2 Samuel 22:19 - 1 Kings 7:37
This is one of the beautiful hymns that Charles Wesley wrote. It is based on Matthew Henry's commentary on a passage in Leviticus."We have every one of us a charge to keep, an eternal God to glorify, an immortal soul to provide for, needful duty to be done, our generation to serve; and it must be our daily care to keep this charge, for it is the charge of the Lord our Master, who will shortly call us account about it, and it is our utmost peril if we neglect it. Keep it “that ye die not”; it is death, eternal death, to betray the trust that we are charged with; by the consideration of this we must be kept in awe."
People pass on many things from generation to generation: antique heirlooms, money, jewelry, secrets, etc. Some, like David, give their dying wishes to their children.
It was the last instruction David gives to the new king Solomon. The last words of a faithful man.
Kings 2: 2-3 "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go."
The world has its own definitions of success; its own definitions of what a man and woman are. But to be God's man or woman is to be faithful and obedient to what He has commanded. There is no measurements of wealth, fame, popularity, and material success in God's kingdom. The only measurement is faithfulness.
In verse 4 the promise was that if Solomon kept God's commands that there would be a descendant of David on the throne forever. As we know, Solomon didn't keep all of God's requirements.
But God kept His promise. How wonderful and compassionate God is since Jesus (the son of David) sits on the throne forever in God's kingdom of believers.
Each of us has a charge to keep....and to pass on!
External Link: The Kingdoms of Saul, David, and Solomon
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/053.htm
1 comment:
I found a copy of Charles Wesley's hymns, so I reworked the original post.
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