“The time came near for David to die; so he commissioned Shlomo his son as follows: ‘I am going the way of all the earth. Therefore, be strong; show yourself a man.'”-1 Kings 2:1-12
In the opening verse of Chapter 2 of 1st Kings, notice that David is no longer referred to as “king.”
That’s right.
The royal torch has now officially passed from father to son.
From verse 2, David begins instructing Solomon to execute his new duties in a manner befitting not only royalty but also the Lord’s anointed.
Solomon couldn’t have been more than 20 years old at this time or possibly in his late teens.
This is quite a contrast to David, who didn’t assume the throne until he was at least around 30, and thus was much more mature and prepared.
But you know what’s interesting?
The Rabbis say that Solomon was 12 years old when he became king.
Where in the world do they get that idea from?
It all has to do with David telling Solomon to “show yourself a man.”
According to Jewish tradition, a boy becomes a man at age 13.
This is the age when a Jewish male undergoes his Bar Mitzvah.
Honestly, I’m not so sure about that interpretation.
I think that idea is just a Talmudic tradition being read back into Scripture, and a custom that wasn’t established until at least around the 1st century A.D. at that.
The truth is, there are no records, Scriptural, historical, archaeological, or otherwise, that the Bar Mitzvah was a thing until long after the advent of Yeshua.
So when David is telling Solomon to show yourself as an ISH (a man), there isn’t a specific age being referred to here.
He is simply telling Solomon that the time has now arrived to man up and put his hog wild youthful ways behind him because he now has a nation to lead.
Solomon’s rulership was all the more serious because Israel wasn’t your average nation.
It was the earthly Kingdom of God.
And Solomon was now the Lord’s MASHIACH (messiah or anointed one) to lead this kingdom.
David tells Solomon that if he is to succeed, his governance must be based on faithfulness to the Lord and to His Torah.
So what takeaway can we extract from this?
Simple.
Just as Solomon had to realize the time for fun and games was over…
And it was now time to take his mission for the Lord seriously…
So too must we do likewise when we are born again.
Tragically, some people never grow up or put aside the worldly desires of the flesh.
They keep chasing after the futile things the gentile world lusts after.
I can’t think of a more appropriate way to end this post than by closing with these famous words from Solomon himself, taken from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
He wrote these words not in his youth but as a much older king.
Yet, his words perfectly dovetail into today’s takeaway.
After attaining all the fame, wealth, and sex he wanted, what was Solomon’s conclusion looking back on his life?
“Meaningless!
Meaningless!
Everything is meaningless”…
…was all he could say.
He then concluded with these words:
“Now all has been heard;
Here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
For this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.”
-Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Need I say more?
I think not.
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the flowers of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in
all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow
is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’
or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the Gentiles run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
-Matthew 6:28-34
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