1 Kings 2:1-11 - Sermon Bible Commentary

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

1 Kings 2:1-11

I. In this passage we notice the calmness and quietude of spirit with which David looked forward to the termination of his earthly career. In order to place ourselves in the position which David occupied, (1) we must have sought and found pardoning mercy; (2) we must have the Spirit of adoption, so as to be able to say, "Abba, Father;" (3) we must be advancing in the practical experience of sanctifying grace.

II. Notice the special charge which David addresses to Solomon to show himself a man and to be strong in observing the requirements of the Divine law. The expression which first strikes the mind is "Show thyself a man." (1) It is plainly the path of manly effort to strive to serve God and to fulfil the requirements of His law. (2) It is implied in the words of David that Solomon would have numberless difficulties to contend with. "Show thyself a man" means Resist; fight; overcome. (3) Unless the Spirit of God is in the man, the pieces of armour are useless, and the conflict must end in defeat and ruin. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there only is liberty and power.

III. Notice the clear perception which David evidently had of the conditional nature of the promises made to Israel and to his own family in particular. The faithful observance of the law of Moses formed the condition upon which Israel was to be great and flourishing.

IV. In explanation of David's charge to Solomon to revenge himself on Joab and Shimei, we should remember (1) that he was there dictating to Solomon counsels of policy, not by Divine wisdom, but by his own mind; and whether these counsels were right or wrong, we must lay the responsibility of them upon David himself. (2) David lived under a darker dispensation than ours, and had not learned to forgive his enemies. (3) It may have been right and necessary for the public welfare that such dangerous men as Joab and Shimei should not be allowed to live.

A. D. Davidson, Lectures and Sermons,p. 349.

References: 1 Kings 2:8. Expositor,2nd series, vol. i., p. 245. 1 Kings 2:8; 1 Kings 2:9. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iii., p. 175.

Related Commentaries of 1 Kings 2:1

1 Kings 2:1-11

1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prospera in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not failb thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shedc the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievousd curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.