1 Kings 2 Last Requests
Just before David dies, he makes a few last requests of Solomon. These requests will right some of the wrongs that were done in his lifetime.
As I pulled up today’s reading, I realized that yesterdays should have been put off by another day. I didn’t take time to honor the final requests of David. When I put it all together into one story, I will correct that.
David has carried around some grudges. There are a few of people who he did not punish for their sins. He never told those people that he “forgave” them, but neither did he deal with their issues at the time. He asks Solomon to take care of it instead. And he trusts Solomon to use wisdom in his actions. Does this mean that Solomon has already shown himself wise in his father’s eyes? Maybe, but Solomon doesn’t have the Lord’s wisdom; yet. That will come later. Let’s back up and rejoin David’s story just before it concludes.
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David has had a lot of time to think, confined to his bed because of ailing health. He is thinking over the highs and lows of his lifetime and of those around him. There are a couple of names that keep coming back to him like a tongue to a missing tooth. Those names are Joab and Shimei. There is one more name that keeps coming to his mind in a good way; that of Barzilla.
“I cannot leave this world without dealing with their sins”, thinks David. But he has no way of rising from his bed and addressing the wrongs done by these men. He will have to rely on Solomon to make right what is wrong. David determines to also ask Solomon to display his favor on Barzilla’s sons for all the good their father has done for him.
“Abishag, attend me”, calls David.
“How may I be of service my lord?”
“I need for you to call Solomon to me. I need to speak with him before I die.”
“May the king live forever!” answers Abishag.
David laughs a mirthless laugh. “We both know that’s not going to happen. Bring me my son please.”
Abishag bows and goes to the door to call one of the servants. “The king wishes to speak with his son, King Solomon.”
“I will notify him at once” replies the servant. He turns and runs to his destination.
Solomon is sitting in his chambers, pouring over the plans David gave him for building the Temple. He can’t seem to get enough of looking at these. He is excited to begin the work, but it will have to wait a little longer. There are other pressing matters that need his attention, especially that of his abba’s comfort in his last days.
“My king” he hears the servant say from the doorway.
Solomon looks up. He recognizes the servant as one who stands by his abba’s doorway. “Is my father all right” he asks with fear in his voice as he begins to rise from his chair.
“He is my king. But he has asked to see you.”
Solomon breathes a sigh of relief. “I will be along directly” he tells the servant. The servant leaves to deliver the message while Solomon rerolls the scrolls and fastens their stays. If it had been an emergency, he wouldn’t have taken the time to do this, but these plans are precious and he does not want them spoiled. As soon as they are tucked away, Solomon makes his way to David’s room.
“Ah, my son” calls David from his bed when Solomon enters his room.
Solomon walks over to David’s bed and bows before him. After he rises, he places a gentle kiss on his abba’s forehead. “How may I serve you today, Abba?”
“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel’” (1 Kings 2:2-4).
David has already said this to Solomon, but Solomon does not mention that. He wants his abba to be able to speak what is on his heart at all time. He will reply just as he did the last time he was given these instructions.
“I will follow the commandments and statues of the Lord with all my heart and soul. And I will come to the Lord with a repentant heart when I fall shot.”
David is satisfied with this answer. He pats the back of Solomon’s hand before speaking again.
“Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol” (1 Kings 2:5-9).
Solomon recognizes that these hurts have plagued his abba’s heart for years. He needed Joab as commander of his army. If not, Joab would have suffered for his sins MUCH earlier. He also hears the absence of vengeance on Joab for Absalom’s death. That death was during war time. And, even though it pained his abba greatly, it was just.
“I will ask the Lord for wisdom in dealing with all of these men. I am most honored to be able to clear these debts for you, as well as show your gratitude to the sons of Barzilla.”
“You are the wisest of my sons. I know you will do what is right.”
“If I am wise, it is because of all your teachings, Abba. You have poured into me all of your wisdom.”
“Seek wisdom from the Lord, as I hold only a portion of what He has for man. And that I passed on to you, with great love.”
Having settled all these debts, David is ready for sleep. His energy is spent. “I will rest now my son. Soon I will need no more rest, as I will be sleeping with my ancestors.”
“Rest well my Abba” Solomon says before giving David another kiss on the forehead and quietly leaving his room.
“I will have to consider carefully how to fulfill my abba’s final reckonings” thinks Solomon.
It will not be many days later that David finally breathes his last and Solomon is left alone as king of Israel.
(to be continued)
Did the actions of Shimei and Joab eat at David or were they brought back to his mind by God, just prior to his death? Were these reckonings from the Lord or from a seed of bitterness? Joab never apologized or asked for forgiveness for his actions. He apparently felt fully justified. I can see how he justified killing Abner but not Amasa. Amasa’s only ‘crime’ was taking Joab’s job. I believe Joab killed him out of jealousy. But Shimei came and apologized to David. David didn’t say that he forgave him at the time, but promised not to kill him HIMSELF. Holding Shimei guilty is like God holding us guilty for some sin we repented of. But, David was only human, so this could have eaten at him all those years. Solomon would honor David’s final requests. The blood shed by doing so would not fall on his head.
Father God, help me to rid my heart completely of any bitterness I hold towards anyone. I know that there are some hurts that, even as I speak to You right now, still come easily to mind. But there is no pain in those hurts; only quick memories. I believe that I have truly forgiven all those involved. If I haven’t, dig up the roots of bitterness that remain in me. I want NO unforgiveness to come between You and me.
