King David gives practical instructions about dealing fairly and justly with conflicts that have spanned generations (vs 5–9). However, what stands out most is the unwavering generational continuity of God’s faithfulness. The Lord promises, ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel’ (v 4). King David offers Solomon explicit guidance on embracing this legacy of divine faithfulness. To secure this promise, Solomon must ‘walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses’ (v 3). It’s not complicated, but the consequences can be significant.
It is a humbling experience to wonder how you will be remembered. When I was about to go in for some brain surgery, I had the privilege and the responsibility of leaving our church congregation with my ‘dying instructions’. I chose to stick with scripture and simply told everyone, ‘If I die, all you need to do is this: love God and love one another.’ What would you say in such circumstances?
Respond
When you die, what do you think your legacy will be? Pray that God will give you the gift of faith and faithfulness.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Numbers 28,29; Psalm 31
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Mission Partner COINS running Easter events in 11 primary schools in Newbury, seeing 550 Year 6 pupils over two weeks. Pray for bookings from schools, for enough volunteers and that pupils and teachers exploring the Easter story will be encouraged to see the love that Jesus has for them.
