Prayer: Father, may all fathers give a spiritual charge to their sons, to be a man and walk in the God’s ways and keep His commandments. Amen.
Reading: 1 Kings 2 key: vs. 1-4 “Now when the time of David drew near to die, he charged his son Solomon, saying: “I—I am going the way of all the earth. So be strong and be a man. Keep the charge of Adonai your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His decrees, according to what is written in the Torah of Moses, so that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn so that Adonai may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying: ‘If your children watch their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ TLV
Attention: David’s charge to his son Solomon seems very contemporary. For we need today men who will “be strong” and “keep the charge of Adonai your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His decrees, according to what is written in the Torah of Moses.”
I do not know if high school graduation yearbooks are much of a thing anymore, but when I was graduating, I remember how students anxiously went around seeking classmates to sign their annuals. It was exciting to see what other students thought of you. It was popular to say something like, “I know you will be successful in everything you do!”
David is not only giving his son a charge to be “a man”, but he is also including the keys to successful living. We tend to separate in our lives, the spiritual and the natural. The Jewish culture considered their relationship with Adonai as being a lifestyle. The father was taught by the kohen and considered the spiritual priest of the family.
We saw in our study of Deuteronomy, God’s words to Moses, “Therefore you are to set these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul. You are to bind them as a sign on your hand, and as frontlets between your eyes. You are to teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up (11:18-19).”
I daresay that God’s instructions have not changed, nor has God’s charge through David, “Be a man!” The key to successful living is still anchored in our obedience to God and His Word. Generational success is also anchored father’s passing along a heritage of faith to their children.
Action: I choose today to live a lifestyle of obedient faith before my children and teaching them the commandments of God.
Yield: I choose today to surrender to God’s lifestyle plan of obedience unto Him.
Engage: I choose today to engage in a lifestyle of faith and obedience.
Relationship: I choose today to live in intimate faith and obedience to God.
Prayer: Father, I love You and Your instructional wisdom. Thank You for the example of David, charging his son to be a man and giving him the keys for successful living with You. May we learn much about fathering in his example. Amen.
Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 11: 18-19 ““Therefore you are to set these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul. You are to bind them as a sign on your hand, and as frontlets between your eyes. You are to teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.” TLV
Music Video: The Blythe Family—Man of Faith https://youtu.be/bixhAUQOFs4?si=_HKjk0SxPf6zUkDh
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”