So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires

1 King 2:1-11

When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 

“I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

“But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

As death approaches, David gives Solomon his final instructions. High-tones advice is abruptly followed by worldly wisdom of doubtful morality.

Why?

Even though David is old and death approached, he knew what is necessary to be king of Israel, he asked Solomon to walk in obedience to the Lord and keep his decrees and commands. It is the key to be a successor on the throne of Israel.

Jaob and Shimei have unfaithful things that happened to David, so David asked Solomon with his wisdom don't let their gray head go down the grave in peace. The revenge will be done and the righteousness could be declared.

Barzillai has the grace to David so David asked Solomon to show kindness to his sons.

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大衛在死之前交待的事。

彌6:8 只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。

1.敬畏神，行耶和華眼中看為正的事。使自己的王朝延續下去的方法就是敬畏神。

2.殺約押和示每，為受害者伸冤。押尼爾曾使以色列其他11支派一起來歸大衛為王。亞馬撒曾經幫助撒龍，怕影響約押的勢力。約押表面上為大衛出死入生公，公報私仇，其實是為了一己之私。提醒所羅門要把不良動機的人除掉。要知道對主忠心，還是為自己忠心。

示每是見風轉舵的人，沒有原則的人，現在誰對我有利就說好話，唯一原則就是利益。同時告訴所羅門不要只顧自己的利益。

3.恩待巴西萊的眾子：巴西萊不是投資在大衛身上，純粹是服事神的僕人。患難中仍然守住真理、站在神這邊。要所羅門不要。百姓服事你要心存感恩。願意付代價，堅持真理。

這幾件事要所羅門行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與神同行。

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How?

To be a king of a nation have to distinguish between righteousness and evil things. Obey the word of the Lord is the key point.