David’s Final Instructions to Solomon
Introduction:
David gives his final charge to Solomon.
This is the “passing of the torch” from King David to his son, Solomon.
Advice for spiritual living. (Verses 2-4)
Instructions about some people David had dealt with. (Verses 5-9)
1 Kings 2:1-11 NLT
David’s Final Instructions to Solomon
2:1 As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:
2 “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. 3 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. 4 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.’
5 “And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. 6 Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.
7 “Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
8 “And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. 9 But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”
10 Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. 11 David had reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
Examine the Scriptures
1 Kings 2:1-11 NLT
David’s Final Instructions to Solomon
2:1 As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:
2 “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go.
Hebrews 9:27 NLT
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment …
Ecclesiastes 3:2 NLT
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
Genesis 3:19 NLT
19 By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.”
Psalm 89:48 NLT
48 No one can live forever; all will die.
No one can escape the power of the grave.
- David faces the reality of death.
David faces death with clarity, dignity, and intentionality.
David’s focus is not on himself, but on preparing Solomon to rule well.
Take courage and be a man.
Words Moses spoke to Joshua when he became the leader of Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:6-7 NLT
6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
7 Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land.
Words God spoke to Joshua when he became the leader of Israel.
Joshua 1:6-9 NLT
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT
13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.
A psalm of David
Psalm 27:13-14 NLT
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Psalm 31:23-24 NLT
23 Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
24 So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!
3 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.
Solomon’s call was to be a strong and courageous spiritual leader.
David had already fought the major wars and subdued Israel’s enemies.
1 Kings 4:25 NLT
25 During the lifetime of Solomon, all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety. …
Being strong includes:
Obeying God’s Word
Walking in His ways
Keeping His statutes and commandments
- David challenges Solomon to be spiritually strong and courageous.
Be spiritually strong and courageous.
- David connects Solomon’s success to his obedience to God’s covenant.
A bit of trivia.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20
Instructions for Israel’s future kings.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 NLT
18 “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction (the Mosaic Law) on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. 20 This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.
Obedience brings blessing; disobedience brings discipline.
4 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.’
This conditional covenant promised:
Stability
Success
God’s favor
Enduring kingdom
The Lord’s covenant with David.
2 Samuel 7:11-16 NLT
11 … “‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! 12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. 15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”
“If you do this” does not appear in 2 Samuel 7:11-16 (no conditions attached to the promise in 2 Samuel.)
- The covenant promise to David was unconditional, however blessings to individuals was conditional.
Solomon and his descendants fell short of their covenant obligations.
- God’s promise lives on through Solomon—and ultimately through Christ.
5 “And there is something else.
- Solomon had some “political” housekeeping issues to deal with in order to secure the throne
These actions were considered essential for stabilizing the new regime and ensuring that past injustices were settled.
You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood.
- Joab had murdered two innocent commanders, Abner and Amasa.
Abner
Reference: 2 Samuel 3:26–30
Abner was the commander of Saul’s army.
Joab killed him at Hebron by stabbing him in the stomach.
Joab claimed revenge because Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel in battle (2 Samuel 2:23).
However, Abner had come in peace, so this act was considered murder, not justified warfare.
Amasa
Reference: 2 Samuel 20:8–10
Amasa had been appointed by David to replace Joab as commander.
Joab greeted him as a friend, took his beard as if to kiss him, and stabbed him in the stomach.
This was a deliberate act of treachery.
Joab had murdered Abner and Amasa during a time of peace.
These deaths were unlawful assassinations.
Joab murdered Abner and Amasa to eliminate threats to his position.
These murders served Joab’s own self interest.
Joab also killed Absalom.
Reference: 2 Samuel 18:14–15
Absalom was King David’s son who led a rebellion against him.
During battle, Absalom was caught hanging in a tree by his hair.
David had specifically commanded his commanders to spare Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5).
Joab ignored David’s order and thrust three spears into Absalom’s heart.
This was both disobedience to David and the killing of the king’s son.
- Joab deserved to die.
Joab deserved to die, however David let him live. Why???
6 Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.
“Don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace”.
Don’t allow him to die a peaceful death. (CEB)
Joab had become very powerful,
2 Samuel 20:23 NLT
23 Now Joab was the commander of the army of Israel.
Joab’s backing of Adonijah posed a serious threat to Solomon.
Unchecked injustice corrupts a kingdom.
- Solomon was instructed to prevent Joab from growing old and going to his grave in peace.
7 “Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table,
- Be kind to the sons of Barzillai.
Give them a position of honor.
for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
Barzillai had shown kindness to David when he fled from Absalom.
Barzillai had supported David …
2 Samuel 19:32 NLT
32 He (Barzillai) was very old—eighty years of age—and very wealthy. He was the one who had provided food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim.
- Barzillai’s kindness was not forgotten. David honored his loyalty.
David wanted to provide for Barzillai and his family.
8 “And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim.
- Remember Shimei.
Mahanaim was David’s refuge during Absalom’s rebellion.
2 Samuel 16:5-8 NLT
Shimei Curses David
5 As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. 6 He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. 7 “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. 8 “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!”
2 Samuel 16:11 NLT
11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it.
- Shimei had cursed David during Absalom’s rebellion.
When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. 9 But that oath does not make him innocent.
Exodus 22:28 NLT
28 “You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.
You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”
- Solomon was instructed to arrange a bloody death for Shimei.
10 Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. 11 David had reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
David died in 970 B.C.
David, the greatest king of Israel, dies like all men.
Yet God’s kingdom continues.
- The kingdom is now fully transferred to Solomon under God’s covenant authority.
