LAST WORDS
On October 14, 1793 French queen Marie Antoinette was charged with a series of crimes against the French republic, including high treason. At the time, many considered her death as necessary for the French revolution’s success. The French king had already been executed. Antoinette was found guilty of the charges laid against her. She was sentenced to death. The queen was executed on the 16th of October. On her way to the guillotine, Antoinette accidentally stepped on her executioner’s foot. According to historians, Marie Antoinette’s last words were, “Pardon, monsieur. I did not do it on purpose.”[1]
Unlike Marie Antoinette, the vast majority of us will not face an executioner. Nor will we likely know the exact time of our death. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that we will not have the opportunity to prepare our final words. Antoinette’s final words were spoken to the person who would moments later behead her. Prayerfully, our last words will be spoken to someone we love – someone who cares for our wellbeing.
In the second chapter of 1 Kings, Scripture records some famous last words spoken by none other than King David. In the opening verses of this chapter, David’s final words were addressed to his son Solomon. In this passage, we read what David deemed urgent to tell his son and successor to the throne of Israel shortly before his death. Shortly before dying, Antoinette spoke to her executioner. David spoke to his son.
Although David’s adultery with Bathsheba created havoc in his family for many years, he was considered a righteous king, a courageous warrior, and an astute politician. David was the king to whom all of the future kings of Israel would be judged. Through the years of successes and failures, David learned much. And before taking his last breath, he wanted his son to know what would be necessary to be a king worth following.
Solomon, who was born to David through Bathsheba, was a loyal son who was chosen to be David’s successor. By God’s grace, Solomon would become a successful king who would lead Israel into a time of unprecedented prosperity. Under his wise leadership, the temple would be built and the nation would flourish. But like his father, he too would become an idolater who sought after the pleasures and comforts afforded to him by sitting on the throne of Israel.
Nonetheless, David’s final instruction to Solomon is telling. First Kings 2:1 reads, “When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son.” As David passes the baton to his son, he had some wise and pointed words to pass along. David wanted his son to lead well; therefore, he leaves him with some straightforward instructions. These words that follow reveal what was occupying David’s mind as his last breath drew closer. In the opening verses of 1 Kings 2, David offers three wise pieces of counsel that all of us would all be wise to follow.
David’s first word of instruction was for Solomon to “Be strong” (v. 2). Similarly, when Moses was coming to the end of his life he commanded Joshua to “be strong and courageous” (Deuteronomy 31:7). In order for Solomon to flourish as a leader, he needed to draw strength from the Lord. Through the trials of life and leadership, this was a lesson David had learned. In Psalm 21:1 David writes, “O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices.” In Psalm 28:7 David proclaimed, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.” Without resting in God’s power, Solomon’s reign would be destined to fail.
Solomon needed to find strength in God because leadership is demanding. Without the power of God strengthening him, Solomon would be hopeless. It was only through the sustaining power of God that he could handle the emotional and physical demands of being king. David understood the challenges awaiting his son; therefore, he instructed him to be strong.
Second, David encouraged Solomon, “Show yourself a man” (v. 2). By telling Solomon to act like a man, David was calling his son to show maturity in his leadership. Leading God’s people would require spiritual and emotional maturity. David urged his son to bravely stand for what was right in the sight of God, regardless of what was taking place in the culture around him. David called Solomon to assume the responsibilities of being king with a sense of gravity and wisdom.
In Deuteronomy 17:14-20, specific stipulations were set forth regarding a king. David wanted his son to become a faithful king who would meet these qualifications. Leadership is complicated; therefore, Solomon needed to act with wisdom and maturity. There are many sides to practically every issue, and overly simplistic answers are rarely the solution. Since easy answers generally do not exist, spiritual maturity, unwavering courage, and godly wisdom are necessary for leadership. David wanted to be certain Solomon was up to the task.
Third, David pleads with Solomon to obey God (v. 3). Arguably, this is the central theme of David’s last words. Being a strong and mature man meant to be obedient to God. The life of a godly king was to be purposefully ordered around God and His word. God is real. He has spoken in His written word, and He has called his people to obey. Solomon needed to be an example of such unwavering obedience to Scripture.
Specifically, David urged Solomon to “Walk in God’s ways.” He was to build a lifestyle of obeying God. In Psalm 128:1 we read, “Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!” Solomon was also told to “keep God’s Word.” By adhering to the Mosaic Law, Solomon would secure his relationship with God and ensure God’s blessings on the nation. In addition to honoring God’s written requirements as they applied to the sacrificial system, Solomon was to obey God’s prohibitions by not committing idolatry, murder, adultery, covetousness, lying, stealing, etc. In order to be a successful king, Solomon needed to develop a life of obedience and a heart committed to God’s written commandments. As Solomon obeyed God, he would prosper and God’s blessings would continue to rest upon David’s family (2 Samuel 7:11-17).
Like most parents, what David wanted was to see was his son honoring and obeying God with his life. David’s words to Solomon offer sound advice to us all. All believers should seek to find rest in the Lord’s strength as we faithfully obey His commandments. In order to follow David’s advice in your life and obey God, you must remember three facts.
1. You must possess a willingness to obey: In Exodus 19:7-8 we read, “So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” Among those under Moses’s leadership, there was an innate desire to do what God asked. To obey God, we must display this same desire. Without fostering a love for God, we will never develop this type of willingness to follow His commandments.
2. You must know what God expects of His people: God has provided His inspired word (i.e., His written word) to instruct us in the ways of righteousness. Today, we live in a culture where no one likes to be commanded. And yet, God has supplied all of humanity with commandments which expressly reveal what is objectively right and wrong. As king, Solomon was to know the written law of God so that he would know how to order his life. Likewise, God has given us His written word so we can know how to order our lives. Too often, we zealously cultivate hobbies, obsessively follow celebrities on Instagram, faithfully read the news, and carefully craft our political opinions without caring why we exist or how God has commanded us to live. Regular Bible reading is necessary for obedience to God. In order to be a spiritually mature man or woman, you need to know what God has said in His written revelation. And because we are all fantastically good forgetters, we must be consistently reminded of what His word says.
3. You must choose to follow His commandments: A willingness to obey and biblical knowledge does not guarantee obedience. Many professing Christians are informed but disobedient. Hosts of believers are challenged but unchanged. Many in the church today are convicted but unrepentant. The problem of knowing what is right and yet living in disregard to truth is nothing new. In Luke 6:46-49 Jesus warned against hearing and not obeying. In verse 46 He asked the very pointed question, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” In today’s information-driven culture, there is no excuse for being uninformed about God’s expectations for your life. Whenever you are confronted with God’s eternal word, you must confront the sin residing deep within your wicked heart and purposefully choose to obey what God has commanded.
David’s words to Solomon were pointed, but necessary for Solomon’s success as king. Like Solomon, we need to heed the words of David. We must foster a desire to obey God’s commandments. Get informed by His word. And purposefully obey.
[1] Harrison W. Mack, “Marie Antoinette.” Available: https://www.worldhistory.org/Marie_Antoinette/; accessed 27 July 2022.