1 KINGS 2: 1-4
THE MAKING OF A MAN / BECOMING A MAN
[2 Samuel 7:12-16 / Deuteronomy 17:18-20]
The final words of a father to a son are profoundly significant, especially when a transfer of divine purpose and responsibility are involved. King David had some advice for his son Solomon as he lay dying. When his time drew near, he charged his son Solomon to be spiritually strong, obedient, and faithful. Sounds like wise advice to me; advice that still resonates a few thousand years later.
Newspaper columnist Abigail Van Buren wrote, "If you want your children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders." Responsibility isn't a curse, it's a blessing. Booker T. Washington said, "Few things help an individual more that to place responsibility upon him and to let him know that you trust him."
To become a man means your willing to take responsibility for how you live your life. Irresponsible people run away, make excuses or blame others, but those who do never learn to become men or women of integrity and proven character, nor do they know the joy of the Lord or inherit the promises He gives to the faithful.
David became a real man, because he was a man after God's own heart. Yes, he had his warts and blemishes, but he became a man of God, and received promises from God like few others ever have. David determined not to run away from away from his difficulties and sins but to faced them and thus he learned what it takes to become a real man.
Do we men still need such advice today? I think so. Fathers are too significant not to learn to become real men. Let's read through some statistics and find out just how incredibly important the Dad's role is simply for children to become well-adjusted adults.
- 43% of US children live without their father [US Department of Census]
-63% of teen suicides are from fatherless homes. That's 5 times the national average. SOURCE: [U.S. Dept of Health H.S., Bureau of the Census]
-90% of all runaways and homeless children are from fatherless homes. That's 32 times the national average.[US D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census]
-80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes. 14 times the national average. SOURCE: [Criminal Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, pp. 403-26, 1978]
-85% of children with behavioral problems come from fatherless homes. 20 times the national average. SOURCE: Center for Disease Control
-71% of pregnant teenagers lack a father. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release, Friday, March 26, 1999]
-71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. 9 times the national average. SOURCE: National Principals Association Report
-75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes. 10 times the national average. SOURCE: Rainbow's for all God's Children
-85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes. 20 times the national average. SOURCE: U.S. Dept. of Justice
-Daughters of single parents without a Father involved are 53% more likely to marry as teenagers, 711% more likely to have children as teenagers, 164% more likely to have a pre-marital birth and 92% more likely to get divorced themselves.
-85% of youths in prisons grew up in a fatherless home. [Fulton County Georgia jail populations, Texas Department of Corrections, 1992]
[-Fatherless boys and girls are: twice as likely to drop out of high school; twice as likely to end up in jail; four times more likely to need help for emotional or behavioral problems. [US D.H.H.S. news release, March 26, 1999]
[Children with involved Fathers are more confident, better able to deal with frustration, better able to gain independence and their own identity, more likely to mature into compassionate adults, more likely to have a high self esteem, more sociable, more secure as infants, less likely to show signs of depression, less likely to commit suicide, more empathetic, boys have been shown to be less aggressive and adolescent girls are less likely to engage in sex.]
Homes need a dad and fathers obviously need the help [wisdom] that we can find here. In our passage of Scripture, God teaches us a great lesson on becoming a man from His man David. David is now discharging a summation of his advise and hope to his son Solomon. We become men of God by maintaining our spiritual duties [obedience] and by wisely fulfilling our practical responsibilities (CIT).
David followed the instruction he here gives his son and had lead Israel to become the greatest nation on the face of the planet. There was no competition. Israel was in a position that few other countries in the world have enjoyed in history. Their enemies have mostly been defeated and they are have enter into a time of prosperity. David, as King, had become the most powerful man on earth, but he was still being a dad to his son.
[The first point we see is:]
I. A Father Fulfills His Responsibility, 1-2a.
II. A Father Challenges His Son to Become a Man, 2b-3b.
III. A Father Relays Responsibility's Rewards, 3c-4.
David who had been reigning as co-regent with son Solomon is ready to step down as the King of Israel. In verse one David is now placing his legacy fully into his son hands. "As David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying,"
In the closing days of David's life he wanted to leave his Son words of wisdom that would help direct his life as he matured into a man [and directed the kingdom in which David had invested his life]. In the Bible, a person's dying words are especially significant. The setting thus calls readers to give particular attention to these verses. Adding to the import is the word charged. The Hebrew word [siww ] carries a special force when it is used as a dying man's last instructions. [It comes from the same root [slotki] as the word for "last will" or "testament."]
[This first part of] David's charge to his son directly addresses what is of vital or primary importance. [The second part in verses 5-12 gives instructions for securing the kingdom.] Yet even King David's charge to his son with the solemn authority of a dying father is nothing to that of the Living God. There are great trusts which we are charged with by our heavenly Father (v. 3) —let us keep them carefully, as those who must give account according to His excellent statutes which are given to rule our life.
[We do not know how much time elapsed between the anointing of Solomon and the death of David, a period called a coregency. According to Josephus, all the events recorded in 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 took place during this interval. Apparently David recovered some what from the illness described in chapter 1, and enjoyed a few additional years of joint rule with his son. Eventually, however, the old king ended his illustrious reign, but before dying left Solomon with some valuable and important instructions. Dilday, Russell. The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 9 : 1, 2 Kings. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1987, S. 45.]
David finishes his life strong by placing on his son Solomon the responsibility to become a man of God beginning in verse 2. "I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man."
"To go the way of all the earth" is a picturesque description of death. David was a man who accepted his responsibilities. He knew he would soon die so he made plans which included counseling his successor as to his responsibilities. [His charge is reminiscent of Moses' charge to Joshua (Deut. 31:23) & Jacob's farewell to his sons in Gen 47:29-49:33].
Note that death is a way; not only to the end of this life, but a passage to a better life, life eternal. It is the way of all the earth, of all mankind who dwell on earth, are themselves made from the earth, and therefore their flesh must return to earth. Even the sons and heirs of heaven must go the way of all the earth, they must die; but we walk with anticipation on this way through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23:4). Prophets, and even kings, must go this way to a purer, brighter light and greater honor than this earth can offer. David is going this way, and as a good and wise father gives Solomon directions so that he too can become a man of God.
II. A Father Challenges His Son to Become a Man, 2b-3b.
A good or godly father wants his son to grow up and become the right kind of man. In the second part of verse 2 David challenges his son to become a strong man. "... Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man."
Solomon as King of Israel was responsible for a nation. So he needed to be strong. He needed to stand firm in support of right and against the wrong that he would face. How would-could he do this? What Solomon needed was true strength, strength that only God can give. That's why Ephesians 6:10 tells us to, "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."
Solomon was encouraged to be strong in keeping the Word of the Lord. The words "prove" or "show yourself a man" literally are, become a man. He should show himself to be a man or become a man by becoming obedient from the heart to the Word of God.
Fathers you too need to stand strong in the strength of the Lord and become a man. [You too need to stand strong in the strength of the Lord to become a real man.] You see, we are at war and there is an enemy who is on the prowl. He wants you, he wants your family, He wants your children. He wants your church. He wants your business or work. He wants your nation. Listen to the orders given to us in 1 Peter 5:8-9: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for whom he may devour."
So we must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. And we must use all the weapons that God has made available to us. Listen to Paul's advice in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
So be strong and show thyself a man, day in day out throughout your years. Those that would keep the charge of the Lord their God must put their life in God's capable hands and ask Him to make them strong by His power and enablement. They must put on resolution. Solomon thus was charged to be strong to keep the Word of the Lord. He should show himself to be a man by being brave to stand for the truth and against the lie (1 Jn. ).
Verse 3 teaches how [the context in which] Solomon was to grow in strength and show himself a man. "Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,"
Solomon would be strong and become a man only as he ordered his life by God's commands. In other words, the strength that would prove Solomon a man was to be demonstrated in his obedience to God. The priority of his personal life and his royal leadership must be committed to God's will and Word.
With his last words, David asked Solomon to be obedient [in four areas] to what the Lord requires of us. He is charged to keep or observe what the Lord . . . requires by obeying Yahweh. What the Lord requires is that we live or walk in His ways. Solomon was to exhibit and mature his spiritual strength by keeping what God demands. He was to walk or live his life in the ways of the Lord.
What the Lord requires in order that we may walk in His ways is to keep His decrees (statutes- ordinances), commands . . . laws, and requirements (testimonies). These four words (decrees, commands, laws, requirements) refer to the different kinds of precepts in the Mosaic Law. [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983, S. 490] "Statutes, commandments, and judgments" refer to the ceremonial, moral, and judicial laws. "Testimonies" may be those shared evidences of God's will are made clear by His dealings with past generations. The Law of Moses in that day is synonymous to the Word or God or the Bible in our day.
All God's requirements have been written down for us. The written Word is our rule [sole authority for faith and practice] and we are responsible before God to govern our self by it. King Solomon himself was charged to do as was written in the law of Moses. David charged him to study the Word and to follow the Word, so that he and the kingdom will do well. The same goes for us as an individual and nation. We are to govern our self by that divine will.
III. A Father Relays Responsibility's Rewards, 3c-4.
David conveys at the end of verse 3 and in verse 4 two incredible, possibly vital, benefits that will result from his son's obedience to God. "that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, [4]"so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'
The promise given here is that obedience to the written revelation of God would guarantee success. For God's blessing depended on His people's obedience to the written Word of God. [Walvoord & Zuck, p 490.]
The first blessing or benefit is personal and kingdom [church-national] prosperity. Solomon's personal obedience would result in personal success. The advise that David gave his son is what leads to a successful life and a successful career in God's eyes. It is the way to prosper in all you do, and to succeed with integrity and satisfaction in every undertaking [or to that which you turn your attention]. Prosper contains the idea of an enabling to act with the skill and insight which bring about success. God prospers both our soul and our hand as we obey His Word.
Second (in verse 4), obedience will ensure God's ongoing [in perpetuity] fulfillment of the promise God made to David's lineage or descendants. All the promises made in 2 Sam 7:1-17 would be fulfilled, including the eternal nature of David's kingdom [forever occupy the throne of Israel].
The unconditional part of the promise here is important to us because we all depend on David's messianic descendent, Jesus Christ, for eternal salvation (Rom. 1:3, 4). God had promised David that the Messiah would come from his seed, and that Davidic line would go on forever. That promise was absolute. The part of the promise that there should not fail him a man on the throne of Israel was conditional—if his seed would follow the Lord as they should. [If Solomon, in his day, would fulfil the condition, he does his part towards the perpetuating of this promise.]
David [thus] gave the unconditional promise a new understanding. Though the covenant is perpetual, it does not promise that it will operate visibly in each generation irregardless of the obedience of the Davidic line. [Vose, Howard. 1,2 Kings. 1989. Zondervan. Grand Rapids. p. 39.] The condition for the fulfillment of the promises was that the heart of the sons must walk before God in truth or faithfulness. Faithfulness is exhibited not only in living according to God's standards but also in a heart committed to God.
Let us therefore in our own age keep God's charge, and then God will be sure to continue His blessings and benefits. The promise will never fail unless we let fall the precept, or the condition. The condition is that we walk before God by keeping His Word with zeal and resolution. If we do we will have the promise of success in all we attempt and will have Christ direction as we lead our life, our families, and our church in His service. [Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary: On the Whole Bible. electronic ed. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, S. 1 Kgs 2:1]
IN CLOSING
As David lay dying he knew that his son would also come to the end of his life one day. David wanted his son to be able to look back in contentment and satisfaction over his life also. To know the blessing that comes from living a life in the will and word of God. To be able to say as Jesus the son did to God the Father, "I have glorified You on earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (Jn. 17:4). [Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Commentary. 2003. David Cook. Colorado Springs, CO. p. 406.]
To prove yourself a man in God's eyes means following God's ways. [Those that would keep the charge of the Lord their God to become a real man must put their life in God's capable hands and ask Him to make them strong by His power and enablement.] David found his wisdom, strength and blessing in obeying God's Word and he wanted his son to find them also. You can be a strong man of God only by ordering you life by God's commands. Are you doing that? Are you willing to do that?
You come and renew you commitment, your resolution, to be a man of God so that you can help your sons become men of God. You come as God's Spirit leads.....
