Loyal To The King

Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. If you do this, then the LORD will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, “If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.” 1 Kings 2:3-4

WHEN 1 KINGS OPENS, David is on the throne, but his glory days are long gone. He’s old and he’s cold, negligent, and passive. A second wayward son is seeking to grab the throne. Finally Bathsheba cajoles David to name Solomon the next king. As David prepares to die, he charges Solomon to live up to what Israel’s kings were commanded to be and do in the Book of the Law. David calls for Solomon to be loyal to God by keeping God’s commands, regulations, and laws.

Then David turns his focus to what Solomon must do to those who have been especially loyal or disloyal to David. Joab murdered two of his commanders, so he, too, must see an early grave. Shimei, who had cursed David while he fled to Mahanaim, is to have a bloody death orchestrated by Solomon. But the sons of Barzillai of Gilead, who took care of David when he was on the run, are to become permanent guests at Solomon’s table.

The king was to be loyal to God. But the rest of 1 and 2 Kings reveals that Solomon and the rulers that came after him did not live up to the law’s requirements for kings. Though the reign of Solomon was a high mark in the history of Israel, Solomon allowed other loves to come before his love for God. In truth, only one descendant of David was able to fully obey David’s charge to Solomon, and only one King has been perfectly loyal to God. Jesus is the King we want our children to come under. Jesus deserves and demands our absolute and exclusive loyalty.

Jesus, you are the true King who did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. We know that when you return as King of kings and Lord of lords, you will banish all who are not loyal to you. Until then, you offer a way back into your good graces to all who have not been faithful to you. You invite your enemies to become friends. Lord, would you work in me and would you work in ________ to instill in us a deep and abiding loyalty to you as we wait for you to come again to establish your Kingdom?