What would you as a father say to your children as you neared the end of your life?
What wisdom, warnings or advice would you wish to impart to your children before you passed? How do you fit a lifetime of thoughts and wisdom into a few sentences?
In 1 Kings 2:2-3, we have some of King David’s final words to his son, Solomon:
“Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways.”
We don’t know Solomon’s exact age when he became king, but many believe it was somewhere between 12 and 20. So it makes sense that David tells him to “Take courage and be a man.” The current man of the house is getting ready to pass, so it is time for Solomon to step into that role whether he is ready or not.
It seems like your typical dadd pep-talk of when your kid is about to do something challenging.
David then gives his son the most important advice, “Follow God.” You can almost hear the pleading and pain in David’s voice. This is a man who knows first-hand what happens when you don’t follow God’s ways.
He is pleading with his son to not make the same mistakes as he had.
With his last breath, David urges his son to follow God so he can find the courage to stand as a man for what is right.