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David's Admonition To Solomon
David's Admonition To Solomon
“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever" ( 1 Chronicles 28:9).
As David's life draws to a close he prepares Solomon to carry on the kingship over Israel. This is not just any kingship or just any people; this is the LORD's throne and the LORD's people. The privilege of ruling over them is a responsibility unto God. The king rules by the authority of God and the king's responsibility is to lead the people in righteousness and keeping God's law. This is David's short synopsis of the character of him who be king over God's people. It is also good advice to all who would serve God.
KNOW the LORD! This is not just knowing ABOUT God but the walking in approval (agreement) with God. Jesus said "this is eternal life that you know the only true God" (John 17:3). Such knowledge involves a close relationship with God, a walking with God. Of course to know the LORD in this way is built upon the foundation of knowing His will. One needs to know how God thinks, how God feels about things. This is learned from His Word. Along with such knowledge must also come the changing of OUR minds to be like HIS. We are conformed into HIS image.
Concerning Jesus, John wrote "… by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. (1 John 2:3). This is what David adds in the next statement: "Serve Him with a whole heart and willing mind." This of course is based on the great commandment: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Knowing God is loving God and loving God is walking in trusting obedience and service.
To the above admonition David adds a dire warning. It is structured with the well-known "IF - BUT" structure. This involves choice. This involves a decision and follow-through. "If you seek him He will be found by you". Paul said: "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:26-27). The whole purpose of life is to find God and thus to KNOW GOD. This doesn't happen by accident but by purpose and choice. IF you seek Him but many don't.
Hence the 'but' part of the statement is that "if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever". Such seeking and knowing God is not an affair of a moment but the mindset of a lifetime. Through the various stages of life we must keep seeking and knowing God. The younger we begin the easier it is to be steadfast in this our relationship with God. Solomon allowed his heart to be turned to other things. After making such a good start it is sad to see him later turn away from God. Many people since Solomon have done the same thing. The warning here is not in vain for God is always faithful to His Word. When He warns we do well to give heed.
