Father and Son

Reflections on 1 Kings 2:1-9

When David was about to die, he had a personal talk with his son Solomon. The future of Israel was now in the hands of his son, and David had a few parting words.

KEEP GOD'S COMMANDS. David began by instructing his son Solomon to observe all that the Lord required of him. If David had not previously taught the Lord's laws and requirements, this last instruction would have been meaningless. Although David had failed to discipline Adonijah (1 Kings 1:6) and perhaps other sons, he began instructing Solomon at a young age because he knew Solomon would be king after him. Later, Solomon wrote,

When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them." -- Proverbs 4:3-5

At the beginning of Solomon's reign, he sought the Lord and completed the task of building the temple, which God had given him through David.

RULE JUSTLY. Next, David asked Solomon to finish some business that he had left unfinished. David felt keenly about these matters because they were matters of justice. First, he had not properly punished Joab for ignoring his own wishes and killing Abner and Amasa. Such an insubordinate man would be a threat to Solomon's throne, so David told Solomon to deal with him according to his wisdom. Second, David felt he had not yet shown sufficient kindness to the sons of Barzillai for the loyalty Barzillai had shown him during Absalom's rebellion. Finally, David warned Solomon that Shimei, who had cursed David when he fled Jerusalem, was still a dangerous man though David had not punished him for insulting the Lord's anointed. Again, he instructed David to deal with Shimei wisely.

After David died, Solomon did not immediately have Joab and Shimei executed, but he waited until they displayed disloyalty or disobedience to the king. Then the kingdom was firmly established in Solomon's hands.