The End of the Foolish

Today's passage contains the last words King David left to his son Solomon at the end of his life, and the way Solomon, following those words, dealt with the kingdom's enemies and made his throne secure. David blesses Solomon, urging him to keep God's Law and walk in truth, but at the same time he commands him to deal wisely with those who had harmed or betrayed him. More than a simple historical record, this passage gives an important lesson on how God's people should live wisely.

The sermon uses two figures, Adonijah and Abiathar, to point out how grace should be handled. Adonijah quickly forgets the grace that spared his life, shows his foolish greed by reaching for the throne again, and meets a miserable end. Abiathar the priest, on the other hand, who had served David faithfully to the end, puts his own safety first in a time of peace, makes the wrong choice, and is cast off by God. This shows that keeping faith in the midst of blessing and peace is harder than in ordinary circumstances, and that one moment's wrong judgment can bring down a lifetime of faithfulness.

We must live thankful and contented lives for the grace we have received, but if we do not guard against Satan's temptations and our own greed, we can spill that grace at any time. Taking the sad ends of Adonijah and Abiathar as a warning, we must become believers who look at where we stand now and at our past choices, and who make right decisions before God. Remembering the truth that God honors those who honor him, take time to meditate deeply on what kind of heart we need in order to live the wise and truthful life of a believer today.