A Father’s Charge

Now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel —the LORD’s assembly —I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the LORD your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance. And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. 1 Chronicles 28:8-9

IN 1 CHRONICLES 28, we read King David’s wise and careful charge to his son Solomon as he released the reins of the kingdom to him. David told Solomon to be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord. Shortly after, when God invited Solomon to ask him for anything, Solomon chose to ask for wisdom.

This was a very promising beginning of Solomon’s reign. But we discover problems shortly thereafter. First was the alliance Solomon made with Egypt by marrying the daughter of Pharaoh. He did so even though God had commanded Israel’s kings never to return to Egypt (Deuteronomy 17:16; 1 Kings 3:1). Then there was the offering of sacrifices at the high places, even though God had commanded Israel to destroy these sites (Deuteronomy 12:2-5; 1 Kings 3:3).

David charged Solomon to serve God with his whole heart, and he seems to be on the right path when we read in 1 Kings 3:3 that “Solomon loved the LORD” —something not said about any other person in the Bible. But at the end of his story, we read that Solomon “loved many foreign women” and that “his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:1, 4, ESV). Clearly a dramatic change had taken place in Solomon’s affections. If only Solomon had followed his father’s charge to give himself wholeheartedly to God.

Solomon shows us that even the wisest people sometimes foolishly disregard the godly guidance of their parents. The problem was not that David was unclear or inconsistent or that David called Solomon to do something unreasonable. The issue was not with David’s parenting, but with Solomon’s heart.

Lord, when we are tempted to heap blame on ourselves for the ways in which ________ has failed to embrace the godly guidance we have given, help us to remember that sometimes the judicious instructions of parents go unheeded. Sometimes wisdom offered is not taken hold of. Help us to remember that it is your voice ________ must hear, your Word ________ must heed.