1 Kings 2:2

As he dies, David leaves a command with his son Solomon, and insists on his responsibility. It is, so to speak, the old king's last will and the fruit of his long experience... At the start of his reign, Solomon must first of all be armed against whatever could hinder or ruin it.

As David was about to die, his words to Solomon carried real weight. Paul (2 Tim. 4:1-6) and Peter (2 Pet. 1:12-15) cared about the testimony of the Lord after their death. So did David. Selfish motives did not move these men. They cared about God's glory among His people.

There are many parallels between David's words to his son and the Lord's words to Joshua (Joshua 1). First of all, the king must be strong and show himself a man. Obedience to the Lord and dependence on Him are the proofs of this strength, and he is to use it to walk in God's ways. The Word of God directs that walk.

So David urged Solomon, "Be strong, and show yourself a man" (v. 2). To do that, he would have to keep the charge of the Lord, walk in His ways, and keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments and His testimonies written in the Law of Moses.

His statutes are the things He has established, and His authority stands behind them. His commandments express His will, and we are bound to submit to it. His ordinances (or judgments) are the principles He passes on and acts by. His testimonies are the thoughts He has told us, and faith must receive them. For the Israelite all this made up "the law of Moses," and it was to be the divine standard for the walk of the faithful.

"Act like men": at creation God made man in His image, and so gave him the place of representing God in a hostile world. Let us not think little of such dignity and honor. "Be strong": whatever our natural weakness, strength is available in Christ.

Our life finds its food and its strength in the Word of God. Only by keeping it can we travel through a hostile world without fear and see all we do prosper. It teaches us to walk in God's way. Can there be a greater blessing than to find a perfect path here on earth — the path of Christ, the path the eyes of God rest on with delight?

The Lord had told David that if his sons took care to walk before Him in truth with all their heart and soul, David would never lack a descendant to sit on his throne. David reminded Solomon of this conditional promise (v. 4). Sadly, David's sons did not meet the conditions. Solomon began well, but he soon turned away from the truth of Scripture, and his sons went further still.