Parents want to give their children good advice so that they can be successful. However, God’s definition of success is vastly different from the world’s definition of success. This devotion looks David giving Solomon godly advice.
Nuggets
- We haven’t heard a lot about Solomon when he was growing up.
- God wants our relationship restored with Him.
- God wants us to worship and live for Him.
We all want our kids to be a success. So, as good parents, we try to give them advice. It was no different with David and Solomon — except that advice was written down in the book of I Kings.
“My son [Solomon]; I [David] will soon die, as everyone must. But I want you to be strong and brave” (I Kgs. 2: 2 NLT)
David was dying. Let me rephrase that. King David was dying. The man after God’s own heart was going to live with his Father.
Don’t care how old you or they are. Your baby will always be your baby. I don’t care that Munchkin now towers over me and uses me as a chin rest. I don’t care he has become pack horse of the family. I still throw my arm out to “save” him when I have to slam on the breaks.
This is what parents do.
David knew the end is near. He knew that Solomon would succeed him. He wanted Solomon to be a success, so he had to sum everything up succinctly. Let’s see what David told Solomon.
Observe and Follow
“Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all his ways …” (I Kgs. 2: 3 NLT)
I don’t remember that we heard a lot about Solomon when he was growing up. That was probably a good thing because David had his hands full with his other kids.
Maybe that is why David passed over the older boys to make Solomon king. It is believed that Solomon was really young when he took up the crown.
Here is wise, old King David — the great military leader, beloved by his people. What great military advice or governing advice did Davis give Solomon?
None – other than be strong and brave.
Instead, David told Solomon to follow God.
What does God want above everything else? He wants our relationship restored with Him. God wants us to worship Him. He wants us to live for Him.
Keep the Laws
“… Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses” (I Kgs. 2: 3 NLT)
Once we give our lives over to God, then we are supposed to follow what He wants. God makes it abundantly clear what He wants.
Yes, it sounds like a lot — “… decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses …” (I Kgs. 2: 3 NLT). How many did the Pharisees think there were in Jesus’ day? Tradition says 613.
No, keeping all those laws and commandments will not save us. Jesus never once said that. Jesus did say, “… I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14: 6 ESV).
Jesus also said, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved” (Mt. 5: 17 NLT’). The laws are meant to be followed.
Be Successful
“… so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go” (I Kgs. 2: 3 NLT)
David told Solomon that he should follow all the laws “… so that you will be successful …” (I Kgs. 2: 3 NLT).
Not win every war that the Israelites would fight. Not even sign all the peace treaties you can. Not be a fair leader.
Not even build the biggest, nicest temple you can build.
Instead, David basically said, “If God tells you to do it, do it. If He tells you not to do it, don’t do it.” We will be successful in furthering God’s kingdom.
Making the Connections
It is that easy. Follow what God says.
Don’t try to make it about us and what we can do. It isn’t about what we can or can’t do.
It is about what God and Jesus did and what the Spirit does through us. Period.
So, yeah. This is going to be a short devotion.
How Do We Apply This?
Short — until we get to how do we apply it.
How we apply it isn’t going to be easy. It going to go against everything this world tries to teach us.
The worldview definition of success tells us to climb the corporate ladder, find happiness in possessions, and bask in our accomplishments.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
The Godview definition of success is we let Him lead so we can live the lives He wants us to live. He calls the shots. Period. End of discussion.
Oh, yes. God lets us process. He lets us work it out to make the decision that we are going to let Him lead.
That is going to be an individual decision. I have been questioning myself because it seems like I always come back to the Searching for and Seeking God image.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17 NLT).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3 ESV).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16 ESV).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11 NLT).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11 NLT).
To read Has God Provided Everything We Need?, click the button below.
But to me, that is the answer to every question we have. If you think I have the answers for which you are searching, you are going to be disappointed.
But then again, I do. I have told you that God is the answer to every question. Losing ourselves in His Word. Growing closer to Him.
God will give you the answers. Each of you reading this is different, but He will have your answer for you.
Isn’t that great? He can do that for each one of us. He is God. All seeing. All knowing. All powerful. He is I AM.
Father. We put ourselves in Your hand. Lord, You have said we are already there (Jn. 10: 29). However, we take ourselves out of Your hand when we want to handle things by ourselves our own way. Forgive us, Lord.show is where we need to lean on You more. Amen.
What do you think?
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