A Questionable Legacy

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Opening Prayer

Gracious Lord, live in me in fullness today and love through me with compassion. May all I meet see Jesus in me.

Read 1 KINGS 2:1-12

^[1] When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. ^[2] “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, ^[3] and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go ^[4] and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ ^[5] “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me-what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. ^[6] Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. ^[7] “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. ^[8] “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ ^[9] But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.” ^[10] Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. ^[11] He had reigned forty years over Israel-seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. ^[12] So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

Meditate

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:44-45).

Think Further

Have you ever caught yourself wishing that horrible things would happen to someone who has offended you in some way, or being glad when a bully or a fraudster gets their comeuppance? Wanting justice is one thing, but seeking revenge is quite different and the New Testament leaves us in no doubt that to forgive our enemies is much more Christ-like than wishing to do them harm.

David was, at least most of the time, a great man and a great king. The accounts show very clearly that he had some genuine high points, but there is no doubt that there were also some real low points in his life. This little section, which sets out his hopes and desires for Solomon, illustrates both his greatness and his fallibility. His first wish for his son and successor is that he might be the kind of man and the kind of king that God wanted him to be and that his example to the people would primarily be one of godly living. David was well aware that without that, neither the dynasty nor the kingdom would last.

So far, so great! Of course, David did not have the benefit of reading the New Testament, but it is rather sad that the last thing we learn about David is his desire for revenge. He knew that he had not been strong enough to curb Joab’s excesses and it is perhaps understandable that he calls on Solomon to ensure that justice is done and Joab’s crimes are punished. And his desire for those who have helped him to be rewarded is, of course, fine, but his clear intention that the mercy he had originally shown to Shimei and that the promise he had made should now be retracted seems unworthy.

Apply

Think of something God called you to do–whether in family, church or work. Try writing a message for whoever will, in some way or another, take over that task.

Closing prayer

Merciful God, I need the wisdom to know when to take up a task or when to relinquish it.

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