As David's time as king drew to a close, he called upon his son Solomon to impart some final words of wisdom before passing away. David had reigned faithfully over Israel for forty years, seeing many victories and blessings from God. In his old age, he was now looking back reflectively on all that God had done through him. More than anything, he wanted to ensure Solomon understood the importance of following God with all his heart as the new king. David told Solomon his time had come to join his ancestors, urging him to "be strong and show yourself a man" by taking on the heavy responsibilities of leadership.

David emphasized that the key to Solomon's success would be wholly committing to obeying God's commands and statutes. He reminded Solomon of God's promise that if the kings of Israel walked faithfully before Him, their dynasty would be established forever. Keeping God as the highest priority through studying His word and living righteously was the surest way for Solomon's reign to be blessed. As with Joshua after Moses, God promises to be with those who heed His voice. This mirrored the heart of Deuteronomy and Jewish teachings to always remember God's instructions. David wanted to impart the significance of loyalty to Yahweh above all else as the foundation for Solomon's kingship.

While stressing devotion to God, David also gave Solomon practical counsel about administrative matters. He informed him of two men, Joab and Shimei, who still needed to face justice for past dishonorable acts, though David had shown them mercy. Joab had unlawfully killed commanders out of personal interests, while Shimei cursed David during a time of rebellion. David ordered Solomon to deal wisely with punishing their offenses according to the law, though with discretion. In contrast, he told Solomon to continue showing kindness to the sons of Barzillai who had faithfully assisted David in his time of need. David's final warnings emphasized the importance of rooting out anything that could corrupt or harm the kingdom from within.

After imparting this wise guidance, David's time on earth came to an end as he passed away and was buried in Jerusalem. The writer reflected on David's forty year reign that began in Hebron and concluded with three full decades ruling from Jerusalem, leaving a strong legacy. With his father's death, Solomon formally took the throne as the new king of Israel. Through obeying God and applying the principles David emphasized, Solomon's rule was established on a firm foundation just as God intended. Solomon was set up for success by his father's perfect parting words that focused on maintaining a right relationship with Israel's covenant-keeping Lord above all else.

Sermon notes: https://media.versebyverseministry.org/uploads/lesson_translations/1548/notes_file/681c8f745edb7e5a811d2a357e3cbfa6.pdf Transcript: https://drive.proton.me/urls/R905BC62NG#C5zd46EcuKIV

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