The Legacy Of A Man - Solomon's Father, David Series

Gentlemen, this morning I want to bring a challenge to us as men. You see, I believe that the most urgent problems of our society today, from crime to adolescent pregnancy, from child sexual abuse to domestic violence against women, are largely the result of increasing fatherlessness in our nation.

And I believe that the answer to our societies most pressing social problems begins in our homes. It begins when we as men take an equal share of the responsibility in the family and choose to make a difference in the lives of our children. Our society will not be transformed until we as men stand up and become the men God wants us to be.

Our scripture text this morning includes the last words of King David who we’ve been studying for eight weeks now. We’ve looked at a lot of different aspects of this man’s life. As we come to this passage today we find David on his death bed giving some final words to his son Solomon. He basically says two things. If you’re following along in your outlines I’d encourage you to fill them in…

First he says, Be Strong and Courageous some translations also include Show Yourself a Man.

That raises some questions in our culture today, doesn’t it? What is the role of a man? What does it mean to be a man? Over the past few decades we have developed a gender that is greatly confused. Men no longer know what their responsibilities or rights are. We’ve gone from inappropriate domination to the place we are today where we really aren’t sure who or what we should be.

Just watch any television show today. Men are confused. Take for example, “Everybody Loves Raymond.” If you’ve seen the show you know exactly what I’m talking about. Raymond is basically a pushover. He’s a nice guy but everyone knows that he isn’t really in control of anything. Both his mother and his wife lord over him. They make the decisions, Ray’s just along for the ride. Is that the way it should be? Who should the man be? What’s his role? What’s appropriate? What’s Biblical? Before we talk about that look at the second instruction he gives Solomon…

Keep God’s Commandments. David says, Solomon, my son, do what’s right. Do what God has commanded you to do. Basically he’s referring to the Old Testament Law of the book of Deuteronomy where we’re told exactly how the King of Israel was to conduct himself and how the kingdom was to be run. David says, follow that law and God will keep the promise he made to me. What was the promise? In II Samuel 7:12-16 God had promised David that he would leave his heirs on the throne and that his Spirit would remain with them unlike Saul who had the Spirit taken from him.

“Solomon,” David says, “Be strong show yourself a man and keep God’s commandments.” Some powerful last words. But as you all know it’s easy to tell your children to do something, it’s quite another to model it for them. You’ve heard the axiom “Do as I say not as I do.” You’ve also heard the saying “Like Father Like Son.”

By looking at the lives of both David and his son Solomon we discover two very important principles about fatherhood and about parenting in general.