Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

December 07, 2020

by Kerwin Baptist

1 Kings 2:1-4 (KJV)
1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

At the end of King David’s life and the beginning of King Solomon’s rule David gives a charge to his son. David tells Solomon to be strong and show himself to be a man. He has two tasks that would be unpopular for Solomon to accomplish. These tasks required strength. We are going to look at the second one.
During King David’s rule, there were two individuals who did unjust things to David. Joab, one of David’s military commanders, murdered some individuals in a peace time. Shimei cursed and threw stones at David while he was on the run from Absalom. These men were promised by David they would not be harmed by him.
On King David’s deathbed David tells Solomon to kill these individuals. At first glance it seems that David has a problem forgiving. This turns out not to be the case. In the following chapter, these individuals go against King Solomon almost instantly. When they are found out Solomon quickly has them executed.
What does this passage have to do with me? King David knew these were people who would give Solomon problems. In removing them Solomons would not have to live with the difficulties David did. In our lives there are things and people that can continually allow to cause problems in our life.
I AM NOT TELLING YOU TO KILLL OR HARM ANYONE. However, removing influences that can cause constant problems in our life can change our quality and effectiveness in life. If a relationship or activity in your life keeps you from being what God made you to be, it may be time to distance yourself from it.
Our main purpose in life is to bring glory to God. We shouldn’t let anything, or anyone keep us from doing exactly that.

Jacob Jarriel