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1 Kings 2:2-6,  “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

“Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

David is about to die and provides some advice to his son, Solomon, the new king of Israel.  It’s troubling advice, as he provides spiritual wisdom quickly followed by political strategizing that will lead to bloodshed.  The first part of his advice is Godly and sounds like the wisdom of a man after God’s own heart: Follow God’s laws and walk in obedience to him and then you will prosper.  But the second half of David’s advice is about securing the kingdom.  All sense of faithfulness is now gone out the window: Avenge your father, kill those people who have done us wrong, and ensure your place on the throne.  Hmmm…  On the one hand, David tells Solomon to follow God and keep Torah.  On the other, he tells Solomon to avenge, kill, and break Torah.

Over the past few months, we have walked through all the Scriptures that detail David’s life.  Overall, he was a faithful man who rarely wavered from following the Lord.  He definitely had some rough patches though, in which he fell away and sinned horrifically against God and other people.  But he was always repentant and turned back toward God.  Over this last little portion of his life, however, it seems that David consults God less and in many ways has grown angry and bitter. 

What can we learn from King David’s life?  He is referred to as a man after God’s own heart.  He wrote many of the Psalms which we read over and over again and use in worship and song.  He loved God and his allegiance was undeniable.  On the other hand, he was a human king and there were many times in which lust, fear, and arrogance ruled the day.  What do you take away from these months of studying King David? 

Let’s close with a prayer from the 23rd Psalm, written by David many years earlier:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me  in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;  my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.   Amen.