July 1, 2025

1 Kings 2:1-11 (HCSB)
David’s Dying Instructions to Solomon
2 As the time approached for David to die, he
instructed his son Solomon, 2 “As for me, I am
going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and be
courageous like a man, 3 and keep your obligation
to the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to
keep His statutes, commands, ordinances, and
decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that
you will have success in everything you do and
wherever you turn, 4 and so that the Lord will carry
out His promise that He made to me: ‘If your sons
are careful to walk faithfully before Me with their
whole mind and heart, you will never fail to have a
man on the throne of Israel.’
5 “You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to
me and what he did to the two commanders of
Israel’s army, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of
Jether. He murdered them in a time of peace to
avenge blood shed in war. He spilled that blood on
his own waistband and on the sandals of his feet.
6 Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his
gray head descend to Sheol in peace.
7 “Show loyalty to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite
and let them be among those who eat at your table
because they supported me when I fled from your
brother Absalom.
8 “Keep an eye on Shimei son of Gera, the
Benjaminite from Bahurim who is with you. He
uttered malicious curses against me the day I went
to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the
Jordan River, and I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will
never kill you with the sword.’ 9 So don’t let him go
unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how
to deal with him to bring his gray head down to
Sheol with blood.”
10 Then David rested with his fathers and was
buried in the city of David. 11 The length of time
David reigned over Israel was 40 years: he reigned
seven years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem.

Don Steele
Well, I was so caught up in all of David’s unfinished
business that I almost missed the main part of these
verses. When I was talking to my wife, Glynda, about
this, she matter-of-factly stated, “Be strong and
courageous. That’s the only thing you need to learn
from this. Act like a man and observe what the Lord
your God requires.” Wow, that’s simple enough! The
promise that follows, “Do this so that you may
prosper in all that you do and wherever you go” is a
theme that flows throughout the Bible. So why do we
find this so hard to follow? I thank God that He is
patient and loving even when I am not doing what He
requires. We try and we fail again and again and He is
right there to pick us up, forgive us, and allow us to try
again. “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!” Thanks
Glynda, I will.